Watching the Work!

With this whole bathroom remodel, Matt's Dad had stood more than willing to help with all of it. But, Matt knows what he's doing and wants no one over his shoulder when he is "in the zone" and the hours he has worked on it have been random and very late. So, we held out on using his Dad's help until needing to build a vanity. Willing to buy a premade vanity to save Matt time, we began looking around. We either discovered cheap quality or a huge price tag. We just couldn't bring ourselves to spend the asking price of over a 1,000 dollars for the base. Just the base. Add a granite slab atop that and the damage would have been well over our monthly mortgage. In Matt's words, "we can afford a place to wash our hands...but we'd be kicked out of the house it is in!"

So, plan B H. I drew a composite sketch of a couple open-shelf pictures I LOVED (originally a bit different at 36" than the 31" that was built in the end). Matt ok-ed it and mentioned the plan to his Dad. His dad rounded up the needed wood and stain. When an open day that the two of them could get together was found, the project would be ready to take off. It took weeks to find such a day, but...

This past Saturday, Matt headed up to his Dad's garage planning to spend basically the whole day there! That place has got to be the dream of any woodworker. It holds all the machines needed! The most interesting of the day: the router that makes dove-tail drawers. The kids and I wandered to their house shortly after noon, and while the girls hunkered down for an inside movie, Tyler and I sat watching the guys build. Matt and Matt Sr. may have thought my voice held some sarcasm when I expressed my interest in seeing. But, having grown up enjoying the occasional Saturday-morning "Yankee Workshop" show, I was sincere in wanting to sit back and watch the process. Between the two of them, methods were discussed and every joint was built as square as possible. Impeccable craftsmanship. As good as any wood shop we could have ordered from at top dollar! (Bless their talent for bringing the potential cost down from over $1500 to under $300. Total!...because at this finishing stage we've hit the wall of how expensive this room is...They want what?!? for faucets!!)

And, tools and joints aside, I also completely enjoyed watching them interact. They had a rhythm going. Add a curious third generation among the measuring tapes and power tools (when off), and it was a priceless afternoon! A really nice afternoon alongside Matt's dad, and as some know, such positive moments have been few and far between over the past several years. When I look at this finished vanity in my finished bathroom (nearly there...nearly there!), I'm certain I'll flash back to the generous effort put into it!

A labor of love, this bathroom is!