Miranda You appear to be making all the right choices in life. I will be a little bit presumptuous by offering some advice on helping you to raise your child in touch with nature in this age full of all the electronic lures that keep the kids indoors. or, when outdoors, glued to a small screen, rather than the glory that surrounds them. I am writing a book about landscape architecture and have a section regarding the importance of embracing nature in the preschool years. - which I would like to forward that section to you. However, my computer skills are limited to email and US Mail. I don't even know how to attach a picture to the text. If you would like to receive this draft from my future book, send me your email or postal address, and I'll get it right off to you. My email is cascio.offsite@gmail.com Good luck with your new challenges and opportunities. Joe Cascio

Hello misshaley, Good question. I will put more details in soon on how this is made. keep following me.

unless you have a very big bathroom the actual laying of the tiles could be the smallest cost of the whole renovation (what is the size of the space?)...there's also the removal of the old finish (and any old asbestos) and preparation of the new surfaces and waterproofing and any new fixtures and tile glue and trims and grout...ask the tiler what is included for the price

I think that your builder's quote seems fair and reasonable, and am surprised it is not actually more. You have an old house with old walls that are not straight or square, and you want to make it all perfect for your square set for your ceiling/wall junction? As mentioned above this is precision work, and needs a fair bit of preparation to get right. Why don't you research Edwardian plaster cornices to see if you like any of them and ask your builder to quote as an alternative to labour-intensive square-set, which has a more contemporary feel? As quotes for variations are not in competition with other builders who are quoting your builder doesn't need to be super-competitive. I know some builders who make a lot of their profit from variations. I don't think your builder is one of them. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls