Master Bathroom Inspiration

Last summer, right after the architect finished our addition plans, I began doing a million and two google image searches about everything in the addition.

I have searched bathrooms, tiles, vanities, light fixtures, closet storage, door knobs, bay window seats, home office, you get the picture.

And as I found things I liked, I would copy and paste the photo into a word document. Soon I had "master bathroom," "guest bathroom," "window seat" etc all over microsoft word. and from those pictures, I have made every design decision about my addition. Unfortunately I only copy and pasted, not saved, each photo. So just now I tried to "re-find" each photo so I could share my inspiration with you. I was successful with some, but not all... you'll still get a good idea of my "mood board." (that sounds so designer official)

Google search ideas: blue bathroom, beadboard in bathroom, subway tile shower, basketweave tiles, 1930's bathroom... and here's what I got...

LOVE the blue and white combo. LOVE the subway tile with the contrasting grout. like the floor idea, but want browns not blacks.
LOVE the beadboard with shelf- still deciding if and where I could incorporate this shelf.

Love the beadboard around the tub and in front of the tub. love the shelves. do not care for the yellow

Love the basketweave... funny, I had a photo similar to this originally (couldn't find it again)... but forgot about the "area rug" aspect of the tiles here... and that's what our tile lady suggested (since the basketweave I desire is SUPER pricey. so instead of covering the floor- do the middle, outline it and surround it with cheaper tile) Yay!

LOVE 2 shampoo spots for the shower! I really like shampoos and OPTIONS in the shower-- so I need the extra space!!

LOVE the duck! not really. But do love the subways and contrasts... the fancy outline is not necessary for me. simple is good.

and all of this research led me to find this tile... my dream... at floor decor and more. yay!!

Found this cutie on Vintage tub and Bath . com. 2 of them are in my garage right now!! this was the inspiration for the colors of the floor... LOVE THESE!!! big time!!

the faucet for the sink (this looks black, it's more rubbed oil bronze- a little browner)

Lighting.... haven't made a decision here. all of my original ideas were in 2 -3 bulbs fixtures to go above the mirror. Turns out the plans call for 1 bulb fixtures on both sides of the mirror... so here are 5 options.. please tell me your fav (and the pricing is SUPER different on these, 3 are about $40 each, 2 of them are $100 each. and we need 4 of whatever we choose).... so pick away! I'll reveal the pricing later.

number 1

number 2

number 3

number 4

number 5

What's so fun is seeing some of these pieces that I've dreamed about for months show up in my garage. Can't wait to see it all come together!! I chose a paint color yesterday, but don't remember what the name was- turned that info over to my father-in-law so he can go figure out how much paint we need.

So that's my inspiration for our bathroom... can't wait to show you the finished product. and I'm excited for your lighting opinions!!

Through the Eyes of a Four Year Old

NOTE: this post is an observation about how kids learn... NOT a statement of any type. Simply an observation...

We write books every day. The books started as just scribble, they turned into drawings with a story, and lately some of the kids are working on writing words. They usually have to ask me to spell something and then they copy the letters that I write.

So this sweet boy, who is super smart, had gotten into making non-fiction books as he learns different topics... -colors, - flowers, -shapes, - 5 senses, etc.

But this was the book he showed me today...
and he explained, "there is black skin."

"And there is this color skin. And that is all the skin that everybody has." The end.

Just telling it like he sees it. Not a racial statement, just what he sees in class and he wanted to write about it. A fact of life. I love the simplicity of childhood, oh how I wish we could all just say "well, that's what we have. there you go. the end."

More House Updates

This is reason number 1 that we moved into my in-laws... this is/was our only full bathroom...


yep- it's gone. and I am glad. I will not miss that pink and blue tile, or that rusty tub, or the very narrow space that made life in general very difficult. or the smell that only a bathroom from 1938 has.





in other news.. this is the dry wall that it takes to cover our walls... it's a large and long stack (and in the end, they had to go get about 8 more pieces.)

Here is the insulation. boring I know. but good for my pocketbook. and it helps us pass our "green energy inspection." yes, we have to have one. and they care about what type of lights I buy and what type of faucets we have- it really limits our choices. ugh.

oh- there is our old tub again. yep- I used to shower in that area.

another view of the bathroom- the wall is torn out halfway up because we had pink tile half way up the wall- awesome. not.

the floor. that is just dirt under there. dirt where there has been 80+ years of a tub leak- yuck! hence the smell. oh and they just discovered the leak when they did this... yep- we had rotten boards- they got replaced- yay!!

our NEW plumbing!! this is where one of our master vanities will go. I took this picture just so I can know what is in the walls later. I think that it's cool to know, and it may be important one day. who knows.

the new shower floor. not very exciting. but there is a bench. and it doesn't leak. so that's good.

the tub for the guest bathroom. I went to home depot to buy this. I felt cool "Um, yes, I need a tub please. can you show me where that is?"

this is the woodwork for the pocket door. just kinda interesting to me.

the LONG hallway. everyone looks at this hallway and says "wow, that's long." Yes we know people. we know.

my desk and crafting area. yay! fav!

they replaced some boards in the old bathroom- boards behind the sink and the toliet. shocker.

Dry wall is IN!!

our old shower is now a nice closet!

the guest bathroom... wahoo! it's taking shape!

my desk/ craft area... with dry wall :) i like dry wall. makes it look so nice.

Our BEDROOM!! (the bed will be where that large box is)

Would you look at that bay window seat? I LOVE IT!! wow!

another view of the bedroom

our bathroom!! tub and then shower on the right.

our bathroom- the vanities go on both sides of the door (which goes into our mega big closet)

one side of our mega big closet

the other side of our mega big closet. (yes I know, boring, and you can't tell how big it really is. but that's okay. i will get perspective pictures later, this is just documenting the progress!)

the toliet room- the pocket door closes this off. you can see on the floor the pipe where the toliet goes.

the extra large linen closet. it is WAY deep- by accident really. It was originally supposed to open into the guest bathroom, but then the master didn't have a linen closet, so we just changed where it opened. (the guest bathroom is on the other side of the wall on the right of the closet). But- now instead of being WIDE, it is DEEP. So I have to creatively think through the shelving. DEEP shelving won't work well- I mean how could you get to the stuff in the back?? feel free to shout out suggestions for me

the track for the pocket door. cool huh- this is in the top of the door opening, and it just hangs on it and slides. love it.

in our closet- our shampoo shelves. I asked for 2. I like shampoo and shower goodies a lot and I need some space.

Yesterday they mudded (that means get rid of all of the dry wall seams) I think they are "texturing" today. and then when that dries, they paint! So after school I'm going to pick out paint colors and be all ready!!

I'm really wanting to start sharing some of my inspiration photos so you can see my design ideas, just need more time to blog!!

Hoardes Buried Alive

So when walking into my living room and dining room- I feel like I belong on this TLC show... I am currently a hoarder, buried alive.
You have to move the couch just to be able to get by. You have to move the rocking chair just to see the TV. I have a table oddly placed in front of the mantel- full of random stuff. I have a small desk oddly placed in front of a glassed door bookcase. I mean seriously- can it get worse??

Oh yes... just walk into my dining room. I have a table pushed to the side, all of the deck furniture cushions are on top of the table. all of the tile samples are on top of that. you can also find framed photos and paintings on the table, in between the cushions and on the floor behind the chairs. NOT to mention the mattress set that now lives in there! oh, and be sure to watch where you walk- you just might hit your head on the chandelier.

Oh- and yes I started storing empty bags and a goodwill donation pile under the table- just in case i need to get to them :)

Insight into my current life... and one of my many reasons for moving in with my in-laws for the next month! The Joys of Construction!!

On the Funny Side of Things

Yesterday I posted all of the construction updates... but here are some of the funny tid bits into the addtion...

as they connect the old and new, they have had to tear down a wall that used to be on the outside of the house.... and we have made some interesting finds there...

Original Wall Paper from the master bedroom... they actually just wall papered onto the plywood (the dry wall was added YEARS later). I found 2 large sections and am going to frame it and keep it in the house... a little bit of history.

Way more interesting... last weekend they found THIS in the wall...

Yup. a bottle of whiskey. straight from 1938. I am guessing the original builders drank this on the job and then just stuck the empty bottle in between the 2x4s and covered it right up! ha!

I cleaned the glass part up a lot and gently brushed the yucky (and old) insulation off of the label. I think this will be on display as well :)

Last Saturday morning this pulled up to our cute little house...

A giant purple dumpster! it is more than half way full. And will stay for another few weeks. I think it is the perfect color for EASTER!! ha!!

But personally, I am a fan of the graffiti!! In fact, I have some spray paint in the garage and may have to add my own graffiti!! Kidding. I think.

And finally... this morning I left my pink and blue bathroom for the last time. I cleaned it out completely. The workers were coming at 8:30 to start the demolition and fill the remaining space in the dumpster. I am not sad to see this bathroom go. I have never liked it. Never will. But I do have a picture for the memories :)

Oh the tub. good bye forever.

Now... I need to go home and take pictures of the progress of the bathroom and also of how crazy and full our dining room and living room are! the joys of construction!!