March’s Best: Farmhouse Bathroom Renovation Updates, Engaging Reads, and Smart Tech Picks
A monthly list of good things to see, buy, read and watch.
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As we welcome March, there’s an undeniable buzz of excitement in the air! While February offered a teasing glimpse into the gardening season with some early seed starts that got my hands dirty, March truly marks the beginning of full-on spring gardening. The promise of longer days and blooming life invigorates every fiber of my being, even if my local climate still presents a few chilly surprises, like the snow-capped hills I can currently see from my window. So, for now, it’s a delightful mix of indoor planting, meticulous garden planning, and an eagerness for warmer days to fully embrace the outdoors.
Beyond the garden, February brought significant progress to our ongoing farmhouse renovation — a project that continues to bring both challenges and immense satisfaction. The most thrilling development has been the official start of our upstairs bathroom renovation! Securing the permit was a major milestone, finally allowing us to order fixtures and solidify our design plan. This journey of transforming a functional but dated space into a charming, period-appropriate sanctuary is truly exciting. And, fittingly, our first “good thing” on this month’s list dives deep into the details of this very project. Let’s explore these exciting updates together!
Discovering Good Things This Month
Upstairs Bathroom Renovation: Mood Board & Design Journey
Embarking on a renovation project, especially in an old farmhouse, often feels like a delightful puzzle. To visualize how all my carefully selected elements would coalesce, I created the mood board you see above. My goal is to craft a classic 1900s-style bathroom that seamlessly integrates with the existing aesthetic and historical character of our farmhouse, echoing design details found throughout the rest of the home.
One of the foundational elements in this design is the beadboard wainscoting. As you can see in the bottom left corner of the mood board, I sought out an image that closely represents the beadboard paneling we plan to install. This choice isn’t arbitrary; it’s a deliberate nod to the original beadboard found in our kitchen, creating a cohesive design narrative throughout the house. This wainscoting will elegantly wrap around the new tub, which, though corner-situated in our actual bathroom, is beautifully depicted in the mood board.
To further enhance the vintage charm, I’m incorporating a peg rail along the top of the beadboard, an image of which I’ve also included. For the flooring, the original fir planks, unfortunately, aren’t in good enough condition to simply refinish. Therefore, I’ve decided to paint them a rich black. This decision not only provides a fresh, clean look but also harmonizes beautifully with the black and white flooring we have in our downstairs bathroom, ensuring a unified feel between the two spaces. I’m still contemplating adding a subtle white stencil pattern to the black floor, which could introduce an extra layer of visual interest and period flair.
Finding the perfect vanity for a specific, narrow space can be incredibly challenging. I desperately needed a vanity that was precisely 30 inches wide. After an exhaustive search, I was astonished to discover the pictured vanity at Costco for under $200! The quality far surpassed its price point, resembling a vanity typically costing $300-$400, complete with a beautiful Carrara quartz countertop and sink. It’s a shame it’s no longer available, as it was truly an exceptional find that perfectly fit our budget and aesthetic. The hunt for unique, high-quality pieces at unexpected prices is one of the most rewarding aspects of a renovation.
For the plumbing and lighting fixtures, I’ve primarily opted for brushed stainless. This finish isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s also incredibly practical for maintenance, resisting fingerprints and water spots more effectively than other finishes. A particular design challenge presented by our roofline necessitated an exposed plumbing shower fixture. I was absolutely thrilled to find this incredibly charming vintage-style tub and shower fixture. It’s both functional and perfectly aligns with the classic 1900s farmhouse aesthetic, adding a touch of period authenticity and undeniable charm to the space. And for the mirror, we’re repurposing a beautiful antique piece from our previous home, which has patiently awaited its moment to shine again in this new context.
Above, you can glimpse the starting point of our project – a room that, despite its ample size, only featured a toilet and a sink when we purchased the farmhouse. Our vision for this space is truly transformative. The sink will be relocated to the left wall, opening up the main wall for the new tub. Intriguingly, when we removed the existing flooring, we discovered a tub-shaped outline exactly where we plan to install our new one, almost as if the house was always meant to have a tub in that very spot!
A significant design goal for me is to eliminate the somewhat peculiar “throne” aspect of the existing toilet area. It was uniquely tiled and floored differently from the rest of the room, creating an unintentionally amusing, yet awkward, focal point. Our plan is to integrate this area more seamlessly into the overall design. We’ll follow the peak of the roof over the toilet (which, due to structural necessities, must remain recessed) but open up the space around it, treating it with the same finishes and design elements as the rest of the bathroom. This approach will create a more unified and aesthetically pleasing environment.
On the wall where the door is situated, there’s a built-in cabinet that appears to be from the 1950s. While its current style is a bit anachronistic for our 1900s farmhouse aesthetic, it offers invaluable storage. My intention is to upgrade its appearance by adding period-appropriate molding and installing glass doors on the upper section. This cosmetic transformation will give it the look and feel of a built-in from the early 20th century, blending it perfectly with our vintage-inspired design. Completing this upstairs bathroom will be a monumental achievement, especially for our guests, who will no longer need to navigate the stairs in the middle of the night to use the facilities. It’s about combining historical charm with modern comfort and practicality for everyone who visits our home.
Embracing Nostalgia with a Modern Twist: My New Bluetooth CD Player
Call me old-school, but I’ve genuinely missed the simple pleasure of playing my CD collection. This longing becomes particularly acute around Christmas, as I have a cherished selection of holiday albums I eagerly anticipate listening to each year. In an age dominated by streaming, my decision to forego Spotify’s paid subscription means enduring irritating ads every few songs. Furthermore, after more than a decade, we recently cancelled our Prime membership, which used to offer uninterrupted music. This left a significant void, making seamless, ad-free music playback impossible without a dedicated player.
My quest for the perfect CD player wasn’t without its detours. I initially tried another CD player with an integrated speaker, but its sound quality was disappointingly tinny, and it quickly broke, leading to a return. Undeterred, I continued my search and was absolutely delighted to discover this super sleek and simple rechargeable Bluetooth CD player. It perfectly captures the nostalgic design of portable players from decades past, yet it comes equipped with a crucial modern feature: Bluetooth capability. Connecting it to my UE Boom speaker was incredibly easy and effortless on the very first attempt – and the sound is simply WONDERFUL.
For discrete storage, I keep it tucked away in our TV cabinet, as pictured on the right, demonstrating how neatly it fits. Even with the cabinet doors closed, the player maintains a flawless connection to the speaker, ensuring it’s perfectly out of sight while still providing crystal-clear audio throughout the room. Its performance has been so impressive that it’s inspiring me to consider buying new CDs to refresh and expand my treasured old collection. This clever gadget truly offers the best of both worlds: the tangible joy of physical media combined with the convenience of modern wireless technology, making it an indispensable “good thing” for any music lover.
Get your own Rechargeable Bluetooth CD Player here
February Reads: A Literary Feast
What a truly exceptional reading month February turned out to be! After several consecutive months of rather uninspiring, “ho-hum” books, it was an absolute delight to dive into and thoroughly enjoy all six books I picked up. This collection offered a wonderful variety, from insightful Christian living to captivating historical fiction and revealing memoirs, each leaving a distinct impression.
When Strivings Cease by Ruth Chou Simmons. I am consistently drawn to Ruth Chou Simmons’s work; her writing is always relatable, deeply knowledgeable, and profoundly inspiring. This particular Christian living book powerfully addresses the pervasive culture of striving—the relentless pursuit of success, the desire to be the best, and the constant pressure to “give 110%” or believe that “if you’re not winning, you’re not trying.” Simmons eloquently argues that this exhausting cycle will never truly fulfill us. As she incisively states, “We are saved by grace because we will never get our act together on our own.” She beautifully illustrates that if Christians genuinely embraced this truth, they would become “unstoppable in proclaiming hope to a hopeless world” and “offering others the same grace we received from God.” This book serves as a powerful reminder to release the burden of self-effort and rest in divine grace, offering a refreshing perspective in our achievement-driven society.
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono. This highly anticipated memoir, released last November, was at the top of my Christmas wishlist as a longtime U2 fan. And, wow, is it extensive! I opted for the audiobook version, which I highly recommend for memoirs, as I find hearing the author narrate their own story to be a truly immersive experience. Bono’s narration is particularly engaging, interspersed with snippets where he breaks into song, alongside specially recorded editions of U2’s iconic tracks just for this book. (I’m curious how these musical elements are integrated into the print format—perhaps via a downloadable file?).
The first half of the book captivated me entirely. It meticulously details U2’s formation, their shared faith as teenagers and adults, and how a higher power seemingly orchestrated much of their extraordinary success—a truly eye-opening account. Bono’s deep love and unwavering devotion to his childhood sweetheart and wife were also incredibly inspiring. However, the true highlight for me was hearing the intimate stories behind the songs, the creative process, and the historical context of their writing and production. It’s a joyous and insightful recounting, filled with fascinating anecdotes. While the second half, with its emphasis on Bono’s extensive humanitarian work, felt a bit slower for me, the entire journey was profoundly rewarding. I’m almost certain I’ll be revisiting this audiobook again in the future.
In This Grave Hour (Maisie Dobbs 13) by Jacqueline Winspear. February saw me diving headfirst into a Maisie Dobbs marathon! I was engrossed in finishing a knitted shawl and found these audiobooks to be the perfect accompaniment, often choosing them over watching TV while my hands were busy. The title of this particular installment is drawn from King George VI’s poignant radio address to the British people after the prime minister declared war with Germany, immediately setting a somber, historically rich tone. The burgeoning shadows of World War II form the very heart of the narrative, providing a compelling backdrop to a murder Maisie must unravel. We are also introduced to a charming new character, a young girl, among the many children evacuated to the countryside due to the imminent threat of invasion in London. Whether it’s my growing familiarity with the characters and setting or Ms. Winspear’s evolving mastery of her craft, I find myself enjoying each successive book in this series more and more, eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Maisie’s journey.
To Die But Once (Maisie Dobbs 14) by Jacqueline Winspear. Continuing the captivating narrative from the previous book, this installment beautifully develops the storyline of the child sent to stay at Maisie’s country house, offering a truly wonderful and healing arc for our beloved heroine. Winspear masterfully brings to life the lived experience of Londoners under the shadow of war, depicted through the daily realities of Maisie’s friends, family, and professional life. A particularly poignant moment involves the teenage son of her best friend, who bravely takes a boat to aid in the evacuation of British troops from the shores of Dunkirk, a decision fraught with fear and lasting repercussions. Maisie and her friend join an ambulance driving team, preparing for the inevitable bombings that threaten the city. Simultaneously, Maisie assists a neighbor in uncovering the truth behind the tragic death of their teenage son. All these personal dramas unfold against a backdrop of blackout curtains, towering barrage balloons, and the relentless daily news of the war. It’s an incredibly immersive experience, making the historical context profoundly vivid and almost unfathomable to imagine living through.
Booth by Karen Joy Fowler. This book had been on my library waiting list for months, having garnered significant buzz upon its release. As a history enthusiast, I was quite sure it would resonate with me. I must admit, however, that it took me a good 100 pages to fully immerse myself in the narrative and grasp its unique format. Fowler’s writing style is almost historical in itself, featuring small, impactful paragraphs that intersperse the main story with factual accounts of Abraham Lincoln’s activities during the same period. The novel centers on the Booth family, particularly the acclaimed actor father, who was considered the foremost Shakespearean actor of his era, and how one of his sons later eclipsed him on stage. It was a truly fascinating read, not just as a family saga, but also for its vivid portrayal of the surrounding socio-political landscape of the time, grappling with issues of slavery and national politics. That said, the story is undeniably sad, as John Wilkes Booth’s assassination of President Lincoln irrevocably scarred every member of his large family. They endured death threats, and some were forced to flee the country. Fowler shared that her inspiration for exploring this complex narrative stemmed from hearing about modern mass shootings and pondering how the families of perpetrators navigate such devastating repercussions. It’s a powerful exploration of historical trauma and its ripple effects.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry. While I still found elements of this memoir enjoyable, it was arguably my least favorite read this month. I can certainly empathize with the relentless demon of addiction that plagued Matthew Perry throughout his life. However, I eventually grew weary of his recurring blame placed on his parents’ divorce when he was an infant, and his childhood experiences flying as an “unaccompanied minor” from Canada to his father in Los Angeles. Goodness, I flew similarly to visit my father in the 70s, and it was a common practice. At least his father remained consistently in contact, rather than abandoning him entirely (though Perry expresses feeling abandoned as an infant). What is subtly pervasive, yet never explicitly stated, is the immense privilege Perry experienced growing up. His father was the recognizable “Old Spice guy” in commercials, his mother served as an assistant to Canada’s prime minister, Pierre Trudeau, and later married Dateline NBC’s Keith Morrison. He attended excellent schools and played tennis on the junior circuit in Canada. He largely bypassed the “starving actor” phase that many stars, like Viola Davis or Michael J. Fox, describe in their memoirs, and amassed a significant fortune from his role on ‘Friends.’ So, when he states at the end of the book that he would trade places in a minute with a friend living in a rent-controlled NYC apartment who worries about money but not addiction, I admit to rolling my eyes. It’s a sentiment easy to voice when you’ve never truly known the insecurity of struggling to make ends meet. The book also paints a somber picture, suggesting it would be a miracle if he lived a long life, given the extensive damage his body endured from his addictions. I also wished there had been more behind-the-scenes anecdotes involving the ‘Friends’ cast; those rare glimpses were truly the most engaging stories.
What We’re Watching: A Delightful Mystery
Magpie Murders, PBS. My husband, Brian, and I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating BBC series, an adaptation of the brilliant novel by Anthony Horowitz. The show features an incredibly clever “book-within-a-book” premise, where the editor of a crime novel finds herself investigating the death of its author, uncovering a real-life mystery intertwined with the fictional one. The intricate plot kept us guessing at every turn; it was certainly not an easy mystery to figure out, which made the viewing experience all the more rewarding and engaging. If you enjoy smart, well-crafted whodunits with a unique narrative structure, this series is an absolute must-watch.
That’s it for another exciting edition of the Good Things List!
If you’re keen to explore more of my monthly recommendations and discoveries, you can check out all the previous Good Things Lists here. I’m always eager to hear your thoughts – whether you’ve tried any of these recommendations or have your own wonderful finds to share. Please leave a comment below with your insights and suggestions!
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