Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Rental Dilemmas: My Basic Beige Bathroom

There is a part of my apartment that you all haven't seen much of, and that's my bathroom.
Functionally, my bathroom is perfect. Firstly, it's giant. It's got a large soaker tub, a huge shower, and a decent sized vanity. There is also a large window so I have ample natural light. The layout is also ideal, and the fact that I don't have to share it is pure bliss.

Aesthetically...it needs a bit of work. There is nothing really wrong with the way it looks. It's fine. My instinct as a designer is to replace all the tile with something fabulous and paint the vanity blackt, but let's face it, this is a rental and the fixed elements are not changing. Not only would my landlord say no, it also doesn't make sense for me from a financial perspective. But, I am thinking I could spruce it up for around $100.

Take a look at its current state:
^ Call me crazy but I actually kind of like the light fixture. I know it's super outdated, but it reminds me of an old Hollywood starlet dressing room. Things I don't love (but cannot change), are the  plain mirror, the counter top, faucet, light oak vanity colour, and the boring beige tile floors....so pretty much everything.
^ I do like the toilet. It's fairly small and nice looking. 
^ I love my tub and the big window. Again, the tile is not my favourite but atleast it's neutral.
^The view of my shower.
I also currently have pinky corally bath towels hanging on the wall opposite my vanity:

I'm thinking it needs a few minor tweaks to make it look a bit more cohesive, and a lot more styled.
Even though it's perfectly clean and tidy, it looks kind of hodge podge and cluttered to me.

I saw a small graphic black and white rug at The Home Depot that I am considering to replace the boring brown one I currently have. I put my black and white pillow down to get an idea of how it would look, and I'm liking the contrast:
I also think that the black and white help to make the fixed elements feel more 'goldy', which I like.

I also know that I can't change the mirror, but lately I've been seeing a lot of 'mirror on mirror' in bathrooms.... I wonder if there is a way I could put my octagonal mirror on top of this one in a non-permanent way....

Lastly, I'd add some chic accessories, and paint and hang a couple of abstract black and white paintings. I did a quick twenty minute brainstorming sketch:
What do you guys think?
xox
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Monday, April 28, 2014

At Therese Winberg's home

retro chair



This is a freshly inovated apartment of Therese Windberg. She painted the floor herself. Many pieces of furniture are vintage and they look so good mixed with the classic designs and pastel colours.

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Sunday, April 27, 2014

A bright interior from South African ELLE Decor

mid century modern


design interior


This amazing interior was published in ELLE Decor South Africa. Not only does it have a fantastic vintage feel but it also combines vintage mid-century pieces with ultra bright, almost neon colors. A nice touch is also added by the black and white photos from Alfred Hitchcock's movies. 

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Artful Danish modern apartment


sandinavian design


The owners of this wonderful flat, Katrin Bjork and Jens Søgaard, felt so overwhelmed with all the photos and art that they decided to throuw their TV away. The couple created perfect balance in this interior: Katrin prefers bold colors whereas Jens likes the variations of black and white. Apart from the decorations there are several interesting obejcts such as the tables or the Mushroom lamp. 

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Art for my Music Loving Boyfriend

I don't think I've told you yet, but M. is an amazing musician - singer, songwriter, plays the piano. Really, could I be any luckier? I love listening to him play music. He's recording some new stuff right now, and I can't wait for the day I can share it with all of you! In the meantime, I noticed two spaces recently that featured art that I think my music loving boyfriend would like. I'm not talking music notes or treble clefs on the wall (no offense to anyone with large music notes on their wall...just not my thing), but really cool pieces.
Johnny Buckland's Home via Elle Decor
^This is the home of Johnny Buckland (the drummer for Coldplay) featured in this month's Elle Decor. I loved the entire home tour, but this painting of record spines really caught my eye. M has quite a substantial vinyl collection, so this piece is kind of perfect. It's by artist Dave Muller, who has painted a variety of record spine collections at large scales like this. I love them!

Photo by AC for Tompkins Lloyd Interiors via Mimosa Lane
 ^ My blogging friend Albertina of Mimosa Lane photographed this gorgeous home, and as soon as I saw this vintage boombox art I thought of M. It adds a nice graphic element to this space (and let's not even start on the burled wood end tables!).

One day in the future, I might have to consider merging his style and mine, and I have to say, these pieces would make it pretty easy!
xox
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Small and stylish bohemian apartment


bookshelf

kitchen blackboard



Vintage meets color in this eclectic apartment. The bookshelves and the blackboard wallpaper emphasize the artistic atmosphere here, making this small space really cozy.

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Monday, April 21, 2014

A colorful Parisian interior




 Emilie Fair and Nicolas Andre both live and work in this apartment in Paris - she is an artist, he is an architect. The color green is a prominent feature of the interior, as it appears in all the rooms. A lot of the furniture comes from local flea markets, which Emily painted herself to fit in the apartment.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Rustic meets bright in a music lover's flat

scandinavian living room

fireplace



This is, quite apparently, a music lover's apartment, as is a display of vinyl records and posters. What is really nice in this interior is the use of modern colorful design pieces with antiques like the light blue burning stove and the battered wall.

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Monday, April 14, 2014

Black Bathrooms

I have black bathrooms on the brain. They are moody and sexy, yet somehow relaxing all at the same time. It all started with Jenna Lyons' bathroom that everyone fell in love with when it appeared in Domino back in 2008, and from there, my obsession has only grown and grown.
Jenna Lyons via Domino November 2008
Mark D. Sikes via Domaine
Gaby Burger via The Vault Files
via Lonny June/July 2010
via Cupcakes and Cashmere
I love Emily's recently unveiled powder room in the last image. It actually reminds me a lot of this powder room I designed for school a year ago! (read more about the project here and here) :

How do you guys feel about the whole black bathroom thing? Would you, could you?
xox
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Sunday, April 13, 2014

An industrial romance






 Fanny and Pascal François rebuilt this factory into a modern home, which, despite its industrial aesthetics, has a warm, relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The couple decided to knock out all the  remnants from the past, and created a ground floor where the kitchen and the dining room are completely open to the living room. To preserve the original spirit of the building, two specific elements remained: a monolithic concrete floor and the old windows.

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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Cane Chair Score

If you follow my instagram account, then you might have seen this beautiful cane chair that I picked up at Good Will for $10 last week (excuse the iPhone picture..read more about the mirror here):
 I was so happy when I found this. I have been looking for a cane chair just like this for well over a year now. Last summer, I saw one at the flea market but they were asking $90. My best friend Laura major low balled for me and we basically got kicked out of the booth. Good times.
But, I'm glad I held out because this one is gorgeous, in great condition, and a great price! Ideally though, I'll be able to find a partner for her, and a great reupholstery fabric.
I  might leave the wood natural though...just touch it up a bit...is that crazy?:
via Lonny February/March 2010
via Lonny February/March 2010
Do you think this is an upholstery job I can tackle on my own? I am an upholstery virgin, keep in mind.My girl's Hannah and Elizabeth were able to do some amazing cane chair makeovers! Check them out.
xox
 
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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

A blogger's home in Oslo

Scandinavian living room

eames chair

string shelf


You may be familiar with Vigdis from jegerjonathan.blogspot.no. She is currently selling this wonderful, light and spacey apartment in Oslo. Several String pieces are scattered through the interior and a pop of color here and there makes the space lively.

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