Border Patrol

A few weeks ago in the post I dubbed “The Call of the Wild,” I mentioned the black border I had planned around the perimeter of the bathroom floor. At that time, and in the weeks leading up to it, it would be fair to characterize Tim’s enthusiasm level for my vision as maybe a “2” on a 10-point scale: “tap cold,” though admittedly not quite a “fresh-out-of-the-fridge-dispenser-1,” or, a “solid-ice-0.”In the intervening time, he’s finished up the rather extensive job of tiling the walls: 3 of them, including the longest one in the room, are tiled almost floor-to-ceiling with 4 x 8” Carrara marble. “Almost,” because anchoring the entire perimeter of the walls, in the first row along the floor, are larger 6 x 12” Carrara tiles, topped by half-round “pencil” molding, to form a baseboard. He also did a lovely job on a soap and shampoo niche in the shower, finished with the same pencil molding, which has a shelf. It’s set so the lower portion is accessible to someone who might be showering while seated, and the upper portion will be the right height for someone standing.

The floors will need to be cleaned (of course) and sealed (maybe not-so-obvious) before grouting, to prevent the black grout from staining the Carrara in the basket weave tile. That might happen tomorrow. Then the walls will get their paint. Maybe, just maybe, by Hump Day next week, we’ll actually be installing fixtures.