Zinka Benton and Fran Rzeznik are determined to renovate their dated guest bathroom. Their plan: to paint the walls, tile the floor and salvage a vintage claw-foot tub. They hope to have the bathroom completed in two weeks time. Will they succeed?
Their first hurdle is to find a claw-foot tub. Fran and Zinka head to a salvage yard to find what they want. They return home and do some demolition work in the bathroom. This includes removing the medicine cabinet, the vanity and the sink. The following day, Fran and Zinka focus their attention on their newfound treasure--the claw-foot tub. They use naval jelly to remove rust from the cast-iron surface, and soon its original character begins to shine through.
By day three, Fran and Zinka have succeeded in removing most of the rust from the tub, but it remains far from being shipshape. They use a sander to smooth the surface and begin priming. When finished, they return to the bathroom, as the primer needs 24 hours to dry. They lay tile on the floor and put a coat of paint on the walls. Slowly but surely, the bathroom is starting to come together.
Fran and Zinka's biggest challenge may be getting their refurbished tub from the garage into the house. With the aid of some very helpful neighbors, Fran and Zinka carry their precious cargo up the narrow steps to the house. After two weeks of time-consuming effort, Fran and Zinka finish their project right on schedule. What was once a cramped and unsightly space has been transformed into a small but inviting retreat that complements the rest of the house. It turned out better than either of them had expected; and as Fran and Zinka know, when it comes to home improvement, imagination, care and hard work can be as important as expertise!
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