Going Modern in the Bathroom

FREE IMAGES Most would assume that going modern in a bathroom would make it look even more cold and sterile than it already does, but they haven't seen all the options yet!

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The right lighting can make any room feel warm and plants get it a fresh look that bring a sense of comfort and color to the room.

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Using neutral colors along with the modern materials can give it that warm feeling you are looking for paired with some great mirrors makes it even brighter. I love that tile!

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Even with the darker tones for a more manly bathroom doesn't have to look cold and miserable. It still looks modern and sleek with a hint of color and I love it! 

There are some great vanity and shower tub options that are on Modern Bath that can help you match these looks.

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You could even mix the modern with the vintage for a completely different look! It's a great mix of new and old that comes to life when it's together.

Sleek Bathrooms

FREE IMAGES Most bathrooms have a more traditional feel to them. It's the like the standard bathroom vanities are the most common you'll see, why not switch it up a bit and add a different feel to the room:

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Just because it's standard size or smaller than that - doesn't mean you need to have standard features! Make it feel larger with a floating vanity.

via canadianloghomes

Make it stand out with a contrast in color, or an open shelf. Keep the pulls simple so it doesn't clutter up the room. You can find some great choices at tradewinds.com that give it a more modern feel.

via tradewindsimports

Or tie it in with a simple color that fits nicely with the overall theme. Why skimp on a room we wake up to every morning?

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Necessary Nooks

FREE IMAGES Everyone needs a spot in their house where they can "get away" from it all. My favorite homes have little nooks and cranny's where you might not originally know what to do with the space, it may just become the perfect oasis!


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What a difference a mirror makes - cute and clever ways to use mirrors

FREE IMAGES Here's some eye candy that will be sure to make you rethink mirrors! Mirrors can make a tremendous impact in a space, and if  you are lacking in square footage or light, great mirrors can really make a room feel much bigger and brighter by bouncing light back

Mirror your mirrors - using two can have a really striking affect.
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We don't hesitate to put mirrors in our bathrooms or entryways, but why not in the kitchen?  It can really open up a narrow or galley kitchen.
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Putting a mirror across a doorway can reflect new colors or textural interest in a room.
via Angie Hranowsky

Make it huge.  Mirrors are one of those things where I think bigger is better.  It will reflect so much light and add a lot of grandeur.  
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Don't settle for what your house "came with".  We have lame-o contractor grade mirrors in our bathroom.  What a difference a beautifully framed mirror would make...

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Here are a couple of mirrors I would love to have in my home..

This Venetial mirror... at $249 it's not that expensive, but not in my future right now with a wedding on our heels.

Get it at Gilt.

More affordable and so pretty.

Get it at HauteLook

Do you have any cool or clever ways of using mirrors in your home?

Vanity Eye Candy!

FREE IMAGES Every Monday could use some eye candy to start us off, right?! Lately I've been scoping out ideas for bathroom vanities.  Ours is soooorrrryyyy. It's chipping and cheap looking and I hate. Vanities are one of those things that should look great, because they are such a focal point of a bathroom, but also be functional because most of us need all the storage we can get in our bathrooms.

HELLO beautiful backsplash!

2 above via BHG

Finding the perfect vanity for your space is more than just picking out the style. Measure out how much space you have and find something that looks amazing but also fits in well with the rest of the room.  Consider what you will need to store in the vanity, and what you will be using it for.  Modern Bathroom is a great resource for finding a vanity that suits your needs.

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Love the dark walls contrasting with the white and seriously considering this for our master or guest bath.

A little character in your choice is good! Even though most vanities come in white, brown, or black, mixing it up with a nice color can make any bathroom have a little more personality. A toned down color like the one below really makes this bathroom clean and crisp but also adds a little something extra to the space.

This gorgeous weathered piece adds character and beauty.
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Carrying a material throughout, like on the vanity top and floor as seen below, always adds a luxe and elegant look in my opinion.

via Elle Decor

via House Beautiful
LOVE that mirror!

this post is in partnership with modernbathroom.com

Happy New Year! Some gorgeous spaces to inspire a home cleanse...

FREE IMAGES I ended up taking a longer break than I expected, as I had a lot of work to finish up for my web design business. But, I'm glad to be back, and I hope everyone is having a great New Year thus far. Here are some little projects I am undertaking to sort of "cleanse" my apartment and start fresh.

Clear your surfaces!  In general, I think people have too much stuff on their shelves and surfaces.  Remove all of your tchotchkes, candles, trays, vases, etc., and put them in a bin.  Then, slowly add back a few carefully edited pieces.  A few well-chosen objects are all you need. It might look sparse at first, but once your eye adjusts, you will love the clean, mind-clearing look of a more minimalistic homescape.  Keep any unused objects in a bin, label accordingly, and when you're aching for a refresh, swap out what you have on display now with another round of objects.  This method works great for me, and I make less purchases, because every 6 months or so I "rediscover" the objects I had packed away!

Embrace bright white. Leave at least one area of your home white. The best spot to do this would be anywhere you really have to focus, concentrate, write, or create.  It might seem counter intuitive, but a space of lower visual stimulus will be less likely to distract you, and foster a steadier mind for getting work done.

Hang your artwork!  Someone once said, art is like jewelry for your home.  For me, I finally feel like a room is complete, or feels like home, when I have hung my art.

Style your book shelves.  This concept is in the same vein as hanging your art.  There is more to decorating than arranging furniture, details such as arranging your books and objets d'art makes a big impact.

Carve out a permanent space for something you do often, or for something you'd like to do more of.  Do you enjoy the process of putting on makeup?  Carve out a small vanity area - and make it gorgeous!  Wish you could sew more put don't because you have to pull out your sewing machine every time?  Dedicate a small desk or table as a permanent sewing station.  If you want to do it enough, and even if it means changing the purpose/function of an already existing piece of furniture, you can make it work. Spending more time on things that make you happy will make you happier!

What are your 2013 plans for your home?

1. Adore Home 2.-3. 91 Mag, 4. Angie Hranowsky, 5. BHG, 6. Rue Mag

Super luxe and lush bathrooms

FREE IMAGES I have never had a bathroom worth writing home about in my years as a renter, so on the rare occasion that I get to travel, I always appreciate a hotel with a clean, well-stocked, and zen bathroom. If I'm lucky enough to have a room with a whirlpool tub, or a walk in shower, it is something I always remember.

How luxe is that shower!?!

So how does a hotel take a bathroom to the next level?

For rooms that house two guests, the minimum in luxury bathrooms should be twin basins and mirrors. Bathrooms boasting marble surfaces, spacious baths and showers with steam or sauna options and mirror cabinets with inbuilt televisions are elements that are sure to impress guests. Whirlpool baths are another luxurious pleasure that come in all shapes and sizes to suit varying room sizes and the corresponding number of occupants.

Faucets are often underestimated in terms of their impact on user experience and therefore hotels can deliver plenty in regards to this element in the bathroom - just as long as it is still useable.  I hate it when a sink is too shallow to wash my face. In some instances, faucets tie together the entire design  and level of opulence of the room. Designer taps with sensor operation, single lever operation or floor standing options all offer a luxury experience for guests.

I'd feel like a princess using this bath located in Kenya.

What do you think of that tree sculpture?

 This Cape Town hotel bathroom couldn't have a better view.

Same with this hotel in Capri.


What makes a hotel stand out for me is to offer indulgent bathing experiences to the same degree that they offer indulgent eating experiences. Who wouldn't remember a spectacular whirlpool bath tub, spacious enclosures or indulgent walk-in shower?

Do you remember a hotel bathroom that really stuck in your mind as being absolutely fabulous?


1 - 4 via Elle Decor, 5-7 via ABC News Explore


*disclosure: This post in partnership with ACVA.co.uk

Bathroom love...

FREE IMAGES I've been absurdly busy this month, and it looks like September will be no different... I'll have to squeeze in some pampering and soaking in the tub whenever I can...

How lovely is this?

...and that wallpaper!  I'm not sure how practical the lamps are though - and I hate it when they take out the cords in photos!

I swoon over beautifully arranged objects!

via BHG