Extreme Makeover, Part Deux

So a couple of weeks ago we decided that it was time to put a new counter in the all-purpose bathroom, especially since it's the one our guests use. No more craptastic peach mosaic countertop! Pompeii Red Corian, here I come! Yippee!!

Hubby called my younger brother, who is a contractor, to ask him if he could find us the best local Corian counter price and gave him all the specs. Before he recently opened his own business, my brother was a supervisor of a company that maintains a large number of apartment/townhome complexes. Over the years he's had to put his skills to use at everything from plumbing to roofing. Since Corian wasn't one of their suppliers, he really didn't "know" anybody in the business.

The price he came back with from the dealer?

About $2500. On the low end.

That doesn't include taking the sinks out or tearing out the existing counter.
That doesn't include putting the sinks back or hooking up the plumbing.

Those are extras.

Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch!

For one measly countertop. I knew it would be steep, but I didn't think it would cost more than our college tuition this semester!

A few years ago, my brother tore out our kitchen counters (another mosaic mess), raised the tops a few inches (we're a family of giants in this house) and installed a beautiful granite top. Hubby meekly suggested that instead of Corian, we ask if he could do the same for the bathroom. [sigh]

But, I guess it must have been fate.

Since my brother started his own business, he has had projects lined up for months ahead. He actually had a block of time because of a job that was pushed back unexpectedly. So he's coming to stay with us for two weeks (he lives a couple of hours away) to do ALL the projects here that have suddenly materialized!

When I was snowed in, I had little to do to keep from going crazy, so I went on the web to find out the names of particular stones that might be in my color range (as close to Pompeii Red as possible). Found several and started calling local dealers to see if they carried them and to request samples.

Yes, local dealers had them. Prices ranged from $14.95-$18.95 a square foot, which was a heckuva a lot better than the Corian price!

But I, being the cheap Bastard that I am, was a little perplexed. One of the websites I visited--called the Marble Warehouse--had prices that were far far lower than those quoted to me locally. I mentioned this to my husband.

"That's because it will cost a fortune to ship them!" he scoffed.

I wondered. And called. 100 tiles could be delivered to our door for $165.00. No kidding. We could do the shower enclosure for that price!

I ordered samples.

So as it works out, for the price of one Corian counter we're getting:

1). Two colors of granite to replace the counter AND to replace the paneling inside the shower. This picture doesn't really do them justice. The one on the right is a dark brown and tan that matches the brown and tan flecks in the red granite. I tried to lighten it up a little, so it looks a bit dull.




2). A new Kohler bathtub that is deeper and wider than the old one. Yippee!

3). New fixtures for the faucets and tub/shower.

4). A new marble floor for my kitchen. It's called Rojo Alicante.

Isn't that amazing? I'm so psyched!

The shipping went up because I doubled the order for stone---but $225.00 for 230 12" x 12" tiles really was a deal. The owner of the company even knocked down the price per marble tile to $6.75 a holler.

Everything got here on Friday, and though there was a little snafu (the delivery truck couldn't back down our driveway because of the snow drifts) all was in excellent condition.

Now I'm just going to have to live without baths for a week or so...but braving hubby's cruddy shower will be worth it!

After crunching the numbers, my man earnestly asked, "This bathroom is going to be your birthday present, right?"

The first thing the crossed my mind was---you have GOT to be sh*tting me!

But then I said, "Sure! As long as I'm the only one who gets to use it!"