Ten Great Bathrooms

Over the past year I have learned that if you still have a sliding door to your shower or a non-white sink (unless its a vessel sink) or toilet, fixtures that really don't match, or a gold faucet, your bathroom is simply out of date. If you have wallpaper in your bathroom, vinyl, vertical blinds, or anything from before the 90's...well, you need a makeover. I highly suggest watching the DIY channel. Here are ten great bathrooms to get you inspired.
1. Murdock Young via The Style Files (http://style-files.com/)

2. Sneak Peek of a Portland Four Square via Design Sponge. (http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/03/sneak-peek-portland-four-square.html)

3. A half bath in the John Saint Denis house tour from Apartment Therapy. This could easily be inspiration for a full bath if you picture the shower right before the towel bar, opposite the toilet. (http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/john-saint-denis-house-tour/item/198929)

4. A bathroom by James Michael Howard (who I will post on very soon) via Decorpad. (http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=12450&index=3&searchQuery=James Michael Howard&searchType=photos)

5. One that is very similar to the last is this bathroom by Anne Chessin via flickr. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxandthehound/5350827907/in/set-72157625105483436/)

6. For those of you with very, very little space, check out Dehlia's bathroom from Apartment Therapy. (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/small-cool-2009/small-cool-2009-dehlias-calm-cool-collected-tiny-division-50-082155)

7. Also, this post from Apartment Therapy. (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/bathroom/converting-a-closet-into-a-compact-full-bathroom-110561)

8. Christina Murphy Interiors via Decorpad. (http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=81256&index=0&currentPage=0&searchQuery=chevron bathroom&searchType=photos)

9. A Haskell Harris bathroom via Decorpad. (http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=63803&currentPage=0&index=7&relatedPhotoId=67090)

10. And I saved the best (and least realistic) for last. Also from Decorpad, Colleen Duffy via Cottage Living. (http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=63155&currentPage=0&index=16&relatedPhotoId=81109)

Inspiring Kid's Bedrooms

I do not have kids, but with all the inspiration out there I found it hard to resist sharing pictures of kid's rooms that I've found online. Maybe this post will help someone that stumbles on it, or maybe I'll use these ideas myself someday.

                              

via norske interior blogger

Everyone loves a window seat and a non-horse rocking chair!

via bohemian hunter

I swear that if I ever have kids they can have their pick between a tipi (teepee?) and an indoor tent.

via norske interior blogger

The simple chandelier is essential, I think. It seems to bring up the quality of the room, as do most chandeliers. The tea table and chairs beside the bed is adorable.

I'm sorry, I have no clue where I found this picture. But I love the round crib!

This is the Borgen Castle by VeraVera. If you have a free corner, make the most out of it.

via Apartment Therapy

This would be even cuter with bunk beds - it would create a tree-like effect.

I do not remember where I found this picture, but the stenciled tree is exactly the same in both pictures.

I love this colorful bedroom via Ohdeedoh.

Love the idea of an indoor swing in the main living area or in the bedroom. When your kid outgrows it, take it down. (But I doubt they ever will.) via ModernPrairieGirl.com

Kate Dixon's circus room via Design Sponge. Love the ferris wheel toy storage.

I love the origami mobile here that was handmade. Picture from Eleanor Ribeyron's flickr photostream.

If you have DIY skills or know someone that does, this fairy bedroom from alldoing.com is super cute.

And a little tip: if you plan on your child having a lot of sleep-overs, a trundle bed works wonders and saves space at the same time. Otherwise, give them a few extra large blankets or sheets and make them create a tent in the family room.

No Headboard, No Problem

Whether we should buy a headboard or not was one of the first arguments my husband and I had after buying our house. He did not see the point in getting one until our pillows started sliding behind the matress. Needless to say, I won the argument. But for about, say, twenty dollars, you can have the look of a headboard for minimal cost and effort. Take a look at the following pictures. First you will see headboards painted on the wall, and then a shelf in place of a headboard.

via Attic Mag

via C & K Interior Designs

via Apartment Therapy

via About.com

Personally, I would love to try a painted-on-the-wall pagoda headboard ala Mary McDonald.

Also, a tip for the day: if your clothes are taking over your closet, consider the sleek velvety hangers now sold at places like TJ Maxx or Bed, Bath and Beyond. They really do work!

Off Topic

Everyone has something that when they see it or hear it or read it they end up having no bodily control over what happens next. For some people, they may be in a bookstore reading something juicy and come to a very, very funny part and have an involuntary fit of laughter, soon after shrinking in their seat from the confused glances from nearby shoppers. For some, it might be word-vomiting the catchy "I know, right?" as soon as someone says something they totally understand and would have said themselves, and then realizing how idiotic it sounded for an adult to say that. I can make my husband cry on command by playing an ASPCA or Humane Society commercial, although unfortunately it doesn't lead him immediately to the animal shelter. I, incidentally, am blessed/cursed with an ability to squeal uncontrolably when I see a cat that I want, which ninety percent of the time is a lynx-point siamese, and it is usually followed by, "Can I get another cat?" I have five now. But cats are like decor here at my house. In fact, the cats have their own furniture. So, I now introduce you to my kids. I mean cats. Since no one is reading this anyway.

Halcyon

Sen

Dusty

Setsu

Reese

Unique Staircases

Here is some staircase inspiration, the last of which will probably end up in my own home.

via Apartment Therapy

via House Doctor

via Design Milk

via Michael Graydon

The Amazing Staircase via Apartment Therapy

via meandmybigmouth.typepad.com

How to Build Staircase Drawers via Apartment Therapy

Here is a how-to... http://www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/index.php?ci_id=2784&la_id=1

Painted Stair Runner via Apartment Therapy

via Ticking and Toile

via Just Beachy

West Elm Wonders

I am in love with West Elm. Every blog I read says not to have too much stuff from the same place in one room (in other words, don't have too many easily recognizable pieces from the same catalog in one room.) They call it matcy-matchy. That will prove very hard for me. Here are the things I love from West Elm:
#1 The moderately priced Large Rectangle Hanging Capiz Pendant, which I WILL own SOON.

#2 The not-so-moderately priced (until they go on sale) Parachute and Pintuck duvet covers. I happen to like the Parachute duvet cover in white and the Pintuck duvet cover in blue. My mother has generously decided to buy a crystal chandelier for my master bedroom to replace the late 90's ceiling fan, so once I get that are hooked up and take pictures of my master bedroom, you will see why I like those two duvet covers in those specific colors.

#3 I can't seem to find curtains I don't like at West Elm, so I'll only share the few that I could actually use right this second.
The crinkle-cotton window panel in citron, as pictured, for my family room.

But as nice and sunny as those are, somehow the idea of white velvet curtains is too tempting to resist, so something like these velvet grommet window panels is still in the running, although I wish they came in a pole-pocket option.

The linen cotton pole-pocket window panel in pear green ( which I WILL own SOON) which is identical to the picture shown here except this one is grommet-top.

#4 My family room desperately needs this ivory and black zigzag rug in the 5x8 size. (In the picture there is also the ivory and brown version.) Some good designers say to purchase your rug first and go from there to design the rest of your room, but I feel that rugs should always have the option to be switched out. If you try to plan the whole room around a specific color in a specific rug and then something bad happens to that rug...well, let's just say it would be easier to keep in mind that the rug you choose may not be around forever.

My dining room, on the other hand, craves this ivory chevron knot rug. Everyone loves chevron.

However, this Lourdes Sanchez bull's-eye rug has the perfect color scheme to match my Taika dinnerware. It wouldn't be too overbearing, either, with plain off-white walls and two black bookcases-turned-china-cabinets.

Then there's this adorable little thing by David Stark, his zebra rug made of 100% jute, which just so happens to be perfect for my upstairs hallway, which currently has a sheepskin rug about ten times too small for the space. Although I could always just buy a bigger sheepskin rug. West Elm has one of those as well.

I know I shouldn't be too matchy-matchy, but all of these things go so well together. It's like all the puzzle pieces of putting my house together just fell into place. And even though I have THREE sets of china (one from my grandmother, one from my mom, and my Taika that I just had to have) I can't resist these neo-baroque pieces from West Elm. Not to mention they go great with Taika if you wanted to mix them.