A Bit of Backing Up

Today is a bit of backing up. Some things may be repeated and /or added to.

First, I talked about faux painting and wallpapering a bathroom.  I talked about lighting. I  really talked very little on mirrors, but may have touched on the subject of magnifying mirrors.  Mirrors add light to bathrooms through natural light or incandescent. I have all kinds of mirrors in my house, but at the moment, I want to talk about bathrooms.  One thing that I found out in buying older homes, is that the previous owner may have been shorter that I am, or taller.  I have run into a few situations that needed changed.  Especially in mirrors.  I have one that is really too short, but has a light right above it and without hiring an electrician, I can't at present move it.  I will show you a picture later.

The easiest way to use a mirror is one, buy one you like and hang it up.  That way it is not permanent, and you can take it with you if you move.  I really use mirrors a lot.  As a matter of fact, I had some hung in my studio today, and I only saw pictures of them from my son in law.  Can't wait to see them tomorrow. 

 

Here is a light fixture in the guest bathroom.  See the mirror behind it.  It is attached to the wall and framed with a mirror border.  This was popular in the 1990's and 2000's, but now I am not seeing so much in new construction.  I am seeing much fancier mirrors, round ones, or many different shapes.  One thing to remember, is that cheap mirrors distort images.  Make sure you check that out.  One good thing, if you buy one, most likely it can be returned, if it doesn't work out.  By the way, this is the wallpaper that looks kike faux painting, if you zoom in, you can see it up close.  I absolutely adore it!

 

I like to use things that are a little different.  I love things that hang on walls, besides paintings.  I will use giclees', or signed and numbered prints.  Cheap art fades, or else you see it everywhere.  I tell people, "Save your money and if it takes a year, buy a good piece of art".  I also love to buy sconces, shelves and pediments.

 

These are three pediments that have traveled with me as I moved.  I love the look.  People always ask about them.  Actually, I bought them at Marshall Field's in Chicago eons ago.  There is always a place or things like that.  AGAIN, IF YOU LIKE IT BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!! These things are timeless.  I Italy several year ago, I bought some little houses made on the Amalfi coast.  They are hung above a door coming into the house.  Actually in the garage.  Neat, huh?

 

Back to the bath and sconces:

 

 

This is the master bath with the sconce with a blue and white vase.  See how the art work is hung and the mirror with the picture frame mirror around it. The picture above is one of mine in the blue frame to bring in my blue and white vase.  This is one way to carry your colors from room to room.  If you think of your rooms as a large wave that goes into the air and the color is a very light color and as it recedes the color changes.  Look at some surfing pictures and see how the color flows.  This is what you want to create a flow throughout the house.  You can change color but add a little bit from the room next to it.  This interjects the feeling of flow.

 

The one above is in the family room used with another old pediment.  I also use small mirrors in frames next to pictures or in a grouping, for more interest.  Look for small things in your travels, whether it be on a trip, or in a thrift store or a garage sale, or just any store.  Sometimes you find things in the most unlikely places.

 

Here is another pedestal that is in the master bedroom.  See how different they all are, in color, shape, and design.  Yet each one fits somewhere.  A great place to find pedestals was Old Tyme Pottery, if there is one in your area.  Stores that bring in a lot of things from other countries usually have some unique things.  I will say though, I prefer now to buy "MADE IN THE USA", trying to get manufacturing back to this country.

 

When I travel, I always bring back things that are prominent to that country.  I am not well traveled, but where I have been, I have some wonderful things that I bought there.  That is supporting that country. 

 

Since I live in Florida, I use sea shells, coral and sea glass in many things.  In a bathroom, I have glass sea shells, or I'll use a large shell to hold soaps, other shells, and I have seen towels rolled and put in large clam like shells.  I have several of these large shells, and I put smaller collected shells from our beach in them.  Use your imagination.  See what you have sitting around, stored away or something that you see.  Imagine what you can do with it!  Paint an old picture frame and add shells then have a mirror put into it.  I will show you one that I am planning on doing.  Best of all, the frame was free, I had a can of silver paint and the shells are on the beach.

 

USE YOUR IMAGINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A bit of jumping!!!!

They say you need imagination to do things creative.  Designing one's home is creative.  There are some rules to follow, but today, rules are made to be broken.

Silhouettes are supposed to be mysterious.  Abstract art is something everyone sees different.  Do you like the mysterious?  You can buy silhouettes or have them made.  They were very popular in the 50's.  Have some done of your children or family members and hang in a hallway.  They make very interesting pictures.  Abstract paintings also tell a story in your minds eye.  What do you see.?  there are some that I like, but it is not my forte.  I am a realist.

Here are a few old cliches', "Seize the day", do what you want, YOU HAVE TO LIVE THERE!
Whatever it is you like, or your family needs, do it.  Don't listen to someone who doesn't live in your house!  Sometimes I will say, designers can help, even family and friends.  Remember, no matter what someone tells you, it is your house.  Here is another one, "If it is not broken, don't fix it".  Do you like everything about your house?  If you do, or like certain areas or things, don't try and fix what you like.  I can talk all day about what you should or might do, but I don't live there.  Back to the phrase, "If you love it, buy it".  My very firm belief.

The word classic means, "It never goes out of style".  There are companies whose furniture is timeless.  that is what I love.  I have never been a fad designer.  I like things that will last forever, if I choose to keep them. 

That is how I feel about bathrooms.  The collections that I have, go anywhere including bathrooms.  The light fixtures I have stored, can be used anywhere.  there are no rules, that I follow, except for lighting.  I need a lot of light.  No matter what the room is, I need light to show off everything.

My master bath has 4 sets of lights.  The chandelier hangs over the tub along with 2 recessed lights, a light over the shower, alight in the commode area, and lights over the sinks along with lights under the cabinets.  Granted, I did not put any of them there, except the chandelier.  We did however, put in a ceiling fan.  Even though there is an exhaust fan, the ceiling fan moves the air around. My master bath is large, so it can accommodate a fan, where as some are just to small that one is not feasible.  All bathrooms should have an exhaust fan, as humidity from hot showers or a tub, can ruin things.
On the market today there are combination lights and exhaust fans.  Check online and see what is available.

Look back on design of the past 50 years.  The colors are all back, depending on what you like.  I love the new glass tiles as they add a sparkle to your room.  Home Depot and Lowe's offer a great selection of the newest things out.  I, however like to deal with a local tile man.  Not that I am anti big business, as I shop at those places all the time, I also like to give the hometown guy a chance.  I find that they try harder to gain your business. 

Below are a few things I talked about in the last few days and couldn't bring up the pictures:

 

This is a nifty magazine rack I found on sale at a store that was closing, it was very cheap.  It serves it's purpose.  It can be moved from room to room easily.  These are the type of things to grab up as you shop.  It also folds flat for storage.  I keep my craft books there.

 

 

In case you missed this light fixture before, it now has a home it my guest end of the house in the hallway.  Yesterday, I showed you the hallway, that I will soon be painting and striping.  This hall has 10 foot ceilings.

 

 

 

These are also pediments that I found and put above a door.  they add interest to the room and kind of break up the 12 foot height.  I'll bet you have something that you can hang above a door to give it interest.  This door leads into the hallway I am redoing.  It is the first of many rooms to be redone.

 

Tomorrow more on what is going on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

More pieces on baths!

Have you taken any before and after shots yet?

I have shown you a few so here is a hallway.

 

 

These are all the same little hall. The light fixture is in, and the dimmer. The pictures will be coming down and the walls painted white with blue stripes.  I will keep you up on the progress.  I think I already showed you the light fixture that went in that hall. 

 

Let's get to the guest bathroom.  First, lay out nice towels.  Plain white towels are so easy to add a border to and make them beautiful.  It adds a little elegance to your bathroom.  Make sure your guests have good lighting.  The same you would want.  Most guest bathrooms are not large.  There usually isn't enough room for a chair or stool.  If there is, by all means, put one there.  Make sure  you have a magnifying mirror, either a hand held one, or a mounted one, and I've seen the ones that have suction cups to attach to the mirror.  A bath or shower mat should be available, either laying on the tub or over a shower.  A small basket of toiletries. Toothpaste, deodorant, Q-tips etc.  If you have a drawer in the vanity or space under it, keep it there and refill as needed.  Don't forget a razor.

 

If you have a linen closet, make sure it is neat all the time.  Color co-ordinate your towels, make sure all piles are neat.  Have a shelf for Kleenex, toilet paper, and soaps.

 

That is the way to start a guest bathroom. 

 

Now let's talk about the windows in the bathroom, if you have one.  I do but none of them open.  I prefer to have a window that opens to let in fresh air.  It seems to me that Northern bathrooms have windows that open.  I don't see too many in Florida, at least in the newer homes.  The treatment depends on where the window is situated.  First of all let me tell you that glass block can be seen through.  It is only a shadow, so I tell clients be careful where you put it.  Most bathrooms have hard and soft window coverings.  If the window is up high and no one can see in, a soft treatment is great.  A valance, balloon valance, a pleated one or a shirred on one.  All work well either by themselves or over a hard treatment such s 1" mini blinds.  Since I have discovered my swifter duster, blinds are no longer a problem. Swish and they are clean.  If you prefer plantation shutters, they don't work to well with  soft treatments, unless you have an arched window, then it will work.  My feeling is that plantation shutters offer a more sterile, country, or comfy type scene, as they have nothing to soften them.  Draperies, cornices, or top treatments soften the harshness of a room and help deaden the sound.

 

I do not put a scale in a guest bathroom, only the master bath.  People on vacation don't want to know about their weight, just the fun they are having.

 

I color co-ordinate the towels, guest towels, bath mat and rugs.  They can be monochromatic, or any scheme I choose.  As I told you before, I use white towels as they are bleachable.  However, I have a navy bath mat, navy rug and navy hand towels to set on the counter.

 

Again, I put a plant, artificial flowers or fresh flowers on the counter.  A hand soap dispenser on the sink and usually some other little something to tie it together.

 

I happen to have a very deep window sill, so I can put some treasures on it.  Tomorrow, I will show you some guest bathroom things.

 

Start checking linen closets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

 

 

 

Pieces of a little bit of everything

Do some before and after shots of your bathrooms, hallways, or any room you are going to do.  I take pictures of things that have been done each day, to see my progress. Remember the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words", well that is what you have.  With the onset of I Phones, Droids, and whatever else there is, I am forever seeing people share pictures on their phones.  Just looking at a picture of your room, many times you can see the voids, the clutter, broken things, crooked lampshades, and so many minute things that you will wonder why you didn't see that before.  Share those with friends and ask their advice, some times it is worth it.  A pet peeve of mine is a crooked lampshade.  Here is a trick for cleaning lampshades.  Use a lint remover.  just run it up and down the lampshade and see how the dust comes right off, without having to drag out the vacuum.  If it is your day to vacuum, run the dusting tool over the lampshades, and the tops of your furniture.  Remember, they collect the same amount of dust as the tables.

I love the swifter duster, for doing baseboards, fans and almost everything.  It is the handiest item, that I use all the time.

See how I jump off on pieces of information.  I had no intention of this as I started this blog today, but there it is to read.  I always offer a little FYI ( For your information).

Let' do pieces of different baths today.  For instance, if it is  very small powder room or a bath where the commode sits facing the blank wall that is normally behind a door, here is a quick fix.  Hang something behind the door, it is wall space.  You may even find a narrow magazine rack that is very narrow, and put a few new magazines in it.  Painting work well, sometimes if you love abstract, use it as everyone finds something different in an abstract. 

Even though I save magazines for a different reason, have newer ones for the people who will use this bathroom.  If you have room,  use a free standing magazine rack.  I like to use magazine racks or even a basket with magazines in it.  There are wall mounted ones also out there to buy.

I will try and upload some pictures in this blog, but at the moment, it will not let me.  So let's go on.

If you can, it is great to have a chair, bench or an ottoman that opens up and doubles for storage.  This way, you have something to sit on as you dress.  I just happened to have a chair at the studio, that I brought home for my husband to sit on.  He has very little balance.

I again have tried to upload pictures and can't do it today, so we will talk about things you can do and tomorrow,  hopefully, after rebooting, I will be able to do it.


Every bathroom should be as comfortable as the next one.  Always have a rug or the new absorbent pads to lay own on the floor by the bathtub or the shower.  They used to have bathmats that matched your towels at JC Penney's, but I haven't seen any lately.  Regardless of what the stores have, I have reverted to order things online.  It is something I never really did until lately.  It is easier to use Google search and type in a word and find what I want.  I think today, I will search out bathmats. Towels also loose there great feeling after so many washings, once they start to show wear, use them for rags if you can afford to.  If not, sew a patch over the wear like a quilt, from another towel.  You not only get a new look, your towels won't show the wear.  I will say, they make the best rags.

I like to use white towels in a bathroom as they are bleachable.  Then they always look clean.  I do use colored towels, blue, yellow and pinks.  I like Navy Blue, but lately I can't find them in the color of navy I like.  Colors change from year to year on towels, and from company to company.  Look for the shade you like the best.  ALWAYS buy extra wash cloths as they are the first thing to wear out.  I usually buy, 2 washcloths to every towel.  If I love the color, I buy 4 bath towels, 8 hand towels, and 8 washcloths so I have many years of wear for that color.  also mix and match your colors.  If you use white towels, as I do, I buy different colors of hand towels and washcloths.  It's a different look every other day.

So today, I think I will surf the internet for bathmats and towels.  How easy is that.  Thank you Google Search!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jumping around again

I think I will jump around a little bit today.

I still want to include more on bathrooms, but would also like to include foyers, hallways and entrances.

Most bathrooms enter off of a hallway, or out of  bedroom, or in the case of a Jack and Jill bathroom, will have a least 2 entrances.  So you want your hallway to look nice, as it is an entrance to all rooms, guests included.  Have you ever gone somewhere to stay or visit,  entered a room you were to use and thought OH NO!!  I have.  That is one reason, before we check into a hotel or motel, we ask to see the room.  I guess it is because I am a neat freak to an extent. 

I have seen hallways used as photo galleries, full of family photos, very interesting.  Places for collections or items from traveling.  A place for hanging tapestries, even beautiful Persian prayer rugs, or original picture galleries.  What ever you use on the walls of a hallway, make it interesting.  I used to have a 60' hallway.  It had 7 doorways leading off from it.  Back in the early 70' wallpaper was quite a rage.  I choose  a floral stripe for the bottom and a white vinyl or the top and added a chair rail.   It immediately made the hall look shorter.  Having the white top, I was able to hang whatever I wanted on it.  At that time, shag carpet was very in.  I chose a horizontal striped carpet of many colors that really looked great and took the toil of 6 children, running up ad down it.  It was  happy hall.  And best of all because of the colors, it never showed finger prints.  That is why today there are so many washable paints because of all the fingerprints.

My next house was 2 stories and had an upstairs hall and landing.  Again, I hung my paintings and a mirror, typical of the time with a chest under it. I also became fond of copper covered enamel pieces, by Bovano.  I still have them.  Now they are scattered about the house.  Actually there is one in the picture of the pool bath, a waterlily and 2 lily pads next to the sink, above the commode.

I look for timeless things, not fad things.  My big thing is "IF I LOVE IT, BUY IT!", I have told you this before.

My husband is the one that started that.  If we were traveling, and I saw something, I say "I really like that" and then put it back.  I always seem to regret things I never bought.  So now I buy. 

As you follow my blog, you will see all the things I have picked up and used in many ways.

I love beautiful light fixtures in a hall.  Especially crystal.  I love how light hits the prisms, and throws color everywhere.  It they are on a dimmer switch, it is ever so romantic.  I showed you the ones we just put up.  I also showed you the one above the tub in the master bath. I had to order more crystals as we realized that 14 were missing.  I can also add small shade to it for another look.  I can buy small shades at Ballard Designs.  they come in many colors and designs.  Perfect for a change and not to expensive for a different look.  I have used those little shades on old brass fixtures, wrought iron fixtures, and ones that have what I call naked candles.

One more thing in todays blog, hand cut crystal, Waterford, or others, on a window sill, throw such prisms in a room, it make it look so wonderful.  I love that effect.  Actually, I have a lot of cut glass things that were handed down from my family.

Look at you hallways differently today.  Do they talk to you?  Tell tales? Show off a collection? Are the pretty?  Are they dark? Tell me what they are like!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Bit Still on the Pool Bath

Are you tired of bathrooms yet.  I can talk about them forever, as I feel they are the most left out room in the house, yet the most used by everyone.  I also like to have  magazine rack in the bath room, for a little extra reading time.  A basket will do fine and is easy to move from room to room.  Depending on the number of baths you have in your home, and depends on the importance of each one.  If you are starting completely over or remodeling one, or just sprucing one up, all of these hints help.  Yesterday, I showed you a Waterford Orchid in a vase, it had  blue background, here is one with a red background, that I did special and sold it.

 

This one sold because of the red almost immediately. 

 

Just to show you how color can change something immediately.  I love to add paintings to any room as it adds the pizazz I want with a new splash of color.  I believe I told you, I really don't match things to a room, I hang what I like, wherever  I want, whenever I want.  Just another bit of advice, before we get back to bathrooms.  If you have art fairs or art studios in your area, frequent them, or check online, and buy unframed art.  Save it somewhere where it stays safe and dry, never a garage, basement or attic as humidity can ruin them as well as extreme cold, heat or dampness.  This is your art collection.  Go through them every once in a while, and perhaps have one framed and hung to change the look of an area.

 

Let's talk about accessorizing a bathroom.  I will go back to my pool bathroom first and show you how I accessorize. 

 

 

 

I like to use plants and I always put a clock in every bathroom.  Actually, I use clocks in every room as I am so busy, that I need to know what time it is.  If you have a clock in each bathroom, your guests also know what time it is.  It doesn't have to large, and it can be part of another scheme.  Above, I tucked it into the plant (artificial) but it is always there.  Next to it, is a small tray (actually a serving tray) that serves a role to set old perfume bottles on.

 

 

A little blurry but you can see the effect.  Again, see you can use metals, glass and color, on a marble top with a plant.  In this small area, there is color, warmth , and texture.  This is what you must think about.  This is what makes a room.  Here are a few other things that are in this pool bath.  I bet you think that this is a tremendously large room, it is not.  Just done right.  There are those who hate clutter.  To me, it is expression of who I am.  If you hate clutter, then simplify, with maybe just a clock.

 

 

This vase sits opposite the last picture, on the same chest that holds the beach towels, with the marble top, with the brass and enamel light fixture and the mirror, plant, clock and accessories.  Here is as best a picture I could take as this bathroom is narrow.

 

 

 

This shows you a lot of the way I use things.  I may change the whole room around at another time as I have a lot of accessories put away. I have a lot of trouble getting rid of things.

 

I also love to change towels.  Fancy towels just suit my fancy, but are so very impractical, therefore, I use towels that are practical.  My sister, has an assortment of beautiful towels hanging in all her bathrooms.  In the master bathroom, that they just remodeled, she choose copper sinks, which gave the bathroom warmth right away.  I will have to get pictures of that bathroom, as it is fit for a queen.  She matched her bathroom though with a picture.  It is actually a giclee' of one of my paintings.  Here it is and you can see how it picks up the copper fixtures:

 

 

Title: Mom's Bird

Price: Framed  40" Ht. x 34" W.

Price:  $1350.00 framed includes shipping

Original Watercolor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a Sandhill Crane, and when my mom was very ill, she couldn't see the bird as I started working on the feathers first.  After she passed away, I couldn't work on it.  I just put it away.  I really quit painting what I liked.  I still taught watercolors but it was to keep mind active. .A very good friend said paint something you would never paint and it will get you back into painting again.  I did and now, I paint as much as I can.

 

Writing this blog has my heart and soul lately.  It take a lot of planning so my time is even more limited.

 

Tomorrow, continue on baths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!