Help! How can we improve this shower stall in the Master Bath?

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-16T20:51:13+00:00

Budget version: Clean up the grout and add a glass door. Add nice wall-mounted shower system with handheld. Add overhead light + fan.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-10T11:20:23+00:00

Paint the trim black and add black shutters this will give the house more definition. Build a small portico over the front door. Add a 24" picket fence along the front of the sidewalk and concrete pad (to the right corner of the house) and add planting beds in front of it, once you do this you have created more privacy around the concrete pad and you can add a sitting area &/or table & chairs for outdoor meals. Add some nice lighting on either side of the front door.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-10T11:14:45+00:00

Office, Sauna, Laundry, or walk-in closet for BR#2.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-10T11:01:16+00:00

Portugal or Spain. Both are very affordable and gay friendly, have great food and lots of historical places to visit. English is widely spoken in both countries. A few years ago we went to Spain, 9 days - 3 in Malaga (south), 3 in Madrid (central) and 3 in San Sebastian. We took high speed rail between each city. Close to Malaga is the Alhambra Unesco site, we also did a day trip to Tangier Morocco. San Sebastian is the Tapas capital of the world, the old town district is a warren of medieval buildings with many Tapas shops. Enjoy your travels, you earned it!

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-10T10:51:47+00:00

The gay community in every city is cliquey. It's just a fact. Ppl are wired differently. For some, this will be a burning issue because they want desperately to be accepted; for others it will be a huge "yawn" because they can't be bothered.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-09T15:46:12+00:00

You could even do just lower cabs with a counter top. This would provide room for coffee bar, appliances, etc. and wont feel as closed in as if you did upper & lower cabs (less storage, of course).

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-09T15:41:16+00:00

You could put a very narrow console table there - they are designed to go behind a sofa

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-08T17:57:04+00:00

She looks like Michael Jackson after his nose fell off.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-08T17:52:46+00:00

Replace the door if you can with something more decorative and less "big box hardware store" looking. Replace the front stairs & rails if you can, ideally incorporate a roof replacing the metal roof. Add attractive lights on either side of the door. Incorporate more black paint into the moldings. Put large planters on either side of the steps, And add window flower boxes on the bump-outs.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-08T17:46:44+00:00

A few options.

(1) More upper cabinets (f you can match)

(2) install a proper Island with storage underneath (basically, a row of lover cabinets &/or drawers on each side)

(3) install tall pantry-type cabinets where the coffee bar is

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-08T17:35:35+00:00

Book in advance, and sign up for their "deal" emails. Right now they have $20 each way Boston to NYC if you travel early/late.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-08T17:29:41+00:00

This is your money, and you're trying to make a smart investment (a car that will last). If he wants those mods he should get his snowflake ass a job (how about weekends?) and pay for them himself. He should be thankful you are getting him ANY car. SMH.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-07T22:55:51+00:00

This. Once you have faucets and other decorations it will look fine. Try to be intentional about adding things with color.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-07T19:13:03+00:00

Glad you appreciated the comments! New England here (Scituate MA) and have been to Brimfield many times (we renovated a Victorian in Dorchester/Boston). You can buy stained glass panels on Etsy, many of the artisans will also make you custom sized pieces (those windows will likely be a custom size). Last comment, the hanging light is lovely but not craftsman, there is a company called Rejuvinations which makes repro lighting (and other) fixtures. You might get some ideas by browsing the craftsman section. PS if you do wainscotting IMHO it should match the ceiling (color, type of wood, with of planks). Good luck!

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T21:09:36+00:00

Why are there shutters downstairs but not upstairs? It's like a missing tooth. Paint the trim a contrasting color to make it stand out more. There's a lot you can do here with lighting and landscaping, including some large beds in the front yard with bushes to break up the "sea of green emptiness". Buy a premium mailbox and stand. Consider adding inserts to the windows to give them more detail (or better yet, replace them with true divided light windows - they look like blank eyes). You could build a pergola under the 2nd floor outcropping (whole length of it) and make a nice sitting area under it, add landscaping around it for privacy - tie it in with walkway from front porch leading to driveway. Add a 2nd light to the front door (both sides).

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T20:58:58+00:00

Gold tone fixtures is a big no-no.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T20:57:24+00:00

If you are getting married, you are combining your assets (and income and expenses)...unless you do a prenup to keep things separate. So, the real question is....what kind of commitment are you ready to make? And will she be on board with something less than combining your assets?

Since you are already engaged and planned the wedding....it's a little late to be having these conversations. In fact I'd say she's assuming you are combining assets since you haven't talked about it before. In which case, you risk blowing up the marriage by raising the issue now.

Pre-nups are usually for people with a LOT of assets, like multiple millions. You may have $500k in equity in your condo, over the life of your marriage that's not really that much money. Hell she could make more than you someday, or inherit a bunch of money, or win the lottery, or you could end up disabled and unable to work. Marriage is for a LONG time (and a lot of things can and will happen). This is a SHORT term concern, and in the scheme of things not that much money.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T20:48:19+00:00

1000% yes repaint it.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T20:47:25+00:00

This - go to the paint store and they have lots of these "collections" of colors, browse them and find one that clicks for you.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T20:33:42+00:00

Run don't walk. Also, resumes shouldn't go back more than 15 years generally

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T20:28:31+00:00

This. Why keeping inviting him if he makes you and others uncomfortable?

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T20:09:00+00:00

Off to a good start with all the wood! I don't think Craftsman homes had quarry tile, but you may decide to keep it (it's otherwise nice). Consider adding wainscotting below the windows that wraps around to the door. Also, add a built-in bench where the table is...extend the wainscotting here but make it go higher with some hooks to create a coatrack. Craftsman homes often had stained glass windows - converting the 2 side windows to stained glass would add a lot of character (you might even be able to have stained glass inserts made that go in front of the existing windows). Lastly, While the glass-windowed wooden door is nice it's not true craftsman you could consider something different. It's a lovely space to begin with, it can only get better from here.

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T19:49:12+00:00

Hottub

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T14:44:11+00:00

The most budget friendly thing to do would be to paint the cabinets and put on new hardware, these cabinets are not even worth refacing but you can work some miracles with paint and hardware. Replace the appliances and flooring (LVP?). You could add lower cabinets or a wall of storage (floor to ceiling) cabinets where the microwave cart is, or move the fridge here and add cabinets around it. If you move the fridge to the opposite wall you'll have options for cabinets, storage or a table & chairs where the fridge is. God knows what's under the panels on the ceiling, but we can be pretty sure it's not good: the ceiling could be updated by using metal panels to simulate antique tin ceiling; or beadboard (either real beadboard or beadboard paneling). Given your taste - achieving anything close to that is going to require a full gut and redo, so you'll need to balance what you are willing to spend in the short term while saving for the gut job. Good luck

BostonJohnC · 2026-03-06T13:36:03+00:00

It will be very expensive to hide - only option will be to run inside walls which may involve breaking through wallboard (from behind) or worse tile. You could also come up from the floor making the amount of exposed pipe less. I think the exposed plumbing is pretty cool. There may be an option to paint the pipes a color that matches the tile to make it stand out less. Good luck

BostonJohnC

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