Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

Operation Laundry Room {Flooring / Toilet}

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Guess what?! WE ADOPTED A COUPLE FISH!

Sawdust and Embryos

It’s all very exciting for sure. The girls are enamored… and we’re enamored with the amount of time they spend quietly watching them swim around. Free babysitters! Their names are Boomerang and Bandit.

But that’s neither here nor there.

I’m here today to discuss how  our ‘Operation Laundry Room’ progress goes in spurts (as our time and finances allow). We left you last time with the room looking a lot like this.

Transforming a large bathroom into a dreamy laundry room PROGRESS! {Sawdust and Embryos} (2)

I recall being overcome with happiness that the washer and dryer had finally made it to their new forever-home. I think I had made that my short-term goal so I would have something to look forward to in the semi-near future.

Well last weekend, my brother Tim and his family came over… and I took it upon myself to initiate a ‘Tear-Up-Peel-And-Stick-Tile Bash’. Nick was thrilled, as you can imagine.

Removing peel-and-stick tile {Sawdust and Embryos} (2)

It ended up being super productive! Tim and Nick successfully peeled up all those nasty peel-and-stick tiles that the previous owners had laid. The adhesive below was soooo tacky (both literally and figuratively) that the tiles came up harder than we expected them to. But we’re glad we invested in the proper tool, or there really would have been some weeping and gnashing of teeth. Our poor vanity unsurprisingly didn’t survive the demolition. She had been going downhill for the past couple years, and just wasn’t strong enough to pull through the trauma. RIP shawty vanity.

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But before I get ahead of myself, let me tell you about the non-traditional flooring we chose. We were originally planning on saving our pennies for ceramic tile. However after doing some research, we discovered CVT tiles… which is what they use in school hallways (Commercial Vinyl Tile). It’s simple to install (compared to traditional tile) and SUPER durable… (Hello! Industrial grade!). And we loved that we could make it into a checkerboard pattern. But the thing that really pushed us over the edge was the .66 cent/sq ft price tag. You just can’t beat that! We seriously keep asking each other why more people don’t use this highly affordable/durable/gorgeous option (definitely not getting paid to say that either).

Here’s Nick and the girls laying them out to see how they’ll look (pre-floor demo).

CVT Commercial Vinyl Tile in Laundry Room {Sawdust and Embryos}

I feel like I should explain the fact that I recently bought the most adorable swimming suits at Target, and the girls got wind of it and insist on wearing them. I at least make them wear pants… I mean. It is March in Iowa.

Nick started in the far corner of the room and applied the flooring adhesive with a notched trowel. After it almost completely dried (a couple hours) it was time to carefully start placing tiles! We used a chalk line to find the exact center before spreading the adhesive to ensure perfectly straight installation.

InstallingCVT flooring in laundry room transformation {Sawdust and Embryos}

The other handy thing about using CVT over tile is that you can just use a band saw or scroll saw to cut the smaller parts for the corners and around vents and the toilet biz. Heck, you could even use a coping saw. They cut like butta and it was glorious.

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We rented what they call a ‘Tile Roller’ at our local home improvement store. This is basically an extremely heavy rolling pin that pushes al the ‘tiles’ down snug and flush with each other. I suggested that (since I weigh well over 100 lbs) he could just roll me around and save a few green bills, but he mumbled something about my weight not being evenly distributed. I’ll take that as a complement?

Using a tile roller on CVT flooring {Sawdust and Embryos}

With this room feeling more crisp and bright, I was starting to feel threatened by the giant mural that felt like a sea creature descending to attack me when I’m tinkling.

J

His days were numbered anyway. It pains me to show these pictures without trim along the floor to make things look more crisp and finished, but I’ve been informed that it makes no sense to install trim before adding the cabinetry and such…. soooo.

Operation Laundry Room... Flooring & Toilet PROGRESS {Sawdust and Embryos}

You may also have noticed the new toilet? No? Maybe that’s because a toilet is a toilet! However, some toilets don’t keep up their end of the deal when it comes to flushing, and we were getting pretty tired of plunging for even the smallest of turds. Plus we felt justified in this purchase because of the wad of change we saved on flooring.

bathroom laundry room4

Although this room is almost unrecognizable compared to just a month ago, we still have a LOT to do… namely the cabinetry and vanity (which Nick is building from scratch). Here’s our list breakdown in no particular order whatsoever.

  • Tear out shower
  • Reroute water/electrical for washer/dryer relocation
  • Insulate/drywall/paint
  • Move washer and dryer!
  • Update flooring
  • Fix ceiling and install recessed lighting
  • Build custom cabinetry and countertops
  • Add trim / crown moulding(?)
  • Replace toilet that gets clogged by even the smallest of turds
  • Figure out wall color
  • Backsplash

We will continue to update as progress is made! Until then, we’ll be playing life-size chess over here on our awesome checkerboard floor. I just love the bold high-contrast-ness of it!

New flooring & toilet for Operation Laundry Room Transformation! {Sawdust and Embryos}

Have you installed CVT in your home? Or used any other non-traditional flooring? Are there any murals in your home that threaten to eat you alive? I crack myself up!

UPDATE! Click here to see the rest of this transformation!

Sawdust & Embryos

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Comments

  1. 30

    I just had this exact floor installed in my downstairs after my basement flooded some months ago. I love the classic and versatile look. And I cannot beat the price of it, either. I have plans to do a compass rose in the same tile on my main floor landing, out of this same tile.

    Reply
  2. 31

    So, we have that same toilet issue! I am so sick of plunging everyday for the kiddos. I think I have my husband convinced to go toilet shopping this weekend, but how do you know what type of toilet to buy? I don’t want to buy one that will have the same issues. What type did you get and how did you choose it?! Thanks for your professional toilet opinions! 🙂

    Reply
  3. 32

    whoa, how did I miss this post?! I love the flooring with your shiny new washer and dryer! And that toilet looks so fancy!

    Reply
  4. 33

    The floor reminds me of my childhood synagogue- has brown and beige checkerboard. Congrats! I see what you mean about the mural, though it is beautiful. Good luck on the rest!

    Reply
  5. 34

    Best. post. ever.
    You’re my hero. Our bathroom needs SERIOUS work done to it. And we’ve been saving for tile. But this would work perfectly. Who knew?? And I love the checker pattern. It reminds me of See’s Candy!

    Reply
  6. 36

    Ok I’m obnoxious with two comments today, but I LOVE the checkerboard floor! It looks great and the price is awesome! I wonder why more people don’t use it? Also – good luck with the scary mural!

    Reply
  7. 37

    my friend put this tile down in her kitchen, about 10 years ago. it’s checkerboard also – yellow and white – and still looks fabulous. it’s also easy to clean. this looks fantastic!

    Reply
  9. 40

    We did our tiny bathroom recently and used a vinyl tile that you can grout. It is beautiful, looks just like ceramic tile, but like you said is so much easier to cut and lay than ceramic. Not sure what we spent per foot but it was way less than $100!

    Reply
  10. 42

    As I was growing up, I watched my parents do what you and your hubby do. I think through watching, I learned and now do the same kinds of things. Your girls are getting such a lesson in DIY and they don’t even know it! Blessings

    Reply
  11. 44

    I love the floor. Can you buy that kind of tile at the local hardware store? (Home Depot/Lowes)? Or did you have to go somewhere special for it?

    Reply
    • 45

      Yes Renee! I think any home improvement store should carry it. We got ours at Lowes, but we noticed Menards has it too. So I’m SURE HD would have it. They have limited color selection in store though, so you might need to order another color from them FYI.

      Reply
  13. 48

    The floor looks great, besides being cheaper than ceramic tile it also appears to be quicker to install. You are so fortunate to have such a skilled and handy husband.

    Reply
  14. 50

    I’m loving your checkerboard floor! The room is going to be great…you must be so excited! On a funny note, my husband was running the drill the other day and he says, “Wait a minute…I’ve got some sawdust and embryos in my eye….”

    Your reach is far. =D

    -andi

    Reply
  15. 52

    THAT is what we are going to use in our kitchen and bathroom! We hadn’t priced yet, so 86 cents sound fabulous! We were just going by colors– much more variety!
    Looks great!

    Reply
  16. 54

    Actually just installed this very tile in a commercial kitchen buildout for our mobile food cart here in DSM. Great price (got it for 59 cents in August) and nice durability. Also did the checker pattern.

    Reply
      • 58

        Ok your comment cracked me up Beth! I’ve told my husband, “You know when you’re in high school and talking about your dream guy and your dream life and your dream family? Yeah – I never realized how often you would worry about other people’s poop once you get into your dream life!” With kids it feels like I’m always trying to get the constipated one to go, the potty training one to go IN the toilet, and trying to figure out why the 3rd one would randomly be having diarrhea! AAH the glorious life of a mom! 🙂

        Reply

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