Elliott's Bathroom

One of the first projects we'll be working on in the new year will be the lower floor of our brick ranch house.  Plans include a fab teen space for my boy, Elliott.  There will be a bedroom and bath, with a large walk-in shower for him.  We will be using some of the elements from his old room in his new digs but the bathroom isn't even constructed yet.

Our plans include:

•  a dark slate floor, perhaps laid in a herringbone pattern (if I can convince Jay)
• planking for the walls (if I can convince Jay)
• industrial-feel lighting
• a round mirror
• simple subway tile, most likely in white

Here are some bathroom spaces that I love.  

Here is a sample of the tile design I'm thinking of:

And here's my design plan:

Sources

1.  Brixton School Wall Clock

2. Gooseneck Light

3.  Grundtal Mirror

4. Hand Towels

5.  Pretty Clever Typography Quote

6.  Wood Shelves from our leftover barn board

7.  Coiled Rope Laundry Basket

I'm going with a pretty simple look - mainly charcoal and white - with some warm wood accents so it doesn't feel cold.  I haven't found a vanity yet.  Possibly a repurposed dresser would work.  Or perhaps something with simple lines that's sprayed gray.  Let me know if you have any suggestions!

xo Meg

The Powder Room

...finally has a vanity!  

No more washing our hands in the kitchen sink. 

xo Meg

Powder Room Progress

Thanks for all your comments about my new little office.  It really is quite an improvement - and I love being in this room now!

Of course you know we are nowhere near to being done with all the work that needs to be done around here.  Last night, this magic happened:

sink wall of powder room (tile is level, photographer: not so steady)

 

Just a reminder of the before:

In case you're wondering, that's a wooden paper towel dispenser under the window.  It was recessed into the wall.  I removed it.  I don't really think there's anything else I can say about that.  

We have removed the sink and are replacing it with something a little more substantial.  Still a pedestal, since that's all that will really fit.

Here's the window wall now, in progress:

It's quite difficult to get photos of this powder room, since it's so tiny.  Also, I don't make any claims that I'm a good photographer, though I am trying to learn!

Anyway, grout goes on today.  After that, the toilet comes out and the floor tile gets put down. Any guesses as to what tile I have chosen for the floor???

Back to work!


xo Meg

Bathroom Mood Board

I finished the mood board for the bathroom part of the project Jay's working on right now.

Since this is primarily a guy's bathroom, there are lots of masculine touches.  Except for the floral, that's Karly's pick!  I love the idea of adding the shaving mirror and rain showerhead, which will be mounted really high, since Mason is very tall.

If you have a question about any of the sources, let me know.  

xo Meg

Laundry Room & Bath Project

Today I have a new project to tell you about.

  We are currently working on a renovation to a ranch style house.  The house is really dated, built in the early 80's with lots of linoleum and brown throughout.  But the house has great bones - generously sized rooms and lots of potential.  Plus, it sits on a beautiful piece of property with mature trees and lovely landscaping. It's owned by my brother, Mason, and sister-in-law, Karly, and their two sweet kiddos.

The first phase of the renovation includes the side entrance.  It is the main entrance for their family, being just off the garage and beside the kitchen.  Currently, the space houses a hall closet, small pantry cupboard, bathroom and sauna (yes, sauna!).  We are re-vamping it to include a message station, locker storage, a laundry area and a bathroom.

Mason and Karly like a bit of a contemporary aesthetic.  Clean lines and simple decor with warm colours.  I think this style really compliments the architecture of their home.

So here are the before photos of their current side entrance/bathroom:

Here are a couple of inspiration shots for the laundry area:

(from Veranda Interiors)

Sarah Richardson

I created this mood board for them.  Hopefully this helps them to narrow down the choices for their finishes.

1. Slate Tile
2. Mini Chevron  and  PomPom Play from Tonic Living
3. American Standard Faucet
4. Paint Colours by Benjamin Moore:  Sweet Daphne # 529 (walls) and Gunmetal #1602 (Chalkboard)
5.  Stainless Steel Tube Pulls from Lee Valley
6. Glass Tile for Backsplash
7. Caesarstone Countertops in Whisper 4620
8. Ikea Ribba Frames with B&W photography




I'll be back tomorrow with the bathroom mood board!
xo Meg

*********************************************************************************

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last post.  The blog universe is so strange and I feel so attached to so many of you people who I've never even met in real life.  Your comments are always read and appreciated by me - probably more than you know!

Flipped Out, Tripped Out Bathroom

I'm taking a break from my holiday posting cause I think it might be getting a little boring for all of you to watch me struggling to get organized.  That'll probably never happen.  But I'm giving it my best.

This is something I know you'll like!  A little before and after.  Some flipped out, tripped out bathroom madness!  Everyone loves a makeover!

Remember how we flipped a house last winter?  This bathroom was probably the worst room in the whole place.

heinous bathroom on the upper level

ceiling of heinous bathroom.  don't ask.

The plan was to adjust the layout slightly, stealing some space from a closet in the hallway.  We lost a bit of linen storage this way but we gained a bunch of space to create better function in the bathroom.

Bathroom Layout Before

Bathroom Layout After

I should also explain that this is the main bath of the home, there is no ensuite.  There is a powder room on the main level though.  Also, the clawfoot tub was out of our budget so we went with a lovely drop in that we created a panelled surround for.

Here's how it turned out:

Still a pretty tight space but much more functional and certainly more beautiful!  I was really pleased with the way it turned out.  The marble really gives the room a luxurious feel and since we were working in such a tight space, we were able to splurge a bit.  

Happy Thursday!

xo Meg

Storage Solution

After the final visit we just had at our new house, my husband, Jay, and I were discussing the bathroom.  I'm pretty sure I mentioned that I am obsessed with the Kohler Brockway sink.  I reallyreallyreallyreally want it.  To me it has a laid back farmhouse aesthetic that would make the room.  I love the open, airy quality and that you can paint the bottom of the basin in a fun colour (although I am more likely to go with grey or beige cause that's just how I roll).

That's a whole lotta love for a sink, isn't it?

So when Jay and I were looking at the family bath at our new house, he says,"Where are you girls gonna put your hair things?"

Our hair things?

He means, "What about storage?  We don't have any storage if we install a sink like that instead of a traditional cabinet." And he's right, there really isn't any other place to put hidden storage in this bathroom.

I should say, this bathroom is not big.  And it's the only full bath in the house until we build the master ensuite during phase 110 of the 'new house project'.  So 4 of us will share it until that time.  The layout is something like this, the grey rectangle being the sink.  No, I'm not an expert layout artist...

So I can put in the Brockway... or perhaps something like this (which has storage and good looks):

Pottery Barn Vanity

This would be the vanity inspiration, Jay would actually build it (I love having a carpenter for a husband) and I would pick a slab for the top.  Most likely a cararra slab cause I love cream and grey. I like the turned legs and the shelf at the bottom that is open for baskets or towels.  And I would put a high goose-necked faucet on there too.
  Oh yeah, and he doesn't like the Schumacher Fabric I picked either.  Perhaps plain natural linen would be better.  You know, simple.

"Can I at least have a cool rug?"

Blueberry Striped Rug

How about this one from Dash & Albert?  Then I can paint the walls a battleship grey colour.  

BM Amherst Grey

I guess the bathroom is still a work in progress.  Any thoughts on the storage debate?

Meg

The Family Bath

So, just so you know the state of the house we are starting with, here is what the upstairs family bath looks like now.

It's pretty nasty.  The finishes are old and the layout is funky.  I'm working on getting the layout sorted out since it's so awkward but I decided to put together an inspiration board.

First of all, I'm obsessed with the Kohler Brockway sink.

 I. Must. Have. It.

I first saw it several years ago  in Style at Home Magazine.  I truly love this bathroom - it's so family friendly and casual.  Perfectly classic and something I'd never get sick of.

 Recently, I also saw the sink featured on this blog.  I recommend the house tour.  The home  is simple country: classic, elegant and slightly quirky.  I look that I love. I also really like the black painted bottom of the sink.  I'm not sure I could go as high colour as the teal turquoise above.

I'll post later about the bathroom layout - when I have some better before shots that really show how awkward it is.  For now, here's my inspiration board:

Sources:

The tile is from Olympia Tile.  I'm doing the hex on the floor with a banded edge of black 1x1's.  The subway is for the walls and the area around the clawfoot tub.  I want it to have a rain shower head and circular curtain made of the Schumacher  fabric.  Coincidently, I'm also looking for a fabric with a similar feel in a more affordable price range (but boy, do I love that fabric!).

It will look something like this:

I wish I knew this source:  let me know if you can help

The Brockway is Kohler and the light is from Barn Light Electric.  I am still debating the black matte finish or something with colour.  I'm also still debating wall colour as I need to firm up the decision about the fabric first.

What do you think?

Meg