Master Bathroom

Master Bathroom Progress — Water Closet Close To Being Finished

Most of you will be happy to know that I’m refocused on the master bathroom now. I’ve worked on it for three days in a row, which is the most I’ve done since we bought the wheelchair van and Matt has been enjoying life outside of our house. And while there’s no way I’m going to meet my original goal of having it done by the end of June, I will say that the last four weeks have been totally worth the delay. But now I’m refocused, and determined to work diligently to get this room done as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, while I’ve made some progress in other areas, I had a step back with the toilet that I bought. I had to remove it, and now it’s just sitting in the room while I decide what to do with it.

When I was searching for a toilet, I wanted one that wouldn’t stick out past this wall…

That gave me 27 inches of depth to work with. Well, finding a toilet with an elongated bowl that is 27 inches or less from back to front isn’t easy. After searching and searching, I finally found the toilet pictured above, which is all one piece with a small tank. I had never heard of the brand, and I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of ordering a toilet online, but it was the right size with an elongated bowl, so I went with it.

I thought it would be perfect, but once it was installed, it looked way too small. It looks like a toilet that belongs in an elementary school. Plus, it doesn’t work. It WILL NOT flush. Unfortunately, I’ve had it too long to return it, so now I don’t know what to do with it. I might see if I can give it away (it’s literally never been used), and see if someone else can find the problem, fix it, and use it. It wasn’t a cheap toilet!

So I ordered a new one (an actual brand that I know — Delta — that was delivered to my door by the local Home Depot), and as soon as I get finished with the walls, I can install the new, normal, adult-sized toilet. And hopefully it will work. Unfortunately, in order to stay within the 27-inch depth, I had to get one with a round bowl. Ugh. I really don’t like round bowls. But I’d rather have an adult-sized toilet with a round bowl than an elementary school-sized toilet with an elongated bowl. 😀

As far as the walls go, I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time caulking everything in hopes that the walls would be ready to paint today.

But after finishing up the main part of the caulking last night around 11:00pm, I realized I have even more caulking to do today. These wall panels are formed using 1″ x 4″ boards installed vertically, and then 1″ x 5″ boards along the floor and the ceiling. Then the inside of those frames are trimmed with base cap.

Once those are installed, I always caulk between the 1″ x 4″ board and the base cap. That area is pretty deep and requires a lot of caulk, but I prefer the way it looks (almost like one piece rather than two) once it’s caulked.

Well, I don’t know if I got a bad batch of caulk, but it seems to have shrunk much more than usual as it was drying. Even though I used a very liberal amount of caulk and made sure that the whole space between the two pieces was filled completely with caulk, I walked in this morning to see that all of these little voids had formed as the caulk dried and shrunk. Can you see them?

The problem with those is that if I take a gamble and just paint them, there’s a chance that the paint will fill them in nicely and they won’t be seen. But there’s also a chance that those voids will hold onto the paint just long enough for me to think everything is fine, and then about 10 minutes later (and after I’ve already walked away and quit paying attention), the paint will start to run out of those voids, and then I’ll have runs and drips of paint dried in those spaces. Ask me how I know that. 🙂

So as much as I hate it, I think all of these areas are going to need a second application of caulk before I can paint. UGH!! I really thought I’d be ready for paint as soon as I started working today, so this is really a pain and a setback. But I’d rather have it done the right way the first time, because having to sand off paint drips, especially in areas like that, is a much bigger headache.

I also still have to caulk all of these little areas on two of the walls, but those are no big deal. That’s a standard caulk job that will dry quickly and be ready to paint in about 30 minutes.

I also got several samples of pink paint so that I could choose one for that large panel on the side wall of the toilet area. None of them really matched 100% to any of the pinks in the mural, but I did really like this one, which is Glidden Lady Pink.

This is the picture of it from the Glidden website…

That looks a lot different from the swatch taped to the wall, so I hope it will look nice. I don’t think I’ve ever used Glidden paint before, so I hope I don’t regret it. I’m generally pretty loyal to Behr for just about everything unless I want a dark matte finish, in which case I always use Benjamin Moore Aura. So I’m hoping I won’t be disappointed with the Glidden quality or color. But it’s just paint, right? 🙂

The wall that gets the pink paint won’t really be visible unless a person is actually in the toilet area, or unless they’re standing right in the doorway between the bathroom and the home gym. When standing there, this is the amount of that wall that’s visible.

So it will just be a little peak of pink from the doorway. Otherwise, the visible walls in this area will be white to match all of the trim and wainscoting in the rest of the room.

Well see how it goes today, and how fast the caulk dries, but hopefully I can get this area finished today and get the new toilet installed and show you how it looks tomorrow. Having this area completely finished will be a huge relief!

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25 Comments

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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    julie
    June 28, 2022 at 11:19 am

    Seems that in spite of construction flux things can age in stores. We got bad grout recently. Store said sometimes help doesn’t move older to front, fresh in back when restocking. Things like that.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Tracy
    June 28, 2022 at 11:34 am

    The pink looks nice, but I HATE Glidden paint. Yes I shouted it😏 I’ve done a lot of painting and I think it is horrible paint quality! Maybe its improved somehow over the years but I would never purchase again. I’m a Sherwin gal. Paint is not a filler, smart to do it right.
    That’s a bummer about the toilet. I too would never buy a round bowl, don’t know why a round bowl just looks icky

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Trish
      June 28, 2022 at 11:59 am

      I agree on the Glidden paint. I used it once and will never use it again. Hope if works better for you.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Christine
      June 28, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      I concur…but I hate almost anything but Ben Moore Aura.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Bettsi
      June 28, 2022 at 6:41 pm

      I have to agree on the Glidden. I’ve had poor experiences with it. Just won’t cover! Don’t waste time having to do extra coats. (I also think you might like that pink better at 50% pigment- maybe custom match with Behr and decrease the pigment?) Anyway, that’s why you blog, right, Kristi? So you can have all of us second guessing you? LOVE the molding- sheer perfection!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Marianne in Mo.
      June 28, 2022 at 8:22 pm

      We were at my SIL’s house recently, a 15yr. + home that still looks the same as the day she moved in. They have round toilets, and since we hadn’t been there since before 2020, I forgot how awkward they are to sit on. Thankfully, soon after were were there, they had to replace it, and finally got an elongated one! Personally, I don’t see what the big deal is if the small bit of toilet will be seen, as you’ve said no one but you and Matt will use that bathroom!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kathy S.
    June 28, 2022 at 11:42 am

    Your wall trim is going to be beautiful! Sorry you have extra caulking to do though. I’m wondering if a pink wall behind the toilet will reflect pink onto the other walls in the toilet area? I’ve had colors affect my walls before!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kim May
    June 28, 2022 at 11:47 am

    The pink is pretty! However Glidden Paint has been a waste of time for me. I will always use Behr or Benjamin Moore. Hope it works for you. Can’t wait to see the finished area!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Wendy
    June 28, 2022 at 11:57 am

    You can get Behr to color match that in the Glidden color, so you have the same quality you’re used to. I’ve done that a number of times, as I’m also a Behr fan, especially their Marquee line.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kathy
    June 28, 2022 at 12:20 pm

    Why don’t you get a custom paint color by taking in a sample of the wallpaper for the paint people to match. I do that a lot and it usually turns out well.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi Linauer
      June 28, 2022 at 1:10 pm

      I would love to do that, but I don’t have any left. This was a custom sized mural with only slivers of paper left on the edges, and I threw those away long ago.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jeri Johnson
    June 28, 2022 at 12:39 pm

    My experience has been that paint is not just paint. You can get the brand that you like ,Behr , tinted to any color. If you have the color numb, the store has the formula to match the color. Just a thought, in case you don’t like the Glidden.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Laura
    June 28, 2022 at 12:51 pm

    The paint swatch taped to the wall does look different from the online sample. The swatch appears to be brighter and more lavender. The online sample looks more muted and more peach which I think would blend better with the wallpaper. I would have Behr or Benjamin Moore color match their paint to the Glidden sample. It may be a good idea to get a small sample of the paint to test it on your wall before buying a full gallon.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jeannie
    June 28, 2022 at 12:53 pm

    I’m so sorry you have to caulk again. That is the job I dislike the most!! I am not old but my thumbs have arthritis (thanks family gene pool) and I can’t stand squeezing a caulk gun or a tube. I was thrilled many years ago when I found DAP caulk in a squeeze can (dispenses the same as a whipped cream can). It was only $4.00 and I bought it off the shelf at Walmart of all places. Now it’s near impossible to find anywhere and when I do it’s $20.00!! I’m doomed!! Hope your job goes quickly :-))

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi Linauer
      June 28, 2022 at 1:12 pm

      I’ve never seen that! I absolutely hate caulking, which is why it’s been so easy for me to drag my feet on finishing this area of the room. There’s soooo much caulking!!! Ugh!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Betsy Nickel
    June 28, 2022 at 1:16 pm

    It can be bummer to have to revisit caulking. You know that it is worth every effort to make that right. Paint will not fill. Once you start it will sail along. The paint question: It’s never just paint. Behr is good and will match the color, Benjamin Moore is great and will match the color too. Don’t waste your time with paint that isn’t great. It takes just as much effort to paint with good paint as it does lessor quality. It does matter.
    How did you end up with a little toilet? Is it too short? I redid some tiny efficiency bathrooms with round bowls and I hate them too. I sprung for a Caroma for the third, otherwise Toto.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    suzanne
    June 28, 2022 at 2:09 pm

    I can’t wait to see this come together. We have one of those straight side easy clean toilets. We had to remove the entire toilet to change the seat for a bidet type seat. There no way of reaching the screws that hold the seat down otherwise. Just FYI for anyone thinking about a toilet like that.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Betsy Nickel
      June 28, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      Oh! Thank you for that advice. I was just thinking of replacing my toilet with one of those with straight sides and I’ve had a bidet seat since traveling to Turkey where they are everywhere. Now I can plan ahead : )

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dorth
    June 28, 2022 at 4:28 pm

    I’m very interested to hear what the landscaper had to say. Don’t forget to keep us up to date on that.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    PML
    June 28, 2022 at 7:54 pm

    Sorry about the child’s toilet! That’s equally frustrating. . . and also kind of funny. Remember the time we had a child’s toilet?! Comedy=tragedy+time 😊 Anyway I’m glad you’ve got a decent toilet now because dealing with a junky toilet can get really old really fast.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Guerrina
    June 29, 2022 at 11:46 am

    Love the hidden pink wall! Hope the shade works!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Rose
    June 29, 2022 at 12:34 pm

    Why not get a small can or see if it comes in sample size of paint before u waste money and have to redo a whole wall?

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jayne
    June 29, 2022 at 9:16 pm

    Our apartment manager installed one of those toilets with the top flush button and I hate it. If the lid isn’t lined up exactly it will not flush. I have to move it to the exact position. Drives me crazy. Could be why yours didn’t flush. But I am sure the small size would not work for Matt. The pink is pretty. Glidden paint is good paint. I used to be assistant manager at Columbia paint and my husband was assistant manager at Ernst. He always said Glidden paint was better than ours but he was wrong.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Vicky
    June 30, 2022 at 2:35 pm

    We added a shower to a former large powder room in our walkout basement. Although it was large for a powder room, it wasn’t large for a bathroom. We ended up installing a European style toilet with the tank built into the wall (there’s an access area). The flushers (high and low flow) are also on the wall. Only the bowl is in the room. It wasn’t cheap (about $1000) six years ago and you’d have to remove some of wall to be able to redo the plumbing to accommodate it, but it did solve our space issue).

    If you can’t find anyone who wants to buy it, you could donate it your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore and get a charitable donation. We’ve bough plumbing fixtures (and other stuff) from the, for our house and our rental properties.