I’m starting this post with an “after” pic because we are so pleased with the results of this project! It just took WAY longer than we thought to complete (keep reading to find out why). This vanity replaces a very decorative vanity (pictured below), which was purchased by the previous homeowners. Aside from not liking the style of the original we were puzzled by how to use it properly in the space because it didn’t have any drawers. We struggled to find places to put things like toothbrushes and hair brushes, so decided it was an easy first update to this new home of ours.

This update came with several challenges: First, there is a floor vent beneath the vanity, meaning any replacement would need to be free-standing, unless we wanted to re-route the vent. Second, the space is an odd size for the most-popular sizes available at the big box stores (44″ wide would be perfect, but the most common sizes are 36″ 42″ and 48″. With these challenges in mind, we decided to piece something together on our own. We started by finding a vanity bottom that met our needs. We ended up finding exactly what we were looking for and ordered it online from Home Depot:

The vanity is part of the Cambridge collection by Ariel. It’s 42″ wide, 34.5″ tall and 21.5″ deep. We wanted something sturdy, which we got thanks to the hardwood design, and it also came with soft-closing doors and drawers, which was an added perk.

With the vanity bottom in place, we painted the walls and did a little plumbing to replace the rusty supply lines. The walls are now “Mineral” by Behr in a satin finish (we used the color in multiple rooms in our Apple Valley home). The vanity top was a granite remnant found at The Pinske Edge here in Rochester, MN. This is our second granite counter they have made for us from remnants at their business. We love the pattern, as you can tell because we used something nearly identical in a previous project at our first house. Unfortunately, the customization process meant our bathroom sink was out of commission for more than a month. The company needed the new vanity bottom in place and mounted to take accurate measurements, which is understandable. Then, after several weeks of waiting, the granite they brought out for installation had been miss-measured and the sink sat too far forward. We had to pick out another remnant, get another set of measurements taken, then wait another full week to get it installed. In the end, it was worth it, because we ended up changing our mind about the granite color and going with what you see below. We are very happy with The Pinske Edge and would hire them again without hesitation.

The faucet is Moen Lindor brushed nickel. We like the design and this may be the second time we’ve purchased this particular one.

Finally, we updated the mirror, installing a simple builder’s grade 36″x 42″ which we might frame in down the road.

With the new white cabinet, the softer grey/beige color on the walls, the space feels so much brighter and much more “us” – we’re very happy with the results. The next update you can expect to see in this space will be white doors and trim. Thanks for reading!
-Mike

I’ve always loved playing pool. Having a table in my home has been a dream since I was a kid. It seemed like luxury living to dedicate such a large area to entertainment, while avoiding all the quarters needed to play a game at a bar. Unfortunately, I’ve never lived in a home where it made sense. I also figured the price tag would be too much to afford. That all changed when we moved to Rochester. As far as a space for a table, our new home came equipped with a large family room in the basement, which would be perfect for pool. The second obstacle, price, was also about to become a non-issue. Around the time we were looking to move, a close friend in Iowa mentioned how he’d like to get rid of a table that was taking up space in his basement. He offered it to me for free, which was the same way he came to possess the antique from 1976. I quickly took him up on the offer.

Several weeks after moving into the new place, I rented a trailer, made the drive to Iowa, loaded up the parts, and brought it all to Minnesota. Moving the table was made easier because it broke down into many parts, including 3 pieces of 3/4″ slate for the pool table surface.

Assembly was pretty easy, especially considering the table was nearly 50 years old and came with zero instructions. After watching several YouTube videos on the topic, I used beeswax to seal the gap between the slate pieces, then had to turn my attention to replacing the felt.

We considered having professionals do the work for us, until we got the estimates. The pros wanted to charge between $500 and $1,000 to replace the felt. I’m sure it would be worth it for an expensive table, but I kept reminding myself this was a free table and a chance to learn a new skill. I decided to buy felt online for around $130 and invest in a new air-powered staple gun and got to work.

With help from my father-in-law, who had done this himself in the past, we made quick work of the process. We’re thrilled with the green color and how it turned out.

I finished the project by finding a nice cover and installing a ceiling lamp over the pool table. Fixing the drywall I had to remove in the process will be another project.

The table is great and I’m looking forward to hosting get-togethers and playing with friends and family. I also hope to avoid turning the table into a storage space, as I’ve seen happen in many homes.

Thanks for reading!
-Mike