@apple_pie_order We will likely do the laundry room/guest bathroom renovation before we do the blue bathroom for my mother. That way, when we do start working on Mom's bathroom, there will be one she can use. I need to clean up my room. It's got too much junk in the way for her to easily get to the bathroom. My brother using my bathroom is short-term, but I eventually want to add some shelves, possibly cabinets, etc for more storage. I want to have storage for toilet paper, wet wipes, tissues, etc. It's so nice to be able to take a shower whenever I want instead of having to drive over to my friend's house and hope no one is doing laundry or having people wanting to come in to use the bathroom while I'm showering (friend only has the one bathroom). I made a To Do list for the bathroom (in no particular order) Remove tools & junk-- find storage for them Clean up floor & counter Install robe hook Move or trim peg on board with pegs that interfere with door Fix cut joist under the tub Cut access panel under tub from closet Change out overflow & drain for tub Replace faucet & lavatory drain Replace S-trap with either in-wall vent stack or AAV Open up wall behind toilet to examine any pipes (possibly merge tub vent) Sand & paint vanity Install new hinges & pulls on vanity + magnets to help doors stay shut Sand & paint dresser Install new knobs on dresser Sand & paint door Put mirror on door Sand & paint rough wood trim all around room (door, window, ceiling, etc) Replace trim on vanity with pvc cove moulding Install beadboard, chair rail, and baseboards Replace triple toggle switch with new 20Amp triple rocker switch Replace old GFCI with new Add light switch next to GFCI for vanity light Install vanity light Install light over shower Install bracket to hold mop and broom Build new mirror frame & install new mirror above vanity Figure out some storage for bath slippers It seems like a long list, but hopefully it won't be so bad. I'm thinking shelves or cabinets over the laundry cart will help. I might make cabinets though. It can start as shelves and I can add wood to make them in to cabinets. I was going to raise the toilet up with a platform, but it seems to be ok for now. I might add a small grab bar later on to help me get up if I start to have problems.

You can't live in peace...you can't, your husband can't, and your kids can't...if you are keeping more things than you have room for. We all live with space constraints, and I can tell you from experience that the constant stress of too much stuff and no room put it, and no efficient means of living and working, is TERRIBLE for your relationships, your energy, your sense of accomplishment, and your health. I am still sorting and pitching from our move out of a big house into a small one two years ago. Trying to keep more than you can live with makes you feel poor, not rich. The thing that jumped out at me in your post was that your husband doesn't want your workroom in your bedroom. And assuming that your childrens' reasonable needs are met, nothing is more important to family life than the happiness of your relationship. So from the way you describe your house, it seems to me that perhaps your dining room would make the ideal office for you. If you can keep it organized and hide it away when your workday is over, then you can turn your attention to storage for the toys your children will keep...after you explain than nobody can live with more stuff than they have room for. Last idea...do you have the budget for a small storage locker somewhere? Can you ease the process of reducing the toy mess by making a game out of choosing this month's toys...only as many as you can put away every night...and storing the rest? Then once a month, you all go to the locker and pick out a different set for that month. Like going to the toy store, only without the spending? If your children are very young, twice a month might be better...or even once a week. I think if you make a whole-house, whole family project out of this, you will all gain a sense of control and accomplishment that will bring you closer, and make everything go better.

Also...now that each bedroom has a bathroom...are you putting son in front bedroom? Just thought it might give younger girls more privacy and they could each have window seats, if they like. And it makes their rooms almost identical, except for bathroom window :) I'm guessing older son might want a desk or chair, but that's based on my nephew at that age...or maybe drums. LOL

Using just the face frames(fronts) and building new boxes would be the best way to utilize those. However, you will be hard pressed to match the finish or extend it to the edges on the front. Seems to me building all new cabinets/shelves with period correct wood(same variety as the rest of the house and getting the stain/finish close would be better, easier, and safer. The only gotcha will be the grain of the new wood will probably be different(old growth versus new growth). And, if the present wood is chestnut, I doubt you will find any, much less enough. It very well may be mahogany, walnut, white oak, or a variety of pine. And the finish is probably shellac. Which is good, because there are still easily found colors of shellac, which means approximating the finish color will be easier.