...or a down payment on a new car

So, I did some more searching for medicine cabinets online.  If you want to, you could go really high end...or just make a nice down payment on a new car.  I found medicine cabinets that cost well over $1,000 - for just one!  And it's not just a pretty face; it has a refrigerated compartment for temperature sensitive cosmetics and medications.  WHAT?!  (see pic at right)

And for those of you paranoid about your guests rummaging through your medicine cabinet (as if you've never done it yourself!), there's one with a lock and key.  (pictured at left) 

Well, I'm not having much luck finding anything cheaper than the finds from my last post.  It's just as well.  I'm growing pretty fond of the one with the wide frame.

www.medicinecabinetshop.com

There is actually a website strictly for medicine cabinets.   No joke. It's called Medicine Cabinet Shop.com.  Go figure.  There is a website for anything.  I found that one by searching "white medicine cabinet" with Google.  But the prices were not what I was hoping to pay.  So, back to Google.  One of the links that came up on my second search was a picture of a cabinet on Amazon.com.  A search in Amazon.com's home garden department brought up over 600 results.  The prices ranged from a mere $16.68 (top quality, I'm sure) to hundreds of dollars for a single cabinet. 

I plan to do a wall-mounted cabinet so, I don't want one that's too deep.  And, although I don't like the oversized mirror I have now, I do like that the mirror helps my small space appear larger.  So, I'd like the mirror on the cabinet to be substantial, but not too big.  Unfortunately, these search parameters cannot be applied to my Amazon.com search.  Fortunately, the price jumps to over $75.00 on page 2 of my search and that drastically narrows my choices.  From the Amazon.com search I ended up with the following two choices.  First, the Heartland White Medium Cabinet.  It's your basic medicine cabinet with a white border, chrome knob and two inside shelves.  The depth is just over 5 inches which is probably pushing my limit. 

The second option is the Foremost Newport Small Mirror in Antique White.  It's pictured here with coordinating pieces.  I like the wide frame around the mirror and it is only 1 inch deep. The dimensions are 23" x 29".  I will have to make a mock up from paper to get a better idea of the size and whether or not the mirrored portion is large enough.  In the picture, it appears to sit inside the wall, but the Amazon.com description doesn't specify.  It does, however, appear in the sub-category "wall-mounted mirrors."  These cabinets are $32.72 and $65.99, respectively.

Well, this is only day one of my search.  Who knows?  Maybe there are hundreds of websites solely dedicated to finding the right wall-mounted white medicine cabinet.  We shall see.

From Watching to Reading to Doing

I can thank my parents for making me a fan of the PBS television series "This Old House."  I remember spending Saturdays in my pj's watching marathons of TOH as well as "Hometime."  Was that guy married to any of his female cohosts?  A few years ago, I rediscovered TOH and it's spin-off, "Ask This Old House," both part of the This Old House hour on PBS's Saturday morning lineup.  I was in home repair and renovation heaven.  I'll tell you something:  If I had the opportunity to get an autograph from any of the five experts on TOH, I might pass out.  If you don't know who these experts are, allow me to introduce you.  The willing-to-try-anything host is Kevin O'Conner.  The resident carpenter and host of his own program, "New Yankee Workshop," is Norm Abram.  Adding their invaluable advice are general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey (Rich), and landscape contractor Roger Cook. 

In addition to the television program, I glean information from a subscription to This Old House, the magazine.  I'm a TOH junkie!  And, although I cannot give up my addiction, I must put it into action.  So, I decided to take advantage of these resources and tackle my own home renovation projects one room at a time.  Where to begin?  The master bathroom.  I hate the bathroom.  I'm a terrible housekeeper and so mine is always a mess.  That's an understatement.  It's filthy.  I'm not going to lie.  And it's very plain.  Honey oak cabinetry, white walls, white toilet, white tub and shower combo, white counter, a huge non-descript mirror, your basic globe vanity lights and beige carpet.  Woo-hoo.  Perhaps if I made this room into one that I want to keep clean, then I actually will.

So, what's the plan?  First, I want to get rid of that gi-normous mirror and replace it with two mirrored medicine cabinets.  Did I mention there is next to no storage in this bathroom?  I'll post pictures.  Once I find the cabinets and before I mount them, I want to paint the walls.  I plan to take the paint color from the adjoining master bedroom and darken it a few shades.  I would love to replace the stock cabinetry, counter, and sink with a piece of furniture like an old buffet.  My husband cringes at that idea.  So, it may remain a dream.  I also want to tile the floor.  Finally, I'll add finishing touches like matching towel bars and, what?! - matching towels!  That's not much, right?  I hope to finish by July, 2010.  Hey, I have a two year old, gimme a break!

First order of business:  find medicine cabinets.