There are two spaces in a home that people want to remodel most: the kitchen and the bathroom.  Unless your home is a new-build, it is highly unlikely that you love every nook and cranny of your bathroom.  For most of us in older homes, condo’s and apartments, there are a number of things in this space we would like to change, but don’t have the budget or ability to follow through on.  Before you decide to blow up your bathroom and start from scratch, take a look at some of the beautiful abodes we found and our tips to take your bathroom from ho-hum to your personal sanctuary.

Warm and cozy, the collection of unique mirrors in this bathroom are tied together through a simple coat of paint.  Try finding a few mirrors that have interesting frames at garage sales or thrift stores, spray paint the frames to match, and voila, your own wall-feature is complete.

Mirrors also help small spaces feel larger and reflect the colors of their surroundings so there is less need for artwork.  The use of reclaimed wood, likely from a wood shop table in this case, offers a touch of nostalgia.

A chandelier can completely change the feel of a space.  I love this wire one, it adds dimension and a touch of the whimsical to the already soft color palette.

Are you a bookworm?  Then bring some of that love for literature into your bathroom.  These backlit shelves give a very simple room color and personality.  Accessorize the shelves with a few objects that pull out the brightest color in the space.

This look is clean and fresh.  The vintage wall-mounted mirror offers some open storage, as the pedestal sink and subway tile create a balance between matte and glossy finishes.

Love the use of an antique armoire and bold colored claw foot tub.  To get a little extra spice, try adding a cool printed paper, wallpaper, or fabric as the insert panel in your storage unit.  The one shown was likely a china cabinet with glass panels.  Try painting the outside of your old claw-foot tub.  Both are easy weekend DIY projects that could transform you bath quickly.

Yay storage!!  To the women reading this, show off your shoes and handbags!  They are works of art in their own right.  This will give you a place to store them and admire them.  I also love how this bathroom makes use of the vertical space, and who doesn’t love a charming ladder.

A very easy way to change the feel of your bathroom is with a fun new shower curtain and a floor length mirror.  The chunky frame on this mirror is the perfect opposition to the ethereal shower curtain and playful tub.

This was too clever not to show.  What a great way to reuse an old bike and give a pedestal sink a little bit of storage for hand towels or other necessities in the bike’s basket. It feels funky and retro.

A great use of color and asymmetry.  This is a great idea for a small space.  You get a full length mirror, sink with vanity mirror, little bit of counter space, and 2 drawers all in one wall-mounted piece (gotta love the one leg!).

 An organic or sleek ledge is a beautiful, easy accent to add to a bathroom.  Put it on the longest wall to help elongate the space.

Storage is key in most bathrooms.  Pick a wall and turn it into a sort of apothecary cabinet.  Keep colors the same and hide unruly items like hair dryers, etc in boxes or baskets.

Ladders can be an great addition to any bath.  Simple and easy management for towels or magazines.

If you have very little space, one of the best things you could do is add a recessed Robern cabinet.  They come in many configurations and depths.  I used to have one with interior electrical outlets in our old home.  This is brilliant because it can hide razors and toothbrushes while charging so they don’t clutter the bathroom counter.  They also have a mirror defogger which is great when you are in a hurry and can’t see your mirror.

NYC has inspired me to find creative solutions using every last square inch.   When people think NY, they conjure up images of shoe-box sized apartments.  Those who live in them likely despise them but I LOVE them.  They present challenges yes, but I enjoy a good design challenge so, bring it on.    Oh and did I mention that having a small space can be good because you can do nicer things as opposed to trying to fill a whole house.  Two of the biggest questions I get are 1. How do I find more room/make it feel larger and 2. How do I personalize it if it’s not mine?  Here comes some creative answers…

Not enough space:  You rarely have too little space; just too many favorite things.

• First, get organized.  This means everything needs a place.  If it doesn’t have a home, we all know it will likely lay out making the space cluttered and feeling all too small.  Hit the Container Store and find storage solutions for all those homeless items.  File away any paper goods or scan them to your computer for future reference.  Buy boxes and label them…because the insides don’t have to be pretty, just the outside.  Oh and don’t forget my new favorite gadget – the P-Touch for labeling everything.
• If you can afford it, build-in custom shelving and storage.  This is the ideal solution because you can design it to fit your space and special items.  It will free up so much space you’ll be surprised.
• If you think you are going to be in your apartment for awhile paint all the walls in a lacquer or high gloss.  This reflects and bounces the light around the room making it instantly feel larger. 
• Or if you don’t want to paint, add mirrors to reflect light. 
• Consider custom made furniture pieces that fit the room better than store bought ones.  Also if you customize it, you can make it multifunctional (think coffee table becomes dining table when you have guests). 

My space looks like a rental:  Only because it needs a little love and creative solutions.

• Use removable wallpaper or decal patterns to create an overall pattern.  I’ve even heard of people using masking tape to create patterns. 
• Paint the small rooms like a bathroom or entry.  These are less work to repaint when moving out. 
• While you rent is definitely the time to start acquiring your ”forever furniture.”  Begin buying items that you can keep forever even if you have to save up for a year…it will be worth it in the long run.  These pieces should have character to liven up the room.
• Add color or texture with a new area rug.
• Art – start collecting pieces that inspire you.  Check out the local art league for shows.  You can pick up some great works from up-and-coming artists at reasonable prices.
• Consider drapery because it finishes a space and adds that additional pop of color or pattern.  Even if you have to custom make it remember it can always be re-purposed into something else later if it doesn’t fit a new window.  Think:  pillows, duvet, window seat cover or even a shower curtain. 
• The best places to bring in your personality is in fabrics, art and accessories while renting.  Plus they all move with you when you’re ready. 

This past weekend I visited the NYIGF to hunt down some new decorative items for my clients.  I was specifically looking for accessories, bedding and pillows.  I found all of those and so much more.  Bedding is always a challange because there are lots of vendors however, finding MODERN designs is not so easy.  I’ve added some of my favorites below to share with you.   I have a signifant list of others that I cannot get to post to this blog so contact me if you’re looking for something specific. 

1.  Designer’s Guild already offers some of the best fabrics, but they are starting to do bedding and pillows.  Here are some of my favorites.

 
2.  Bliss Living you may know…but may not have seen these designs.  They also have a great selection of pillows.

3.  Made Goods is one of my newest finds – before the gift show.  Mirrors are another item in the hard-to-find-the-perfect-one category.  But this company has nailed some great designs.  Most of their mirrors come in different materials, finishes and sizes.  I ordered the bird mirror for a client without first seeing it in person so it was great to see the quality this past weekend.