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The Design Inspirationalist

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The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: interior design

The Bathroom of Our Dreams

22 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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Tags

bathroom, bathroom renovation, country, design, gray, home, interior design, master bath, modern, rustic, subway tile, vintage, white

This past December, my husband and I had our master bath renovated and are still amazed how different it is. Since our home is old, the bathroom was pretty bad. It was super outdated and closed in, ceramic tile everywhere, a large jacuzzi tub we hated, a toilet that was far from eco-friendly, no heat, and a storage space that was unusable. There was plenty to dislike about the space.

This was the bathroom in its original state before we moved in:
Fresh and New

For two years, we lived with the minor changes we were able to do, which was basically change out the vanity/sink and light. Not much, but we didn’t have of a choice. I wish I could say we got used to it, but it was something neither of us could get used to. Then finally, it was time to gut it and make it beautiful.

There wasn’t much we could do about the actual space of the room but being a designer, I know certain tricks to help open it up and feel more airy. I did this with a neutral palette, white tile on the floor and shower, and opening up the storage space so we can actually use it. Before there was a wall there with a small door, but now its all open shelving which I’ve hidden behind a fabric curtain. We also got a new tub that is a normal size, which opened the shower area up tons. We also read reviews for great water softeners for our plumbing and our skin!

As far as style, I wanted the space to have a modern appeal but showcase classic vintage elements. I did this through a gray/white color palette and keeping everything white so it looked clean and crisp. You can’t get anymore classic with subway tile so I chose that for the shower and for the floor, small hexagon tile I have always loved. It brings me back to my Grandmother’s house in Brooklyn when I was a little girl. Now I get to have that memory everyday!

The Bathroom of Our Dreams

The small shelves are from Home Decorators and the medicine cabinet was a great buy on Overstock. The rest of the accessories such as the glass shelf, toilet paper holder, towel ring, and towel rack were purchased at Lowes and Home Depot. We decided to hang the rack on the back of the door so we didn’t lose any wall space. And it worked out great because they hang right above the bathroom heater so they are always cozy and dry.

The Bathroom of Our Dreams

The new white vanity has a bead board exterior which just adds to the classic look. A heater was installed, as well as a fan, so the space is much more comfortable be in. For a curtain, I used some fabric I had cut from old curtains and custom sized them for the window. I chose to only cover the bottom half so the space would be lit up nicely with natural light.

The Bathroom of Our Dreams

The Bathroom of Our Dreams

The Bathroom of Our Dreams

I wanted chrome throughout with a little glass detail and brought in warmth with soft neutral textures such as baskets and pastel artwork from some of my favorite artists on Etsy. The gorgeous collage behind the door is created by Mae Chevrette and the smaller print by River Luna. We showcased our love of vintage jars by using a few we found at our local shop to hold bathroom essentials. And because I hate how tissue boxes look, I found these beautiful linen covers on Etsy from Pilo that look great in the space.

The Bathroom of Our Dreams

The Bathroom of Our Dreams

All in all, the bathroom is a success! I feel like I am in a spa which is crazy. Who would of thought we could go to this from where it used to be? I gave myself a big pat on the back for this one. It was so much fun designing the space without doing all the work for once. We finally have the bathroom of our dreams and we are so grateful.

Inspiration Photo Friday: A Little at a Time

23 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

diy, gray, hardwood floors, home improvement, interior design, painting, renovation, restore

My husband and I are are still doing small improvements throughout our house. And even though there is always something that needs to be done, a lot of the main projects have been finalized, which is awesome. We have worked so hard making this house a home and I love it more and more each day.

Recently, we tackled the small hallway on our second floor. The original hardwood floors  were not taken care of. Besides the horrible color the previous owners stained them with, they were in bad shape. I’ve had to keep small rugs down since we’ve been here to cover the area because if you walked by barefoot, splinters are definitely a sure thing. It’s been bothering me for over a year and I had enough. It was time to get this project checked off the list.

It was a little bit of a process, like everything else is, but within a week we finished it. It took Dan 2 days to sand when he was done, I took over. Our original plan was to stain it over, but after I thought about it I decided to paint it gray like the stairwell. It just made more sense. So after 2 coats of paint and a layer of polyurethane, the floor was done. I also cleaned up the molding and repainted that as well so it all looked fresh. We are both so happy with the results.

Buying a house is a huge accomplishment. What’s an even bigger accomplishment is renovating it yourself and making it yours. It’s much easier to purchase a property and keep it as is, but what’s so fun about that? My husband and I take so much pride in all the work we put into our home and with every project we finish, it seems to love us more. And even though I am one to get things done asap, I have learned to relax a bit when it comes to stuff like this. Doing a little at a time, will pay off. It can’t all get done in one day!

Below is the before and after of our floor. I am so excited to finally have it done. Doing small projects like this on a regular basis keep you in a steady groove and help you realize that when things are done a little at a time, you can appreciate them so much more. Overloading yourself with a million things to do just isn’t worth the stress. Pace yourself and enjoy every moment because its not just the final results that are gratifying, its the process and journey you’ve taken to get there.

Inspiration Photo Friday: A Little at a Time

Decorating with Natural Elements

05 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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Tags

decorate, earth, earthy, interior design, Natural elements, nature

Decorating with Natural Elements

If you love nature as much as I do, than you incorporate as much as you can into your home decor. There are plenty of ways to do this successfully. Whether its with earthy colors, nature inspired accessories, or textures taken from mother earth, bringing the outside in can surely create a warm and unique atmosphere. Here are some great examples of how to decorate with natural elements.

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: We Heart It

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Kootation

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: The Decorista

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: HGTV

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: All Seasons Home Improvement

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: HGTV

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Refreshed Designs

Decorating with Natural Elements
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Tips from the Darkside

24 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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Tags

bathroom, bedroom, bold, bold colors, color, dark, dark colors, design, dining room, home, hue, interior design, kitchen, painting

Tips from the Darkside

Using dark and bold colors in your home doesn’t have to be dark and dreary. In some cases, they can enable a space to really shine. I’m not saying you should paint all the walls in your home this way, but you would be surprised how much a deep hue can transform a room. Here is a little inspiration to help you choose the right color combination for your home, with a little help from the darkside.

This dark earthy brown helps everything in this dining room pop, giving the space a clean and crisp look. Incorporating other tones of this color family, such as taupe and beige, really bring a classic and opulent feel to the room.
Tips from the Darkside
Photo Credit: Country Living

All the natural textures in this bedroom truly bring a unique style and sense of history to the space. It all works together nicely because light hues were incorporated as well. You always need a little contrast to create something spectalular.
Tips from the Darkside
Photo Credit: 79 Ideas

This modern classic bathroom is engaging thanks to the deep navy blue on the walls. It adds a rich feeling to the room and helps to highlight the soft textures in the space.
Tips from the Darkside
Photo Credit: Country Living

Bold and bright, this kitchen is glowing with cheer. Painting everything the same color is surely a courageous move, but the owners totally pulled it off. The accessories and pots help to break up the space, as does the butcher block countertops and door. The neutral stone floor gives the room a lightness it needs while the white on the top of the walls helps to even out the space.
Tips from the Darkside
Photo Credit: Kitchen Building

With bold and bright colors used throughout the space, the hunter green backdrop helps to keep it all grounded. The creamy beige on the top half of the wall and light gray rug adds a lightness and airy feeling so you aren’t bombarded with hues that pop.
Tips from the Darkside
Photo Credit: Country Living

Yellow and blue will always be two colors that go well together. It’s the contrast that allows these hues to be roommates. The rich navy and golden yellow in this bedroom/bathroom really makes a statement. It helps to incorporate earthy textures, like the hard wood floor, to break up the boldness. This color combo brings spunk and a touch of intellectual charm to any space.
Tips from the Darkside
Photo Credit: Donkee House

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