Bathroom Inspiration

Today's Agenda:  Culling through all of my tear pages and magazine clippings...there are lots!

In one of newspaper clippings, ran across a link to a local VA lighting store's blog -- dominionelectric.blogspot.com and stumbled upon this image:

Via dominionelectric.blogspot.com

Not so sure about the spacing between the mirror and the faucet and between the mirror and the lamps.  But I like that it's different but still doable and realistic.  Definitely going in my inspiration file. 

Friday's Organizing Items

Today's Agenda:  Still thinking about bathroom design -- specifically tile!  Basically there are a lot of great options out there and a lot of, well, not so great options out there.  And some place in between is the tile that will be the right look AND budgeted for this project.  I have some ones picked out at a local tile place that I actually really like and hope will work!

While searching for tile I have also been searching retailer's sites for bathroom storage.  Pottery Barn's website has a ton more than it used to for the bath.  Stuff that is actually helpful and not crazy expensive! I know, imagine that! 

Basically every room needs the same set of storage items -- (1) over the door, (2) on wheels or feet, (3) upright or on floor and (4) in baskets/containers.  Then you have to decide what size of each you need based on the room and what color/style you are looking for. 

Pottery Barn has actually hit these 4 types right on the head -- and I can also imagine using them in different rooms so if you hate to commit to buying these types of items since you might not be where you are forever then these may just be the right pieces for you.  Even if you are in a place for a short time, it's so much more enjoyable to be organized and it may even make you realize you don't need to move so soon!

Here's our "four key storage pieces every room should have" as designed for the bath by Pottery Barn --

(1)  over-the-door storage {can imagine this in a baby's room too behind the door for diapers and lotions or in an art studio with old button downs hanging on the hooks to use as smocks}

(2)  storage on wheels {like the way they have styled this; again useful in other rooms just in case you move!  could even be a bar or side table in a living room}

(3) hamper storage {could use in an entryway for sneakers too; interesting underneath the vanity}

 

(4) storage in baskets {oh, these could be used just about anywhere and 10" deep is a nice size to fit on most shelves}

500+

Today's Agenda:  More bathroom design!  I can now see everything coming together so am loving this stage of refining it.  Right now this in the design of one of the bathrooms:

(it's bold but I think will look great in this contemporary bathroom designed for a child -- reds, browns, some elephants and zebras making cameo appearances)

I am also devouring every.single.page of House Beautiful's 500+ Favorite Paint Colors "bookazine" that I scored at Costco yesterday. 

Loving these colors.

Glass Slipper

Coral Spice

Stone Harbor

Blue Toile

Rhythm and Blues

Van Deusen Blue

Powder Sand

Wolf Gray

Black Satin

Bright Yellow

Coral Gables

Amazon Moss

 {all paints by Benjamin Moore}

And, take their "Quiz:  Color Personality" -- it's a fun trip down memory lane and way to think about the colors you surround yourself with!

1.  What's the first color you see in the morning?
2.  What color are your eyes?
3.  What color do you wear the most?
4.  What color do you never wear?
5.  What color do you wear when you want to feel sexy?
6.  What color gets the most compliments?
7.  What color is your lipstick?
8.  What color was your living room when you were growing up?
9.  What color was your bedroom when you were growing up?
10.  What color are your sheets?
11.  What color was your favorite crayon as a child?
12.  What color is your car?
13.  What color was your prom dress?
14.  What's your favorit gemstone?
15.  What is your favorite flower?
16.  What color makes you happiest?
17.  What color depresses you?
18.  What color calms you?
19.  What color makes you grind your teeth?
20.  What color would you like to try, but are scared to?

Good Day!

Today's Agenda:  Nursery design, bathroom design.  Meals and catching up with a couple friends in between. 

Today has been a good day so far.  Sent out initial nursery design (another post for this week!), got new tires on car (apparently just in time), working on bathroom design and making some good progress and, yes, went to Marshalls.  Here's a look at some of the finds at Marshalls today.  I haven't been in awhile and got that "Marshalls high" -- sad, I know (I also get the same high from working out, seeing friends and family, you know, less materialistic things) but it's fun and my life these days is about having more fun.

Pieces for the mantel or to style built-in shelves...

Beautiful bedding...

 

A couple of cute kids' picks...um, these shoes were amazing...

For a little girls' room...with all white...

Lamps and stools...perfect summer updates for the family

Who doesn't need a little animal print??  Just a little though...

And a couple of accents...I had to buy that little vase for only $1.99 -- a new place for some of my fun little spoons in the kitchen

If only I had that storage space for these things...I know they would all be useful some day!!

Lots of Ideas

Today's Agenda:  I have ideas for about four projects in my head.  Must write them all down. 

On Sunday's Ikea trip I spotted these barstools.  I love ours but these were really stunning -- especially for Ikea.  Unfortunately, ours aren't going to wear out anytime soon!

With a couple of these pendants (yes, they are pricey but I can dream!)...

...around this kitchen island...

...all that's needed is some red wine, french cheeses and a few great girlfriends gathered around. 

Friday's Organizing Item

Today's Agenda:  My dad is coming up to visit on Sunday so am getting ready for that and planning out lots of fun trips to places like Ikea, Leesburg Outlets, Lucketts, Costco with Dad...I know he's especially excited about the Ikea trip :)

I ran across this while I was going through my weekly stack of catalogs.  I just liked it so tore it out and put it in my stack of tear sheets to go through and think about more closely and see if any of the items could be used in current projects.

 

As some of you know, I'm working on a nursery project for my friend Dina right now (it's always fun to collaborate with her on projects!!) so I'm trying to think about ways to make stylish items practical (and vice versa!).  So when I looked at this again today I thought -- what about using this for a drying rack for baby bottles?  A little Parisian touch to baby paraphernalia?  They have the perfect kitchen for it with a large, beautiful island and this would be a great way to keep their sense of style as they add their new addition to their life and home!

Other uses:


*Hanging spools of ribbon in a craft room
*Hanging your collection of lucite bangles
*Of course, a drying rack for your favorite mugs

Website, one day; Facebook page, for now

So, I've been working on designing my own website.  I know I can hire someone to do it but I really enjoy figuring this out and I'm pretty close.  I've culled my photos, narrowed down the look and feel of it and now just need to spend the time and link everything up. 

For now, though I've launched a Facebook page to show some of the work I have done so far. 

Come check it out here -- like it, comment, post, etc.  So far, I really like using it to post little tidbits I see throughout the day online, in newspaper, in stores.  I will try to balance being annoying and informative with my posts -- I promise! 

Mid-Century Modern

Today's Agenda:  Finishing up a couple of concept boards for a fun nursery + playroom! 

One of the best things about DC is the many, many house tours that go on in the area.  I am a total sucker for these!  A chance to see how other people have decorated their home?  I'm there.  So when I heard about the Hollin Hills house tour I was even more intriqued because all of the homes are mid-century modern homes (on the outside, not necessarily on the inside) and were build post-WWII just south of Old Town Alexandria.  I had no idea this neighborhood even existed!  My other favorite part about DC is the National Building Museum (best gift shop which is like a design library and interesting exhibits) which had a lecture on the Hollin Hills development.  Yep, I was there and even joined the museum.  A total sucker.  But it was for a good cause :). 

There were about 12 homes on the tour and some you could take photos of and others you couldn't.  Here are some photos that I was able to take (with my Iphone) of the exteriors and interiors. 

Most notable features of these homes:
- The original homes were small in size at about 1400 -1600 sq ft (I sort of think that is a perfect size where you use all of your space every day and not more to clean!); many have added additions that blend seemlessly and the houses still don't seem to be on top of each other
- The exterior of each home was mostly glass (and most of the homes we saw do not have window coverings -- even at night!)
- The plumbing was installed in the center of each home, again to pull everything away from the exterior to allow for the glass walls -- seems efficient.
- The original bathrooms we saw were so stylish and well kept -- gray tile on the floors and walls, white cabinets, skylights.  Like someone designed it now.  Really amazing that they restrained themselves from using hideous pink or green tile.

What I liked most about the homes?
- The sense that the owners were not wasteful.  They chose furniture and finishings they liked with the goal of being timeless and used what they had until it wore out.  Some of the furnishings were definitely worn well but they still looked great and didn't take away from the home.  It was just interesting to see especially as you compare that to what is in the magazines, blogs, etc. 
- The bathroom below.  I would love to have just a shower and have it all tiled. 

Want more info?
Click here and here to see some that are/were for sale. 
And here for a Flickr album with more photos of Hollin Hills homes.
Here for an article on the house that I took a lot of photos of -- the bath, kitchen, office below.  (Note the art in the living room photo in the article -- definitely interesting!)