Category Archives: Bath

Nautical Chic: Sliding Porthole Bathroom Door

05 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in Bath, Before & After, Inspiration

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bathroom makeover, Cody Harpie, Ding Shack, nautical door, sliding barn door

sliding barn door with port hole I am envious of Sarah’s punch list.  Mine is so long that I am not sure I would ever get through it.  However, today, we can cross one item off our never-ending list.  The kids room upstairs has been without a bathroom door since our renovation 3 years ago!  We finally hired our friend Cody Harple, from the Ding Shack to design and install a sliding barn door.  The hardware on the door is simple and the mirrored porthole adds a nautical touch that’s totally appropriate since my husband is a sailor and we live by the ocean.  sliding barn door for the bathroom

Sliding barn door with a port hole mirrorI also like the use of a mirror in the porthole instead of a window.  It reflects light from the front window and is already a hit with my toddlers who are already putting the stool up to it so they can make funny faces.  Now if I can just get some photos on my striped wall and door knobs on my closet doors I will feel a little better about the length of my punch list.

If you like nautical decor, then you might like these:
Open House: Amy’s Greenhouse Conversion
Upcycling the Office with a Nautical Touch
Ship to Shore Interiors Overlooking Newport Harbor

Outdoor Shower Makeover on a Budget

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Bath, beach, D.I.Y., furniture, garden, Inspiration, Outdoor

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galvanized bucket, gardening, gutter planter, ideas for updating the outdoor shower, outdoor shower, striped shower curtain

A few years ago my brother built us this outdoor shower.  We already had the hot water hook up and it only cost 75 bucks for the parts and installation!  It has been invaluable for rinsing post beach and I find having a rinse is the most refreshing part of my day.  I hadn’t really cared as much about the way it looked as the functionality of the unit, that is until I used it for the first time this season.  We installed it with no shelving or stool.  Only a few towel hooks.

It’s pretty empty and devoid of character.  So I decided to revamp it!

I adjusted the slate tiles and added some tropical plants.  There is an old cast iron gutter that lines the house and is not actually functioning as a gutter these days. I had the idea a few years ago to turn it into a planter box and this was the perfect excuse to give it a shot.  I lined it with a straw mat and filled the bottom with stone and some potting soil.  I added plants and some top soil and the planters were complete.  I  chose plants that were happy in partial shade and also in high moisture.  I also chose plants that will grow and drape over the side.

outdoor shower with gutter planter

Lastly, to solve the shelf issue, I looked online at all the options out there.  Most were super pricey and we like the idea of having something either re-purposed or handmade.  It dawned on me that we had a galvanized bucket sitting around and it would make a great shower caddy/ towel holder!

There you have it, an outdoor shower makeover that cost very little and looks a whole lot better!

If you like this post, rinse and repeat with some others:
 Upcycling the Office with a Nautical Touch
Spring is Coming! Create a Garden Journal
My Favorite Day of the Year

Shower Curtains Can Transform the Bathroom

23 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by in Accessories, Bath

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Bathroom Decorating Ideas, fabric shower curtains, refreshing the bathroom, shower curtains, tangerine shower curtain

In my bathroom, the white waffle spa shower curtain reigns!  From my NYC apartment to my duplex in Newport, this shower curtain has served me well.  The fabric is heavy enough to feel luxe while the color is neutral so that it doesn’t compete with tile that was chosen in an era that I can’t discuss (why are bathrooms in a rental rarely designed in a neutral palette?), and the quality is durable such that it can be washed and bleached as many times as necessary to keep it white.

Confessions of white-scaped interiors aside, not everyone can contain their need for a little color or pattern in a bathroom; thus outdated tile motifs and once trendy colored- walls in bathrooms exist.  To remodel a bathroom can be costly so consider a mini-facelift:  keep all your hard goods like your walls, floors, and cabinetry neutral, and refresh your soft goods like towels and shower curtains with flair.  Here are a few to consider:

a white shower curtain with pattern, or . . .

a whimsical pattern to inspire color accents, or . . .

classic stripes (always in style), or . . .

an ombre ruffled look for a feminine touch, or . . .

let industry icon Jonathan Adler’s Hermés inspired bathroom motivate you.  Be it the color of the year, your favorite fabric, or a great piece of artwork, let those be the inspiration for the accents that transform your bathroom into an oasis.  A bathroom with a neutral shell can be reinvented time and time again as the mood strikes you, and is much less costly then a structural remodel.

Image Sources:
Organize It, Martha Stewart, Garnet Hill, Chic Tip, Anthropologie, A Library of Design

If you like bathroom design ideas, then you might like these:
Freshening Up in the Bathroom
Potty Talk:  Inspiration for the Loo
Thomas Paul Octopus Shower Curtain

Serena & Lily Introduces New Bathroom Collection

08 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in Accessories, Bath, Furniture, rugs, textiles

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Bathroom Decorating Ideas,

silver oval mirror

Serena & Lily has introduced its new bath collection and there are a few pieces that we find irresistible! First up, the Sullivan Mirror. I love this mirror for its simplicity and elegance which would work well in many rooms beyond the bath. It reminds me of the pewter mirror by Maison de l’Etain that I have hanging in my dining room which I wish I could get my hands on again.

It’s not always easy to find a good looking shower curtain, but the Ventura Shower Curtain as well as several of the others offer simple, chic, elegance that make a statement without overtaking the space.

The Juice Crochet Bath Towels will add the perfect little pop of color and detail to your bath and come in three of my favorite colors.

If you need a little seating in your bath, this Slipcovered Terry Cube is just perfect.

And for the floor, I love the Broad Stripe Dhurrie Rug in four fabulous colors.

Last, but most certainly not least, every home should have the Seagrass Basket. Use it to collect laundry or store extra bath towels or take it out of the bath and into the living room or mudroom for extra storage for magazines, toys, shoes, and more.

If you like bath products, you might also like these:
Potty Talk: inspiration for the Loo
Freshening Up in the Bathroom
 Thomas Paul Octopus Shower Curtain

Potty Talk: Inspiration for the Loo

03 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Accessories, Bath, lighting, Tabletop

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Bathrooms, inspiration, Thames Street Kitchen, TSK

Thames Street Kitchen a farm to table restaurantLet’s face it, most restaurant bathrooms are pretty icky.  In fact, I find most commercial bathrooms, well, gross really. I would not normally write a post on such topics, however I was having dinner at a local restaurant, Thames Street Kitchen, and was very impressed with their unisex bathroom.  So impressed that I actually snapped a few photos.

Thames Street Kitchen ArtEven before entering the bathroom, I was met with some thought provoking art.

thames stret kitchen soap

Thames Street Kitchen PlanterMoss, smooth stones, and good lighting made the experience quite pleasant.  Thankfully, the food and ambiance INSIDE the restaurant were even better!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
From Farmhouse to Your House
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Sweet Meas for Upcycled Vintage Finds
 Freshening Up in the Bathroom

Ship to Shore Interiors Overlooking Newport Harbor

27 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by in Bath, Bedroom, House Tours, Inspiration, Living Room

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KPR Interiors, Nautical Home Decor, Nautical Interiors, Private Newport Homes

Newport Life Home & Lifestyle Magazine 2012Last fall I had the pleasure of collaborating with my good friends Kelli Rugg of KPR Interiors and photographer Maaike Bernstrom on a very cool design project that Kelli had just completed to be featured in the new 2012 issue of Newport Home & Lifestyles magazine. Kelli designed, Maaike photographed, and I wrote the story “From Ship to Shore”. The home is named after the yacht Columbia and sits just a stone’s throw away from where the actual boat is moored in Newport Harbor. Be sure to check out the story to read about some of the history of the home as well as the background on the new design. And below you can enjoy even more photos of this custom home re-designed to have the feel of a classic yacht interior.

*All images courtesy of Maaike Bernstrom Photography*

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Translation:  Sailor Stripe Shirts as Room Decor
On the Chopping Block
Knot Nice

Freshening Up in the Bathroom

06 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by in Accessories, Bath, Inspiration, textiles

≈ 4 Comments

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Bath towels, color, Eileen Fisher, Garnet Hill, Lacoste, LLbean, monogram, navy, stripes

It has come to my attention that my family is in need of some new bath towels. The Yankee in me wants to continue to use the set I have until they are thread bare but the sad, discolored and hardly absorbent pieces of terry cloth I currently own are begging to be replaced. Like many of you, I am a sucker for catalogs.  I love to flip through the colorful pages of my favorite company’s guides to domestic perfection.  Enter Garnet Hill.  They offer many styles but I am currently drooling over these linen towels by Eileen Fisher.

And how about these colors?  I could stick to one or mix and match!

The preppy side of me thinks anything Lacoste looks good.  Not to mention, they are striped!

Finally, the classic.  LL Bean with a monogram. I know that whatever I chose will be an improvement but forget what they will look like in my bathroom, I am just excited to see something new peeking out from my never ending laundry heap.

If you like this post, you might like these:
Matouk Bedding and Bath
Besame Mucho
Thomas Paul Octopus Shower Curtain

Lotus Wallpaper is in Full Bloom at Farrow & Ball

05 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in Bath, Bedroom, Living Room, wallpaper

≈ 1 Comment

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black, Farrow & Ball, pale blue, The Lotus Papers wallpaper, , yellow

Beautiful, graphic, yet neutral.  This shade of Farrow & Ball’s The Lotus Papers wallpaper is a perfect embellishment to a simply decorated room, a hallway, a powder room and more.  This colorway caught my eye, and after a perusal of the other 30 colorways there is a shade for every palette plus a paint color recommendation.   Here are a couple more of my favorites to tide you over until you have time to check out this interpretation of a lotus-flower design drawn from the 19th century French archives at Farrow & Ball.

If you like this post, you might like these:
 Trompe l’Oeil Wallpaper at Couture Deco
 Etsy Pick of the Week:  Wallpaper or Wall Decal?
Turner Pocock Cazalet Wallpaper

Mattie Luxe for Personalized Placemats and Trays

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Accessories, Bath, Shops We Love, Tabletop

≈ 6 Comments

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lucite, Mattie Luxe, monogram, navy, placemats, trays

I am always on the hunt for a great gift idea and these customizable place mats and Lucite trays by Mattie Luxe hit the mark.  Better still, they have a wide range of colors and patterns.  I am particularly fond of the many shades of blue in the line.  Navy is a great color choice when giving a gift, especially when uncertain of the recipients tastes or decor style.  These are a few of my favorites.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
A Trolley You’ll Flip Over
All Clear
The Art of Monogramming

Besame Mucho

25 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in Accessories, Bath, bedding, Bedroom, fabrics, Inspiration, Shops We Love, textiles

≈ 4 Comments

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Belgian Linen, Besame Mucho, Butter London, Diptyque, Dr. Hauschka, Key West, Marvis, Petronia Street, Tocca

 Chateau and Bungalow’s dear friend and contributor, Maaike Bernstrom suggested that while I was in Key West,  I pay a visit to one of her favorite shops.  There, tucked away on Petronia Street, I found it, Besame Mucho.  I knew Maaike had great taste so I was prepared to walk into a great boutique.  What I found was a shop that is as close to as a spa for my senses as it gets.

Owner Meredith Bollong has been filling her shop with items that inspire her for 13 years and it is obvious that this is no touristy T-shirt shop.  From simple Linen shift dresses to a fully stocked apothecary, Besame Mucho is layered with texture.  Tocca and Diptyque candles, Dr. Hauschka Skin Care, jewelery, teas and treasures are all set in a neutral color palate that wraps itself around each product like a blanket (or a Belgian Linen comforter in this case).

For 3 days I lingered around this beautifully merchandised shop and I still think I overlooked a few things.  I did make it home with a whimsical bicycle horn, Butter London nail polish and my favorite, Marvis Toothpaste.  I would say that combination says it all.