Recipe for a Beautiful Bathroom Makeover

Today I have a guest writer! Richard Banks for BetterBathrooms.com has written a quick and easy path to a beautiful bathroom makeover for us. They also have a interesting blog that introduces new products to the marketplace as well as many DIY projects for your perusal ~ http://www.betterbathrooms.com/news/.

Take it away Richard...

For a luxurious and welcoming bathroom that allows you to indulge your need to be pampered as well as your more practical side, tiled surfaces in soft, neutral tones are both practical and adaptable, while wooden bathroom furniture will add warmth as well as style.

Decorating your walls in pale neutrals gives you scope to add rich accent colours and change them in accordance with the season or even just to suit your current mood. Tiled surfaces can be beautiful as well as practical and are always a favoured option in the damp environment of a bathroom – installing coordinating sets of tiles such as the Italian ‘Le Rable Craie’ collection helps to take much of the difficult decision-making out of decorating. This collection features wall and floor tiles in a pale matt beige together with contemporary design tiles which can be used to add a warm chocolate and mocha accented design to a feature wall.
Against this neutral backdrop, some freestanding bathroom furniture will create the ideal high end look. Choose solid wood pieces, or pieces with a real wood veneer, to bring the warmth of nature into your bathroom. Opt for a freestanding vanity unit with rich, dark wooden tones and either add other natural materials, such as a stone vessel basin, or stick to a classic white ceramic counter top basin for contrast. Additional walnut bathroom cabinets will complement your vanity unit and provide the ideal home for your accumulated bathroom clutter.

Ensure that there’s sufficient lighting in your bathroom: good ambient and task lighting will show your room off to its best advantage and allow it to function well as a practical space.

For a final touch of luxury, think about adding a freestanding bath. With modern materials and designs, freestanding baths have moved on from the traditional ‘roll top’ style, and you can choose from almost any shape and style you care to imagine. Wall mounted taps over both your bath and your wash basin will help to lend a contemporary, minimalist air to your beautiful new bathroom.

Thank you Richard! I love the last picture with the freestanding tub. I almost did one in my last home. Maybe this home will get one!

Until next time ~ happy decorating!

The Many Faces of Painted Wall Stripes

Today I have a very informative post by Yelena from House Painting Tutorials on the art of wall stripes in your designs. Take it away Yelena...

I love the versatility of wall stripes. The clean, tailored effect they create is so timeless, stripes can look equally appropriate in both period and contemporary decors... and every style in between.

And with paint, you have virtually unlimited possibilities and complete control over the final result (you decide how bold or subtle, formal or laid back, basic or sophisticated the stripes will be depending on the color combination, direction, size and pattern you choose).

For example, vertical wall stripes look traditional and classy (unless done in some funky color combo), and help draw the eye up toward the ceiling, creating the illusion of more height in the room.

The optimal size for vertical stripes is usually 6 to 8 inches; wider stripes will look less formal, while smaller ones can get too busy looking if painted on all 4 walls.

To create perfectly vertical stripes, you will need a plumb line (that you can even make yourself in a pinch - with a piece of string and a small weight).

Horizontal wall stripes look contemporary and casual, and have the effect of "pushing out" the walls, resulting in the illusion of a bigger room.

Horizontal stripes are best sized at about 12 inches or even wider, and require a carpenter's level to lay out.

Diagonal wall stripes are pretty uncommon and look somewhat exotic. They create an illusion of movement in the room: in fact, the effect is so powerful, this treatment is best limited to only one wall.

For laying out diagonal stripes on a wall, you will need a partner and a snap line.

Now as far as color combinations for your stripes, here are 3 approaches that always work great:

1) Pull a color combo from something already present in the room - it can be fabric (upholstery, pillows, etc), a painting or a wallpaper border (like Paula did in beautiful Lauren's room below).

This method is as easy as painting by numbers, but do tweak the value and intensity of the colors if needed, to prevent the walls from competing with the inspiration piece.

2) Using variations of the same paint color is another way to come up with a successful color combination for your wall stripes.

The easiest way to do that is to pick the colors from the same paint strip (neighboring shades will look very subtle, like shadows, when used together, so if you want more visible contrast, keep the colors at least 2 shades apart).

3) Stripes painted in the same color, but different sheens look utterly elegant and understated. Your walls will almost come to life as the stripes will fade away and reappear, depending on the lighting and the angle from which you view them.

To create the look, all you have to do is apply the base coat in your desired color, and then use clear polyurethane in a satin finish for striping the walls.

I could go on and on, but all good things must come to an end, they say :) But before I wrap up this post, I want to leave you with these 3 useful tips that might come in handy on your next wall striping project:

- Use only low-tack, blue painter's tape for taping off your stripes. This tape is specifically designed to be used for painting projects like this (unlike masking tape - which is almost guaranteed to rip off your base coat when you remove it).
- After taping off the stripes, use the back of a plastic spoon and press along the edges of the tape to minimize paint seepage. This step is especially important to do if you are re-using the tape (yes you can do that).

- When you want the sharpest, cleanest lines possible, here's the thing to do:

Tape off the stripes, then use a small brush to paint along the edges of the tape with the base coat color. Once that is dry, apply the accent stripe color as usual.
What this little trick will do is help you seal the edges and completely prevent the accent/stripe paint color from seeping under the tape.

Hope this was helpful, and if you need step-by-step instructions for painting stripes or other DIY painting projects, stop by at http://www.housepaintingtutorials.com/ and I'll lead you through the steps!

Thank you Yelena for that wonderful post and using Lauren's room as an example. I also used the "utterly elegant and understated" tone on tone in my dining room using ivory. I have always loved it. I'll end with a photo of that room as another example of this subtle technique.

I know, I know... but...

I know I was going to show you more pictures of Project Love but I have been running all week and have not been able to post. Sorry! I will, I promise.

Today though you can find me over at Finding Fabulous. Jane asked me to guest post and then I blundered the date and then Jane's computer bit the dust.... Hopefully today is the day! I wrote about something near and dear to me ~ little girls' rooms. Enjoy!

Tuesday with a Twist ~

Are you looking for me?? I'm not here today. I'm over there. Where??

That's where!!

OH NO! Jane at Finding Fabulous is having technical difficulties :(

My guest post will run over there on August 12th. Stay tuned!!

Viva Bohemia!

Here is my surprise ~ please welcome my guest writer... celebrity interior designer & author, Annette Tatum, has been designing for over 15 years. She is the creator of the home decor lines, House and Little House, as well as the newly launched Annette Tatum Collection. She also writes a wonderful blog, The Well Dressed Home. I'm so excited to have Annette as a guest on my blog. Pssst... I am a guest writer on her blog today ~ my Thursday's Room is over there.

Here's Annette's post...

I have long been a fan of the “well traveled” look of the Bohemian nomad. In fact, I dedicated a chapter to the Bohemian style in my new book, The Well Dressed Home. This remarkable style delivers fabrics from faraway lands, colors inspired by the desert and beads and heavy adornment from many exotic destinies. Such is the life of “Les Bohemians" - the free spirits and wanderers of the world.

To me, Bohemian style has always been the eclectic mixing from different cultures and places. I love that bohemian can be added to any room or wardrobe with just an accent. Like a drop-in-visitor whose life is on the road, Bohemian style makes its home anywhere. Layer in deep teal blues and crimson reds or invite tassels and beads into your room and you have the bohemian look. The “boho” is ethnic and exotic, daring and bold; the well worn symbol of a life well traveled. Double click on the pictures to enjoy them completely.
The “hip” look of boho-lux can be found in room décor as well.

A well layered room can invite and entertain those who rest there. Let your walls tell their tales of a journey to another land. Welcome visitors to share your travels with a display of your treasures.


Spring is the perfect time to introduce the vibrant colors and eclectic decor of the Bohemian style. Let loose and see where your imagination leads you.

Thank you Annette for your fantastic post! I'm going to look around my home and see where I can add Bohemian touches.

I'm a Guest on the Fabulous Brooklyn Limestone Blog Today.....

Today I am a guest on Stefanie's wonderful Brooklyn Limestone blog. Check it out! I wrote all about furniture arrangements to promote conversation and intimacy ~ a dilemma at times ~ I know. I had a wonderful time writing the post. Thank you Stefanie for having me!

BTW, your Monday & Tuesday posts are beautiful ~ Happy Anniversary!