Globally Inspired Bathroom

Globally Inspired Bathroom

Ok, today's day three of this little series! (see design style 1 & 2, here & here).  If you're just stopping by.  Let me quickly catch you up.  After coming home from a two week roadtrip, we found our downstairs bathroom to have a wall saturated in water.  A crowbar and an hour later revealed mold that extends into our kitchen.  So, while we're in the process of remedying and demo-ing the space, we're looking ahead to what style we're wanting to go with in renovating our first room in the house, the bathroom.  And more specifically the bathroom the kids use along with guests.  (if you want to stay up to date on the process, be sure to follow us on Instagram ~ we're adding to stories pretty regularly these days!)  So, that brings us to today's Globally Inspired Post.   Now this design style is one that would traditionally be out of my comfort zone.  But recently, I've come to love and appreciate Moroccan and Portugal tiles, and have, like most, taken note of the current cement tile floor trend!  I lean towards it's bohemian style and ability to instantly add character to a space.  Truth be told, in curating images for these posts, I thought this style would be a look that Brian wasn't feeling, but surprisingly (I think even to himself), he too is kinda diggin' the "tile as art" in the bathroom look.  We both tend to lean towards more of a blue and white color scheme with this look and like the addition of natural tones.  Here's the three pics that we're currently LOVING:

image via Domino

I went crazy when I found this image.  Like Oprah aha moment crazy!  From the marble tile, to the simple, yet dramatic patterned tile display.  Nothing about this is overpowering, yet it sends such a strong message.  I love this image so much, that it even has me contemplating getting rid of a tub entirely in our space!

image via Jenna Sue Design

Jenna Sue knows how to curate a beautiful space!  The before photos alone are worth checking out this post's transformation!  I love her choice in tile and her choice with the vanity!  This sink has me thinking new possibilities when choosing a vanity!

Ok, ok, so this isn't a bathroom.  But this tile?!  I want to live in this space.  This space says personality and history all in one!  There's a story here and I want to live it!  Sigh.  Yeah, I can't explain it, it's just love!

Well, there ya go.  Some global, bohemian, eclectic inspiration.  If I hesitate towards this style it's for one reason and one reason only.  Can I pull it off?!  This look is so different than anything I've ever gone with.  You know, like a well intentioned outfit, that on someone else is stunning, but when worn personally, you feel like a fraud.  That's what this style is for me.  And I know, I know, you can do anything you want in your house.  I just worry that going so far out of my comfort zone would create a beautiful house, but somehow would never really feel like home.  

Well, there ya go.  Design Style 3 to consider.  What are your thoughts?  Like?  Love?  You know I love to hear your thoughts!

Lots of love your way today!  Michelle

Industrial Inspired Bathroom

Industrial Inspired Bathroom

Hello guys!  Gosh, it feels good to be back in the designing mindset!  Something about gathering pretty inspiration really helps motivate me to get things going!  So today, I'm sharing the second design style we're currently inspired by for our bathroom overhaul (you can see our first design style here!)  Today's style, Industrial, and more specifically for these bathrooms, black and white!  There's something classic about the simple contrast of these two tones and when put in home decor, adds an instant sharpness and class to a space.  For Brian and I, we've always been drawn to this style.  I love it for it's antique nods, and Brian loves it for its craftsmanship.  In our last house, I felt we found the perfect balance of this style for both of us!  So, in looking for current inspiration, we were instantly drawn to these spaces below.

image via Brit + Co

Ok.  There are so many things going right in this space!!!  First of all it mimics our current setup and I love that this tiny bathroom isn't void of any form or function!  They were able to include a small clawfoot tub (something I'm hoping to do as well).  Mixed metals done with perfection.  Then as if that wasn't enough, they modernized the classic subway tile, by adding this beautiful black and white tile to the space!  And if beauty's in the details...check out that ceiling!  Gah!  This bathroom is a showstopper for sure!

image via Studio McGee

Now, pulling back on the business and going for a simple dramatic tone, this setup makes me happy!  The Kohler Brockway Sink has been a long time favorite of mine and I can just imagine both P & K brushing their teeth nightly here.  I love the addition of board and batten to the walls, something I hadn't considered for the bathroom, but LOVE!  Simple and Classic!

photography by Ashley Poskin via Apartment Therapy

I also LOVE this sophisticated setup.  Super understated, but well designed.  If you're looking to mix metals, this is how you do it!  I've always loved subway tile in bathrooms, and this photo only encourages we consider using it.

Ok, so clearly, I LOVE the look of these.  Why not fully commit here?!  If this bathroom was the master, I'd probably say done and done!  But this is for our only downstairs bathroom.  The bathroom me and the kids use as well as guests.  And while the simplicity of industrial design can be perfect for families, it's just not as youthful and fun as I'm wanting for the space.  And considering this bathroom will be our first reno in the house, it also needs to help set the overall tone.  And full blown industrial is not where I want this house to be during our children's young childhood years.  But alas, this style will absolutely influence our overall design.  Clawfoot tub? Possibly.  Subway tile?  Maybe!  Heck, we may even play up a black and white color scheme.  Well, that's the thoughts for today!  Would LOVE for you to weigh in!

Do you like this style?  Have you incorporated into your own home?  Would love for you to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Lots of love your way today!  Michelle

Farmhouse Inspired Bathroom

Farmhouse Inspired Bathroom

Hello Friends!  I hope you're having a wonderfully relaxing summer and if not, hopefully at the least you're feeling productive!  We just got back from our two week roadtrip west!  I can't wait to share more of that adventure with you (plus we found some amazing places to stay that I think you guys will LOVE!)  For those of you following along on Instagram, you may have seen our stories from the trip along with an unplanned surprise when we returned home.  For those of you that missed it, Sunday evening we returned home to find an overly saturated wall in our downstairs bathroom.  A crowbar, gloves and an hour revealed that behind our bathroom tile, was a wall saturated in moisture and mold!!!  And if that wasn't a big enough wammy, the adjacent wall backs up to our kitchen ~ it too is covered in mold.  So, we currently know that an entire gut of our downstairs bathroom as well as our kitchen is needed.  I'm currently waiting for someone to come access the damage and help determine the source of the problem.  Hopefully, we'll know more this afternoon.  The only other concern (and fingers crossed I'm wrong about this), is that the downstairs plumbing ties directly into the upstairs bathroom (these being the only two bathrooms in our house), and while I had eventually hoped to re-do that bath as well, I'm hoping this current issue doesn't require a complete gut of it as well.  Essentially making our house un-livable for a time being.  Gah!  How's that for a good dose of reality after vacation!  ha!  Well, the good news is we haven't done anything to the house yet.  When we purchased it last year, we knew we were getting into another fixer upper.  But like most things, we just hadn't planned for the fixin' up to be needed so urgently!  And with another project on our horizons (so exciting, I'm hoping to be able to share more about that soon!!), this ordeal really isn't part of our current budget!  But alas, that's life!  So, there are a lot of big decisions needed to be made, and to be completely honest, I haven't even started deciding on our current look and vibe for this current home (cape cod style, located in Atlanta, 3 beds, 2 baths, total: 1,400 sq. ft).  As most of you know, our last home was neutral with lots of vintage accents.  LOVED that house and LOVED that style...for that time in our life.  Now, our family has doubled and with two year old twins in the mix, I'm wanting a house that's more youthful for them, while also staying a bit more classic for us.  So, over the next couple days, I'm going to share my top four design ideas for this house...why I love each, and why I'm hesitant to fully commit to that particular style!  Typically the bathroom isn't where I would start the design process, but given our current situation, that's how we're gonna do it!  So, today we're sharing Design Style 1: Farmhouse!  (See Design Style 2 : Industrial in this post here)

Modern Farmhouse Bathroom

Oh, the modern farmhouse look!  I love the style and the overall mix of whites and natural tones!  It's no wonder that shows like Fixer Upper, have greatly influenced and brought this style to mainstream home design.  For me, I love that this look allows an abundance of white in the home, while also allowing for a lot of texture and depth to a space.  It instantly says laid back, country living!

photo by Laurey W. Glenn, via Southern Living

What's not to love about this space?!  Simple, beautiful!  Horizontal boards, a statement mirror mixed with fairly traditional accents like a pedestal sink and shaded sconces.  Design decisions to note...those built in corner shelves!  We too have a small space, and storage is of the utmost importance!

photo via @babylonstoren

Now, THIS is a bathroom!  If only our space was large enough to accommodate this design entirely!  An updated stock tank acts as a soaker tub, paired with subway tile for a sophisticated take on an otherwise barnyard essential.  With budget being a huge priority for us, this room has me contemplating how to turn a standard horse trough into a luxurious tub!

photo via Heather Bullard

Heather Bullard can do NO wrong!  Like ever!  I've been a huge fan of hers for a long long time and loved when she completed this concrete vanity a few years back!  Her eye for mixing vintage and antique with new design is unparalleled!  This is modern farmhouse done with a parisian nod!

So, what's NOT to love about this look?!  Honestly, the style is stunning.  But my concern lies in two places.  This look is way more my style than Brian's (he tends to lean more towards industrial ~ see that design inspiration here!).  Plus, in living in the city, I'm concerned I would grow wary of this look in a few years, plus our exterior is a traditional cape cod, and I'm a big fan of having our exterior and interiors meld together.  But, trust me when I say, I'm wanting to take huge inspiration in this design style for our current plans, just not quite sure how that will be executed overall!

So, what do you think?  Is the Modern Farmhouse Design here to stay?  Would you use it in a city?  How about with kids?  Would love to hear your thoughts!

Lots of love your way today!  Michelle