Master baths a bit

Here it is Saturday, and a rainy kind of day, so things just look dreary.  Coming from the Chicago area, there are a  lot of dreary days.  Actually from the Indiana side of Illinois, about 1 hour from downtown Chicago, where there are more dreary days than sunshine ones.  That is why I love Florida.
There is always something to do.  You need to stay home once in a while to rest.  It is an everyday in paradise.  It is a Happy Place.  It is a colorful place.  It is a melting pot from all over the United States and  Europe.  It is always friendly if you want it to be.

So in our happy little world, as in the Eddie Arnold Song, " Welcome to my World".  So in our perfect world, everything is sunny and beautiful.  It looks perfect from every way you look at it. 

So let's Brighten up our lives.  We have to go back again, and decide what we are going to do.  We were talking about bathrooms, so let's go back to that a bit, to another bath, the Master Bath.  I always feel that the master bath is special.  It is the one room you do spend time in.  I love fancy lighting, wonderful accessories, pretty towels, a place to sit and put on your shoes, a bath or shower to relax in and spend your private time, and wash away the stress of the day.  Flowers and wonderful pictures help sooth the soul.  I always put shelves in the bathrooms to add parts of collections.  Here are a few pictures:

 

This is a wood shelf, that s a little Country French, but can go anywhere.  Here are pieces of different collections.  A shell from Hawaii, as I love to bring something back from wherever I go, and a piece of Coal Port, handed down in the family.  What is so great, I can change these instantly to another scheme, using totally different colors.

 

 

 

This area sits exactly below the shelf above.  The coral, was a gift, the bird was won in a golf tournament and the bust was from a resale shop.  The bust started out brown, then I marbleized it in green with white veins, now it is being painted gloss white for a totally different look.  The wonder of paint and color.  The blue jar is just a piece from Bombay Company while it existed.  
To the immediate right is the ring of the Jacuzzi tub.  To the right of the tub, you will find:

 

 

A mirrored jewelry box and a vase of flowers with a picture above them.  You saw the chandelier earlier in the blog that was above this Jacuzzi tub.  This tub has a wonderful sprayer to wash your hair.  It is a favorite spot for our grandchildren..  Here we have hard window coverings in the form of plantation shutters, and a soft treatment with a valance.  It was seen(the soft treatment) in the one with the chandelier.

 



 

 



This is an arrangement of the left of one of the sinks.  See the use of several items forming a single arrangement.  This is what separates a regular bathroom from a spectacular one.  Not to say that you couldn't just use one picture or item,  that would be fine.  Utilize your space.  Lay the pictures, etc. on the floor, on the top of newspaper.  Cut out the shapes and tape them to your walls first.  If it is good, go ahead and pound the nails.  There is also a magnifying mirror to the right.  You got it, this is my space.

 

What does your space look like?  Mine is happy, although it does need a new bottom picture.  It was a print of a very good artist bought at n art show.  I do not now how it was printed, but it faded.  That is why an artist should use giclees\' instead of prints made at a copy center.  They do not last!

 

Today and the next few days, we will focus on bathrooms, paintings and giclees'.

 

See what you can put together this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bathrooms a bit of Refreshment

Style.  It is a word that seems simple enough to comprehend, yet it is so often misunderstood.  The mystery of it lies in the fact that though one immediately knows when it is present, its exact nature is difficult to analyze.  Though classic in character, its distinction lies in its ability to surprise, reinterpret, reinvent.

This phrase could be used about David Snyder, and is out of the book "Epoustouflant", meaning extraordinary interior design.

In talking about bathrooms, now it depends on which bathroom you are doing.  Is it a guest bathroom? A children's bathroom, a teen's bathroom, the master bathroom?  Is it a powder room, meaning no bathtub or shower?  Decide which one to do first.  Even if it is just to refresh it a bit.

So let' first talk about the Master Bathroom.  Once again, I can tell you, I love hooks.  If you have a solid door, a hook on the back is handy for hanging up robes, clothing, or bath towels if necessary.  I love a towel ring or a hook next to each sink for a hand towel, as it is needed to dry your hands constantly.  A hook or two in a linen closet, are great for hanging up a hair dryer or a curling iron.  Jut twirl the cord around it and it stays in place and out of the way.  It is also a space saver. 

Lighting is also very important in the bathroom.   A woman needs lots of light for putting on make-up, doing her hair, and all else for hygiene.  There are magnifying mirrors that can be attached to the wall that have different light.  I prefer fluorescent lighting above my sink as it is a brighter white.  As you get older, you may not want a harsh light as it shows everything, I prefer it so I know how to fix what  I am looking at.  At one time I had a travel magnifying mirror that had suction cups and attached to  mirror.  I left in on a ship while taking a cruise.  I must add that to my list of things to buy.  I love crystal chandeliers in a bathroom, if you have a space for one.  I have one over the bathtub.  It adds elegance to a bathroom.  I also love a ceiling fan in my bathroom.  I feel all bathrooms should have one.  This may compromise lighting, so check with a lighting expert at your local home center to see what is available.

Depending on the size of your bathroom, depends on what you can do with lighting.  Before you buy, look at your choices.  Many stores have a return policy, that if it doesn't look good or fit the space, as long as you repack it and keep the receipt, you should be able to return it.  I keep all my receipts for each project so I can look them up quickly.  File by month and room.

I look for good carpets at garage sales.  I prefer an oriental rug in the master bedroom.  A print or geometric, or even a nice border rug looks good.  I find the best one's at places you can't even imagine.  Look online.  Sometimes you'll just get lucky.  I don't like to spend a lot of money on rugs as you could ruin one just by dropping something on it.  I bought a beautiful 8' oval with fringe at an estate sale for $50.00.  It is perfect. The color matches just like I would have looked for. If it lasts a few years, I am super happy.  Although I am sure it will last way longer.  Area rugs make a room.  Besides taking the hollow sounding sound out of a room, they add beauty and color.

I love to put glass jars, or  pretty clear plastic in a bathroom for cotton Balls and Q-tips, and the likes.  Put a vase in your bath or several, and fill with artificial flowers.  It makes one happy without even thinking about it.  Flowers are a happy thing.  When I have guests, I put fresh flowers in their bath and bedroom.  Just a little extra that says , Hello! I've thought of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Towels are kind of a personal thing.  Everyday towels, I like to be able to bleach, it keeps them looking fresh.  I have some colored towels that I might use when I entertain and some very fancy ones I use for parties.  Even plain towels can be transformed so easily.  Joanne Fabrics has some very exquisite trims.  You can stitch them on in a matter of minutes.  If you can't, perhaps a friend will help.  You can get a great look for a small amount of money, and you can use coupons.

More tomorrow on the other bathrooms is you home.