As the really major outdoor projects are winding down, it's finally time to focus on the indoor projects. The now leaky toilet is making the downstairs bathroom a somewhat larger priority than the kitchen. From the outside, it doesn't look horrible ...
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
... but closer in, the whole cabinet is warped, ...
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
... leaks over the years have taken its toll, ...
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
... and aspects that the previous owner just didn't care for, like the big chip and crack in the old 5 gallon/flush toilet lid and the tile floor that was never trimmed out to wall.
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
And so, most of it will be replaced. Normally, that would be a trip to the local home improvement store ... and $500+ later, one would have everything they need. Or, you pick and choose a budget and find the best materials that will suffice for your needs. I chose the latter, starting with the "big ticket" items ...
- American Standard Cadet 3 Flowise Elongated toilet. It's not a Toto, but it's not bad either, and the ecological savings of using 1.28 gallons per flush is really nice, especially compared to the 5 gallon behemoth its replacing. Brand new in the box that someone bought but decided not to use in their remodel ... I bought the two they had at $40/each from Craigslist.
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
- Granite vanity top with faucet ... used for 6 months, and they decided to remodel. Except for the adhesive residue underneath, one can't really tell it's used. $40, also from Craigslist.
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
- Now to play off that palette ... and really, you can't go wrong with neutral tones. Ceramic flooring, made in the
USA
for $0.77 a square foot at Home Depot ... yep.
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
The sub-0 bathroom remodel
- Grout and mortar for the ceramic floor ... ask if they have any ripped bags at a discount. A 5% loss of product is no big deal when Lowes offers a 50% discount on them.
- Paint ... if you're not picky about the exact tone, a $5/gallon of Oops paint at Home Depot in the shade of coffee latte is the way to go.
- Door knob ... picked up some Design House scroll locksets in a nickel finish for under $5 a set at HD Supply.
Design House: Hardware: Locksets: Scroll Interior Locks
On the same trip to HD Supply, a $10 wet tile saw for doing the said flooring. Knockoff design of a MK-145 under a 'Casa de Ceramica' brand. The locks look good and the saw works ... the brand name isn't important.
- Base cabinet and hardware ... the only place for a bargain is AS-IS at Ikea. $15 meant the likes of
Akurum
pieces, Adel MB doors, Galant "cover panel", Grundtal t.p. holder and towel rack, and Strecket pulls.
- Reuse the light fixture, mirror, and porcelain undermount sink, finding ancillary aspects including tile spacers, drain replumbing, and CFLs, all new in packages from Goodwill and Salvation Army, and the grand total of this remodel ...
$148.93
I'm picking up a non-fat frozen yogurt on my next Ikea run ... it's still in the budget.
on the kitchen remodel, it'd be worth it. I'm sure I'm a good way towards that figure already, as the cooktop hood will be a Luftig T50 (as seen in 
Likewise, money spent on a wall oven in black glass would look more inline with the Rubrik black glass doors versus using the stainless Mumsig convection oven I already have. Stopping by HD Supply again earlier, I actually thought about spending $220 for a 30" stainless steel farmhouse apron sink (pretty much like 
Treasure the people in your life, not your possessions. 
The best thing about being a pessimist is that I'm always either right or pleasantly surprised.
