When we moved in to our house in 2004, the floor was white and black and peel and stick tiles with an 80s "paint splatter" wall paper border. It was also home to our washer and dryer. (That's what you get when you buy a 1970s Colonial) We laid new peel and stick tile right away, but when we added an addition with a laundry room a few years later, the tiles under the appliances were completely ripped apart. When T built a closet in their place, he left the subfloor exposed with grand intentions of laying new linoleum the next weekend. And then many, many weekends passed.
I love T. He is handy. He is a hard worker. But he is at work quite a bit. When he is home, taking on a big project has to be his idea, or it just won't happen. So when he announced bright and early one weekend morning not too long ago that he felt like laying new linoleum in the downstairs bath, I squealed with joy inside. I didn't want to squeal with joy on the outside and scare him off.
So here's the terrible Before:
You can see the awful black mark where the washing machine left its mark. No amount of scrubbing or cleaner would get it out!
In Progress:
What?! Don't you keep your toilet in the shower? We had to put it somewhere while T worked, and it certainly wasn't going in my kitchen!
I am very grateful to have married someone who is good with numbers and measuring and precision. I am good at none of those things. Had the linoleum job been delegated to me, I would have hot glued it down in scraps and filled in the gaps with cotton balls or something.
I should be honest and tell you that we almost got divorced during the course of the day because we weren't working well together.
T was getting really frustrated that his cuts weren't lining up just right. I suggested that he call his dad for help, and that was met with much disdain and a comment about how he doesn't need his dad but could I please get in there and hold the end of the linoleum up? That is how I ended up holding the end of the linoleum, bent over at an odd angle so I didn't get any folds in it (!) and my socks got stuck in the glue and then my feet were all sticky and I really just wanted to go and have a Coke.
But we didn't get divorced (which is good because we'll be married 10 years in August and I am campaigning rigorously for a good present), and we ended up with a very nice new floor. I need to touch up the baseboards, but it is so nice to have a closet with flooring!
I never thought I'd be so happy to see linoleum! It's not fancy, but it sure beats subfloor!
Back tomorrow with Session #7 in my Commenting 101 blogging series.
Linking to Sarah's Before and After Party!
Your new floor looks wonderful, Amanda! And I'm very glad you didn't end up getting divorced. 10 years together would be a terrible thing to waste. But it sounds as if you and T work together about as well as Jack and I work together. Seems that when Jack and I are working together on a project he purses his lips and calls me "Dear" a lot. I surreptitiously roll my eyes and occasionally stick out my tongue. Altogether not the best moments of marital bliss.
ReplyDeleteDifficult though the process was, you have a great-looking new floor to show for your efforts. Thanks for sharing it with us!
What a wonderful difference! I have some linoleum in what I hope will become our mud/laundry room and it's not in great shape. As much as I would love to put in something else, I think the budget will say linoleum. :) So I love seeing how pretty it does look when put in correctly! You and your hubs did a great job. Give him an extra squeeze today!
ReplyDeletehaha-after about 20 years they just learn to do it themselves and not ask you for help :) my husband and i don't work together very well
ReplyDeleteyour floor looks great-glad it's finished-thought that was a toilet in your shower in the first picture -lol
Great job! It looks terrific. So know what you mean about doing projects with the hubby. We laid hardwood flooring in our entire upstairs, but we are still married!! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I just love new floor, it's so fresh and clean. I have a big flooring project for my house this summer. Can't wait to get it done!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a difference! Looks great. I know how it feels to get the husband moving on a project. Have a great week with your new flooring!
ReplyDeleteJessica
It's beautiful! I love it & they colors go great w/ the decor you have. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am convinced that when you get through projects like that, your marriage is stronger even when it seems like you won't make it through the day. BEEN THERE! Floor looks great. Aren't you thrilled to have it done :)
ReplyDeleteAmy
I congratulate you! It took you less than 10 years to learn that asking/nagging about a project which needs to be done is counterproductive! I just really grasped that concept in the last 3 years, meaning it took me at least 6 years longer than you.
ReplyDeleteThe floor looks great! I know you're glad to have that done.
Lol twice! first about you hot gluing the linoleum to the floor and second about getting a divorce (not that getting a divorce is funny). This is pretty much how projects go with my husband too. We fight a lot during, but it's so worth it in the end :)
ReplyDeleteYour floor looks beautiful by the way! Your husband did a great job. I know you are happy!
YAY! That looks fantastic! I know you are so glad to have it done! T sounds like my Hubby when I suggest he call my dad for help. I had to learn to wait for it to be his idea to call my dad. I think he took it to mean that I didn't think he could do it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you didn't get divorced over it. It would be ashame to waste your awesome 10 year present!
That looks awesome! I know what you mean about the divorced thing. And the part about how it has to be his idea...sigh.. Girl -- the worse the before the better the after -- show it with pride! Be sure to follow along...cause when I finish my closet -- the before will look like something off of clean house!! :) Then you can say -- heck my floors don't look so bad! :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks great now Amanda! And reading your story it was reminding me of me and my hubby when we have to do a project together!! The same!!
ReplyDeleteThe floor looks Amazing Amanda! And you're not alone, my hubby and I always get irritated with each other over home improvement projects. Always!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Almost got divorced... this sounds like when my husband tries to get me to help him move large furniture. It's never a good idea!
ReplyDeleteBrovo girl, nothing like a clean fresh start! Happy (early) anniversary to you and your hub!
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Kate
Your new floor looks so good Amanda! I love the color of the wallls in your bathroom too:)
ReplyDeleteWow...it's amazing what a difference a new floor makes! That's the kind of project that would have my husband and I at odds with each other too :) (I hope you get something amazing for your 10th!)
ReplyDeleteYay! It looks great!
ReplyDeleteNancy
A new floor must make it feel like a totally new room to you. I really like the linoleum pattern that you chose and it coordinates beautifully with your wall color.
ReplyDeleteProjects like this definitely have to be the husband's idea to get executed. I plant a seed of an idea and then have to wait, just like you.
Yay! It looks great. Flooring is just so darn important, isn't it? My brother-and-sister-in-law lived with ALL subfloors for nearly two years while living in the house and renovating. I don't know how they made it.
ReplyDeletewe have a very tiny bathrm and the only one we have in our tiny house. I am going to remodel the bathrm this yr. Been saving for yrs for this day. There is a new product out that is linoleum but it has ground marble in it and is placed like tiles with grout. I am going to have it layed at a diagonal to make the bathrm longer. I did take some befores. And when the guy can start I will cont. to take pictures.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I am so glad you got your new floor! Your post was hilarious. I totally understand what you were thinking when you were helping your husband. Your story reminds me of my husband and I. I think he just tolerates my help when he really needs an extra hand.
ReplyDeleteLove how great the floor looks now and I know what you mean about having the flooring extend into the closet. Pure heaven! I find it hilarious that we all seem to be in the same boat for not always working well with our spouse, lol. Fortunately we're all smart enough to hang in there. :)
ReplyDelete"Had the linoleum job been delegated to me, I would have hot glued it down in scraps and filled in the gaps with cotton balls or something."--ha! Totally sounds like me. I am fairly certain that hot glue can be used to fix ANYTHING.
ReplyDeleteAgreed that it is MUCH better than the old floor, and the subfloor!
Congrats on the almost 10 years--that's a wonderful gift by itself, even if you don't get what you've been campaigning for. :)
Your new floor looks great! Look like it sure lightened things up :) This is my first visit to your blog and I really appreciate your thoughts on commenting and link parties (at least what I've been able to read so far). I'm anxious to follow along in your series!
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda! Thanks for visiting my blog! I am LOVING yours as well! The floor looks amazing. Well done :)
ReplyDeletehehe tell it like it is! So great. I love it.
ReplyDeleteYour floor looks great! There is nothing wrong with linoleum -- I'm getting ready to use it in our guest bath. It's affordable, comes in lots of patterns, it's quick to install, and easy to care for :)
ReplyDeleteWell you were right!! That was one nasty floor. But I don't think any less of you!!
ReplyDeleteAnd the new floor looks great!! Congrats
Hugs
SueAnn
Your new floor looks great. I'm so glad to hear our projects aren't the only ones that take forever to get finished. We have a tone of things in the works. Hubby and I don't always work together great either. He gets frustrated with me, I get frustrated with him and sometimes I just cry. Not the best thing to do.
ReplyDeleteYour stories are always so entertaining! Wish I could of seen your sock stuck in the glue. I hope all your hard work paid off and you get that present for your anniversary. I love the linoleum, I think it looks so beautiful.
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