Woot! It's master bathroom makeover time!

I'm guest posting over at Olga's blog, Stardust - Decor & Style today (Friday, June 22nd). Well, it's actually still June 21st here, but Olga is in Greece, so it's already Friday where she is :-)

Click here to check out some of my DIY and room before & afters.

Did you see the Homestyler bathroom layouts that I posted last week?

 

  

Well, I'm seriously stoked because hubby FINALLY agreed to gutting & redoing our master bathroom.

Can I get a WOOT!

Did he give in to my 11 years of nagging? Nope. All it took was a real estate agent assessing our house to walk into the room and say "Oh, this all has to go." If I'd known, I would have called a real estate agent  ages years ago!

Anyway - in all honesty, it's not the worst bathroom in the world. It's a good size, but the corner tub literally takes up 1/4 of the room, and we never even use it. We also never use the bidet. Does anyone use a bidet? The only things we've done with ours is use it as a dog water fountain and for party entertainment.

Guest: "Look! It's a bidet! What's a bidet for?"
Me: "I have no idea - but let's see how high we can get the water to shoot up!"
Everyone: "Oooooooh, cooooooool!"

via schwingeninswitzerland

This is what the bathroom looked like when we moved in (minus the Hollywood light that we replaced). That green marble tile around the tub & shower is also on the floor. I mean, seriously, could a room be any greener?

So anyway, all the ugly is going and lots of pretty is coming in. YAY! I'm totally inspired by the bathroom makeover that Sarah & Tommy did on Sarah 101 last week. Coincidentally, they had a lot of green to ditch too.

via HGTV.ca

I LOVE the moonstone tiles on the floor. I went to Saltillo to check them out, but according to the lady at the store here in Ottawa, the biggest size they come in is 3" x 6". The tiles in Sarah & Tommy's bathroom are definitely bigger than that. Well, one way or another, we'll definitely be putting moonstone in the bathroom because hubby and I both love it. Well, I love it. He doesn't really care one way or the other ;-)

If we don't use moonstone on the floor, we'll go with honed carrera marble (1) with some sort of accent, possibly Matrix Multi Gray Marble Mosaic (4). Mini Sunflower Marble Mosaic in Moonstoone & Thassos (2) will be the accent tile in the shower and in the niche behind the tub (like Sarah & Tommy's "nooche"). I'm also planning to do "wainscoting" with 3" x 6" honed carrera marble (3).

♥ ♥ ♥

via DecorPad

And hubby doesn't know this yet, but I want to replace the door & window trim with carrera marble too. I totally love this look!

via Houzz, photo by Cynthia Lynn Photogrpahy

 

These are the PARA paint colours I've narrowed the choices down to. I pulled them from the colours in the moonstone. Do you have a favourite?

 

Lindsay at Little House Blog considered these three marble alternatives for her kitchen countertops. I'm thinking any one of them would work well as the vanity countertop in our bathroom. I particularly like Corian "Rain Cloud".

 

Speaking of the vanity - hubby says he's going to make it. UGH! He does good work, but he's sooooooo slow! I've never seen anyone think and analyze and plan so much!

I love, love, love the Virage faucet from Brizo. I want, want, want polished nickel Virage faucets in our bathroom, please!

 

The shower design is still in the works, but it'll be big and glass and have body jets and maybe a rain shower head. You might never get me out of it!

via Craigslist Tips and Tricks

 

I've always wanted a free-standing tub - now's my chance! I love the design on this tub from WetStyle's IMAGE-in collection. I saw their tubs at IDS12 - they're just beautiful, and the finish is so smooth and feels amazing.

There's definitely going to be a chandelier for some bling, as well as scones above the vanity and some pot lights. I'm thinking something along the lines of this chandelier, which looks a bit like water drops.

Alexandra from Bellacor

And at the non-blingy end of things, every bathroom needs a toilet. We're planning to go with a wall-mounted Toto, which will take up less space than a traditional toilet. Plus there's less surface area to clean :-) Does anyone have a wall-mounted toilet? I'm just wondering how securely they attach to the wall...

Toto Aquia from amazon.com

So that's my vision for the room. Whether or not it comes together the way I'm hoping remains to be seen. I have to narrow down some choices, do some budget calculations, and start making some concrete decisions so we can get this party started! I'm sure compromises will be made along the way, but getting hubby to agree to the new layout was a major coup :-) The power of a real estate agent and 11 decorators who ALL chose the same layout from the four I showed them. Thank you, ladies! :-)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway - Blurb is offering one lucky JAX does design reader the opportunity to create and publish your very own book! Click here for all the details.

Sarah 101: Lisa’s Re-imagined Kitchen

Sorry about the lack of Sarah 101 wrap-up posts lately. With everything else that’s been going on, I didn’t even have time to watch the show till a few days later on my PVR. But it’s back this week, and I think you’re going to like this makeover! Also, I got a bit lazy with my last couple of wrap-up posts and didn’t include very many pictures, So due to popular demand (OK, one person asked!), the pictures from my TV are back too.

This week’s episode of Sarah 101 is a great example of how to re-use what you already have and still get a WOW makeover.  Lisa’s kitchen was old (hello ‘70s!), but the layout worked and all the cabinetry was solid wood. DARK solid wood, though, which made the kitchen dark and heavy.

Sarah & Tommy’s to-do list:

The island stayed, but was modified by moving the sink from the end to the side, and it was clad in beadboard and painted robin’s egg blue.

The layout didn’t change much, seeing as it was already pretty functional.

Sarah & Tommy went with a sort of retro style that fits in with the overall style mid-century style of the house. The colour scheme came from the glass tiles on the backsplash. The Marmoleum floor replicates the colours and pattern of the tile.

 

The turquoise fabric on the chairs and bulletin board echo the colour on the island. The ceiling was painted the same colour as the island, but at 1/3 strength. I’m pretty sure the rattan chairs were bought during season 2 of Sarah’s House.

Isn’t the round bulletin board cool? It was originally a mirror – the mirror was removed, foamcore covered with fabric added, and voila!

The desk area was modified to bring it up to the same height as the rest of the countertops and the island. This eliminates the need for a separate chair for the desk – just pull over a stool from the island.

This is a really clever trick that Sarah came up with. Check out what looks like a window with ceramic ware in front of it:

This was originally a pass-through from the kitchen to the laundry room. Sarah had a piece of translucent glass installed in the opening to allow light from the laundry room window to come into the kitchen, while hiding the not-so-attractive laundry room itself. And the shelves are actually stair treads!

Love the chrome light fixtures over the island, and that blue… gorgeous! You can get a good look at the lighter blue ceiling here…

 

What did Sarah & Tommy teach us?

1.  To save money when doing a makeover, re-use what you have.

2.  Don’t be afraid to paint solid wood cabjnets & doors. And before you paint, check to make sure that the holes for new door hardware match up with the holes in the doors & drawers. If they don’t match up, fill them in, sand them, re-drill them, and THEN paint.

3.  Banquettes aren’t as versatile as chairs – if you have a large group, you can pull the table out and add more chairs around it. With a banquette, you’re limited to how many people you can fit on it.

4.  Painting the island in a contrasting colour allows it to act as a statement in the room, rather than becoming a  backdrop.

5.  Choose new appliances wisely. Splurge on the stove, which is the workhorse in the kitchen. Save on the other appliances.

6.  The more BTUs that a stove has, the more powerful it is AND the more expensive it is.

7.  When drilling holes into cabinetry for hinge & hardware screws, cover the area where you’re drilling with painters tape to prevent the paint finish from chipping

8.  Hang pendant lights 36” above counter surface. And invest in good lighting!

9.  If you’re putting colour on the floor and cabinets (in this case, the island) put a subtle colour on the walls to allow the colourful elements to stand out.

10.  Incorporate artwork that’s both form and function, like the bulletin board in this kitchen.

Click here for the shopping guide for Lisa’s kitchen makeover.

So what do think of Lisa’s new kitchen? It’s a HUGE improvement over her old kitchen, that’s for sure! And I can vouch for the fact that simply painting kitchen cabinets can make a huge impact. We did a similar makeover in our kitchen – we didn’t change the layout, other than widening the peninsula. We had the oak cabinets spray painted, replaced the countertop & backsplash, added pendant lights above the peninsula, and replaced the sink and faucet. Our kitchen went from this:

To this:

So if you’re happy with your kitchen overall but aren’t so crazy about the cabinet wood, don’t be afraid to paint!

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If you want your home to reflect who you are and what you love, drop me a line for an in-person or online consultation.

Sarah 101: Two boho chic bedrooms

This week’s episode of Sarah 101 is a double feature – two rooms for three lucky little girls named Lola, Luca, Coco. Sarah & Tommy went for a boho chic look in the bedroom for Luna and Luca and the nursery for Coco.

The colour schemes for both rooms came from tea towels. As Sarah pointed out, inspiration can strike anywhere – you can turn an item into something else. In this case, Sarah used the towels as pillowcases and a laundry bag.

The nursery colours are coral and mustard, and the bedroom colours are green and blue. Striped broadloom carpeting with the colours of both rooms and a neutral background ties the rooms together and into the rest of the house.

Both rooms have low ceilings, so it was important to find light fixtures that were either flush mounted or small enough to not hang too low and get in the way of adult heads. Sarah likes to use light fixtures that cast interesting patterns on the ceiling. Use a clear light bulb for the best effect.

Sarah ordered cute wallpaper animal artwork online from Galerie CO in Montrea. You could create something similar yourself using some leftover wallpaper and cutting it into any shape or pattern that you want.

The night tables and dresser were vintage finds. Sarah had them sprayed, and then added beautiful crystal knobs and handles to really dress them up.

What did Sarah & Tommy teach us?

1. When designing side-by-side bedrooms, you want to give each room its own character, but link them together. You can do this with colours and flooring.

2.  Kids rooms should be playful & easy care.

3.  A combination of floral, geometric, and big & small print fabrics give a kid’s room interest & curiosity. Fabrics don’t have to match exactly. And use fabric colours as a jumping off point for paint colours, but temper the colours a bit so they don’t stand out too much.

4. Always use a pencil to draw lines or marks on walls – pen ink will leak through paint.

5. Don’t underestimate the power of accessories – they can add interest in the most unexpected places.

6. Use leftover fabric pieces to make create bunting and hang it as artwork.

7. Paint & decoration can completely change the look & feel of a room without changing any major elements.

8. Small rooms require smart layouts – use furniture to your advantage.

9. Redesign a closet interior to best accommodate your clothing.

10. 100% pure wall carpeting has no off-gassing, which is good for everyone and especially good in a room where kids will be playing on the floor.

11. Make sure all trinkets in a kid’s room are functional.

12. The Jolly Green Giant isn’t real – sorry!

And that’s your Sarah 101 wrap-up for this week :-) You can check out the Sarah 101 web site for more information and shopping sources.

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I’ll be posting my interview with Jane Lockhart tomorrow – be sure to stop by and check it out :-)

And before I go, just want to mention my two recent writing gigs. I posted them on my sidebar, but in case you missed them… Ottawa At Home featured a story I wrote about IDS11 on their web site, and I was last week’s guest blogger for Design DNA. Read all about Pyrex measuring cups and try out my secret recipe (well, not anymore!) for Triple-Threat Chocolate Chip Cookies! :-) And while you’re on the Design DNA Facebook page, be sure to enter their latest contest – you could win a Le Crouset Cocotte Ronde.

And speaking of contests… don’t forget to enter my giveaway for this beautiful horse photograph entitled Listen by Diane Schuller. Click here for all the details.

If you want your home to reflect who you are and what you love, drop me a line for an in-person or online consultation.

Sarah 101: Episode 3, Vernon’s Kitchen

I hope you like green, because this week’s episode of Sarah 101 features one very green kitchen and lounge! Take a look at how you can customize box store items to create a one-of-a-kind kitchen, and learn how to tie two adjoining rooms together. {Be warned, my pictures make the green look even brighter than it is in real life!}

How do you like them apples?!

The before pics…

Here’s Sarah & Tommy’s to-do list:

Their starting point was this retro-looking green & grey laminate countertop.

They designed a layout that’s functional and provides additional storage, without changing the size of the kitchen. They removed the existing island and replaced it with a peninsula that allows for better flow and provides more storage.

The colour palette is extended into the adjoining lounge – the fabric selection process!

They also brought the green into the lounge by painting a wide stripe up one wall, across the ceiling, and down the opposite wall. The stripe adds interest to a space that doesn’t have much architectural detailing.

I love this clock huge clock . Sarah designed the words and had them printed at a sign shop. The mechanism is from a craft store.

Ta-da!

Sarah attached a large bulldog clip to the wall above the counter to hold recipes.

The big reveal…

   

What did Sarah & Tommy teach us?

1. Customize off-the-rack cabinets by having the doors spray painted. The colour options are limitless, and if you ever decide you want a new colour, it’s easy to have the doors repainted.

2. To further customize a kitchen, combine white, glass & steel, and colour cabinetry.

3. Use a single flooring material in adjoining rooms to link them together.

4. If you have a low ceiling, hang curtain rods high up on the wall. This visually elevates the ceiling.

5. If you don’t have room in your kitchen for an island, try adding a peninsula. 3’ x 5’ is a good size.

6. Mix vibrant and muted colours, as well as plush, bold, and geometric fabrics.

7. Sarah’s first colour choice for the kitchen turned out to be the wrong shade of grey. The grey she chose had a green undertone. She said that she should have looked at the deepest colour on the colour chip that the colour was on to see the undertone. It’s good to know that even the experts make colour mistakes! Only the have somebody else to do the re-painting for them ;-)

  

If you live in Canada, you can watch the episode here. And click here to see the list of sources.