Making Fabulous Out Of Flawed With An Existing Space: Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Dave the Builder and I had big, big plans for the renovation of our new house, which also happens to be my childhood home.  Plans change, life throws you a curve ball, and you find yourself “the guest” who will now be using the guest bathroom.  It’s time for the bathroom remodeling ideas to begin.

The before pictures have been lost in the shuffle, but you don’t need a great imagination to envision what we were working with.

A vast knowledge of outdated ugly will do.

toile-wallpaper1

tile-squares

The first question Dave the Builder asked me was are you going to leave the existing tile walls.

I’m not a fan of what’s involved with the removal of ceramic tile, so no, Dave, we will not be removing the majority of the existing ceramic tile.

We will be adding to by taking away from.

The bathroom walls had the original gray and green decorative 4″ square tiles, randomly placed on a background of predominately white 4″ square tiles.

Not exactly atrocious, but leaning more to what was hot in style 40+ years ago.

I decided not  to remove the existing white tiles for one simple reason- the exact style of tile is used today.

Dave cut around and extracted the gray and green tiles, replacing them with 4″ glass tiles.  The original ceramic floor was left in place and overlaid with 12″ square slate purchased from Lowe’s.

Step three involved the removal of a double flush mount sink vanity.

Dave replaced it with a custom built vanity for the wow factor effect.  A decorative single sink and faucet from the Artist Editions collection by Kohler completed the look.

orchid-sink

The gorgeous framed mirror was a gift from my equally gorgeous mother-in-law.

Now came the time to select colors and make the decision to paint or paper.

I selected a classic brown Toile pattern with blue background wallpaper by York to enhance the colors of the slate floor and vanity.

Dave wanted to go with a dark brown glass tile, and I wanted to go with Café au lait glass tile.

We compromised with the old half and half trick.

The four light bronze bathroom fixture perfectly matched the mirror frame.

bathroom-light-fixture2

One successful shopping trip to our local Marshall’s for guest towels, and one easy order placed at JCPenney for the shower curtain set put us in home decor business.

I could not be happier with the finished product.  It was the logical, practical and most cost efficient choice for us to make.

Our renovation and remodel repertoire grows.

Love your style!

Show & Tell

Hey Grandpa: What’s For Dinner Supper Ideas

If you’re a TV child of the 70s, it’s probably safe to assume you remember a particular question from a little show long on corny and short on my do we really have to watch this nerve.

As much as I tried to forget the corny antics of the Hee Haw gang throughout most of my teenage years, invariably I hear “Hey, Grandpa, What’s for Supper?” in my ear every time I ponder what’s for dinner supper ideas.

Hee Haw

Hee Haw was a Saturday night must see TV staple in our house.

Country music, silly skits and rounds of pickin’ and grinnin’ rang out from the Zenith.

Yes.

I did chuckle when Grandpa Jones answered the “Hey, Grandpa, What’s for Supper?” with his here’s what’s on the menu tonight menu monologue.

Speaking of questions, here’s another question for you.

Dinner or supper.

What say you?

dinner vs. supper

Talking on the telephone to my best friend is a nightly ritual.

The topic of conversation eventually turns to our modern-day version of what’s for supper/dinner.

If I had a nickel for every time…

american housewife at tea break Norman Rockwell

Apples don’t fall far from family trees.

During a recent phone conversation, and surprised by the words coming out of my mouth, I asked the question “Hey Grandpa, What’s for Supper?”

You could have heard a corn shuck hit the floor.

I waited for my friend to graciously excuse my gaffe and overlook my slip of the retro tv tongue sin.

It appears great television kids of the 70s think alike.

Without missing a beat she answered the question beginning with the words, “here’s what’s on the menu tonight.”

grandpa-what's-for-supper

Regardless of how the question is posed, it is asked so we can glean info and culinary ideas from each other.

All cooks at one time or another draw a blank when it comes to tasty, healthy, easy and appealing menu ideas to suit and set the family round table.

As I stood in front of the pantry wondering for the 8,629th time what to make for dinner, I spied a package of taco seasoning mix and connected the dots to the rotisserie chicken in the refrigerator.

Rotisserie chicken served in the traditional entrée sense is good for a one time only offering around the Places In The Home dinner table.

chicken cooking

Flickr

Time to get with the culinary inspiration program.

Chicken taco lettuce wraps it is!

chicken-taco-lettuce-wraps-ingredient-list Shredded leftover rotisserie chicken, taco seasoning, one heaping tablespoon of onion flakes, 2/3 cup water, and the juice of one lemon hit a sizzling skillet.

Turning the heat to medium high, I stirred all the ingredients together until heated through.

I put the butter lettuce wrap logic in motion and built my taco house upon it.

Believe me, I know I didn’t reinvent the wheel, but I did put enough of a spin on the average hard shell or soft chicken taco to please.

These tacos were olé hell yeah good!

Guess what my friend served her family for dinner the next night?

The power of palette persuasion is the what’s for dinner supper ideas point.

I think even Grandpa would be proud to shout this menu from his window on the cornfield.

Yum-Yum!

Love your style!

Show & Tell

Classic Hollywood Interiors

Movies are not the only thing Hollywood does well.

Some of the most memorable motion pictures in the history of cinema are not simply known for their cast or cinematic content, but for the classic Hollywood interiors of big screen legend.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

It’s probably not intentional, but actually a huge coincidence when a home or a set designer’s interpretation of the home comes to life on a sound stage and takes over as the star of a film.

Yeldell+1+-+Light+Dimmable+Flush+Mount+dark

cylinder-sconce

Pike 1-Light Flush Mount

Updated to today’s style.

Bari 1 Light Contemporary Wall Sconce with Clear Cylinder Glass

Bari 1 Light Contemporary Wall Sconce with Clear Cylinder Glass

When the architectural vision of near perfection captures the viewers attention and commands top billing it doesn’t necessarily speak to the weakness of the movie, but to the strength of the chosen piece of real estate.

hepburn_tracy_guess_whos_coming_to_dinner

Nineteen sixty seven is dear to my heart.

It’s the year I turned five, the year The Beatles introduced the world to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the year one of my favorite movies, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner was released.

guess-whos-coming-to-dinner-poster

I hit the Turner Classic Movies jackpot when I noticed it was on the afternoon viewing schedule.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner holds my attention on three points:

A relevant and positive message.

Three Academy Award winning actors showing why they deserved Academy Awards.

One luxuriously appointed home.

Rathbun 5 Piece Dining Set

Classic Black Bistro Dining Set

wrought-iron-setVintage Wrought-Iron Ivy Terrace Set 

The walk from foyer to terrace for an afternoon of sandwiches and coffee is a walk through interior design distinction.

Attention to detail greets the eye at every twist and turn, wall and window.

aged-brass-picture-lamp

The eye is drawn to tasteful accessories and classic design elements in timeless colors, patterns and textures.

kellaway_guess

 

Silver Engraved Fancy Floral Decanter Labels Liquor Bottle Label Tag Set 6 Tags

Silver Engraved Fancy Floral Decanter Labels Liquor Bottle Label Tag Set 6 Tags

mid-century-gold-leaf-champagne-sherbetsVintage Libbey Golden Foliage Leaf Cocktail Glasses

Handmade Black Lacquer Mother of Pearl Cabinet

Black Wood Storage Cabinet

Mainholm-Traditional-Mercury-Glass-28-inch-Table-Lamp

Mainholm Traditional Table Lamp

Coffered ceilings, custom built-ins, original artworks, crystal chandeliers, Chinoiserie accents, floor to ceiling windows.

classic-Hollywood-interiors-crystal-chandelier

Maria Theresa 12 Light Clear Italian Crystal Chandelier 

These timeless design elements never go out of style.

the-intern

Next I will be featuring the four star sets from three Nancy Meyer films, The Intern, Something’s Gotta Give, and It’s Complicated.   

wishbone-chairPoly & Bark Weave Chair in Black

The kitchen featured in The Intern is not a set, but actually a real honest to goodness on location kitchen in a brownstone in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.

So many of the design and decor accessories from The Intern kitchen remain relevant in today’s style preferences.

Open shelving

Steel-blue cabinets

Hardwood floors

Subway tile

Farmhouse sink

the-intern-kitchenMy Domaine

Stunning set design is synonymous with Nancy Meyer’s films.

industrial-pendantHaverhill Pendant

LYKE-Home-Faye-Black-Dresser

Black Dresser

Carbon Loft Horstmann 29-inch Adjustable Bonded Leather Backed Bar Stool

Carbon Loft Horstmann 29-inch Adjustable Bonded Leather Backed Bar Stool

intern-kitchen-set

mrs-meyers-soap

It is no coincidence the interiors play a major role in Ms. Meyer’s films and become the stuff design and decorating trends are made of.

marble-fireplace-mantel

Marble Mantle with Horseshoe Opening

sophia-ghost-arm-chair-c64f6573-23f3-4f66-b62c-5472116d5c5c_6002xhome – Set of 2 Modern Accent Dining Chair

the-intern-living-roomLonny

angelo_HOME-Jaslene-Buffet-Media-Cabinet

Jaslene Media Cabinet

Extra goodies from the dining room decor-

Light Society Thurston 5-light Chandelier

Light Society Thurston 5-light Chandelier

As items sale out, in the style of options become stylish understudies.

SAFAVIEH Benicio Coastal Rattan Dining Chair (Set of 2)

SAFAVIEH Benicio Coastal Rattan Dining Chair (Set of 2)

somethings-gotta-give

Two Academy Award winning actors strutting their mad acting skills and one fabulously designed and decorated beach house set in the Hamptons hits all the Hollywood high notes.

Hooked on Houses

Something’s Gotta Give is a four star design winner on every level.

To describe this space as just romantic, peaceful, and elegant doesn’t fit it well.

Hooked on Houses

It’s the perfect, lovely, sexy, and inviting setting for the lady of the manor to discover that in fact her mojo hasn’t left the building, and for the viewer to glean a few ideas of their own in both the love and decor departments.

Furniture of America Kova Traditional Cherry 60-inch Dining Table

Furniture of America Kova Traditional Cherry 60-inch Dining Table

ironstone-serving-bowl

White Ironstone Serving Bowl

Something's-Gotta-Give-dining-table-wares

This discussion could go on and on.

SAFAVIEH-Handmade-Flatweave-Montauk-Salinda-Casual-Cotton-Rug (1)

Handmade Flatweave Montauk Salinda Casual Cotton Rug

hanna_chair_white_raffia-herringbone

Oly Studio Hanna Chair

These examples are only two of many that come to mind.

somethings-gotta-give-bedroomBetween Naps on the Porch via Pinterest

Italian Center Table

Italian Center Table

beach-stonesGrey Beach Stones

square-glass-jarWebstaurant Store

swim-ladySwim Party – Kenton Nelson

Love this in the style of print.

Beach Beauty I Canvas Art Print

Beach Beauty I Canvas Art Print

wood bankers chair

 Bankers Chair

Is it me or is the common design denominator in these homes a neutral color palette?

That’s the point- classic works.

Layout 1

Some people think it is too safe- a boring option hinting at a lack of decorating imagination.

It’s not that it is safe or boring, but that it is a great choice of classic color scheme to build your design and decor upon.

This point is evident throughout the interiors and exteriors in the film It’s Complicated.

its-complicated-movie-kitchen

french-kitchen-tableFrench Kitchen Island

breakfast-nook-lightBreakfast Nook Light

Nadeau 1-Light Single Cone Pendant

 Single Cone Pendant

Now comes the disclosure portion of this post.

Disclosure: As it in life and disclosure policy compliance with FTC rules, honesty is the best policy. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the product links and make a purchase from the retailer, I receive a commission from the sale. To read the entire policy in full (fun, fun) please read my disclosure page.

 

ruffled baker

Ruffled Baker

silver-monogrammed-meat-dome (1)

Silver Meat Dome

bamboo-shades-large

Natural Cordless Light Filtering UV Protection Bamboo Manual Roll-Up Shade

Rohan 6 light Matte Black and Brass Pendant - Matte Black and Brass

Rohan 6 light Matte Black and Brass Pendant – Matte Black and Brass

Shannon Solid Oak Dining Table

Shannon Solid Oak Dining Table

design-ideas-its-complicatedElle Decor

Casual Tier Console Table

dresser-design-ideas-its-complicatedElle Decor

Mission Alder Nine Drawer Tall Dresser

Mission Alder Nine Drawer Tall Dresser 

oval-drawer-pull Antique English Drawer Pull

Gold Curved Arch Wall Mirror

 

Andrey Desk

Andrey Desk

Please allow me to take a little decorating liberty with the choice of table lamps, but I love the Andrea Tuscan Cream 32-inch Table Lamp X 2.

lamp fix (2)

Andrea Tuscan Cream 32-inch Table Lamp

French Louis XV Style Needlepoint Upholstered Arm Chair

French Louis XV Style Needlepoint Upholstered Arm Chair

Lidded Kooboo Rattan Basket

Lidded Kooboo Rattan Basket

Bakery Goods

bistro_barstoolPorthos Home Zoya Bar Stools Set of 2, Elm Wood Frame, Rattan Seat

Decorative Round Rattan Basket Gray - Threshold™ designed with Studio McGee

Of all the spectacular accents, details and accessories in the home of It’s Complicated, do you know what captured my attention the most?

black-window-framesAtlanta Homes & Lifestyles

The fantastic windows- absolutely stunning!

Black accents set it off with a vengeance.

The reviews are in, and I give it two thumbs up.

gone-with-the-wind

Grand elements of master interior design and period decor makes the Technicolor master suite of Scarlett and Rhett from Gone With The Wind difficult to forget.

Hooked on Houses

needlepoint-chair

arley-candelabra1Arley Candelabra

GWTW-bedroom-bed

GWTW-bedroom-bed-1

IMDb

ornate-English-wall-mirror1

Ornate English Mirror, Gold Leaf

that-hamilton-woman

Another spectacular vision of regal and grand set decor by Hollywood standards is elegantly evident in another Vivien Leigh classic, That Hamilton Woman.

via

sanctuary-tufted-bed-hooker-furnitureSanctuary Upholstered Bed

p192248_p_v8_an

The wedding reception scenes in The Hangover bring class to a long on funny, short on class premise.

The outdoor space is gorgeously appointed in a star of the show black and white palette.

lantern-outdoor

Mansfield 1 Light Black Outdoor Pendant Lantern

sunbrella-grommetCoastal Stripe Outdoor Panel by Havenside Home

The-Hangover-outdoor-patio (1)

the-hangover-wedding-reception

Antibes Set of 2 Wicker Club Chair with Cushions - Christopher Knight Home

Antibes Set of 2 Wicker Club Chair with Cushions – Christopher Knight Home

large-paper-lantern-beige-24-1-bBamboo Ribbed Paper Lanterns

sense_and_sensibility

Barton Cottage in Sense and Sensibility, the period drama film based on Jane Austen’s 1811 novel of the same name, remains one of my favorite movie houses.

It possesses a quaint English charm suited to the period piece and period pieces featured in the film.

Hooked on Houses

Walnut Gateleg Drop Leaf Table w. Drake Carved Feet

english-landscape

English Landscape Oil Painting

bosfla_1Covington Fabric

Grindley English Country Inns Staffordshire Creamer & Sugar Pot Bowl with Lid

Grindley English Country Inns Staffordshire Creamer & Sugar Pot Bowl with Lid

vintage ironstone vegetable bowl brown English

Vintage Ironstone Brown Transferware Tureen from T&R Boote

barley-twist-drop-leaf-table

Antique Mahogany Barley Twist Drop Leaf Table

staffordshire-sheep-figurineRuby Lane

Gonzalez Solid Wood Windsor Back Arm Chair

Andrews Windsor Back Dining Chairs- Set of 4

Tinseltown Trivia Time!

fresh-olive-branch-wreath

Fresh Olive Branch Wreath

'Dressed in White II' by Stefano Cairoli Framed Painting Print on Canvas ‘Dressed in White II’ by Stefano Cairoli Framed Painting Print on Canvas

What movie inspires this look?

Safavieh Lighting Zoey Double Gourd White Table Lamp Set

Safavieh Lighting Zoey Double Gourd White Table Lamp Set

Clarke 3 Drawer Console Table

Clarke 3 Drawer Console Table

julie-and-julia

Set decorator Susan Bode Tyson wonderfully re-created Julia Child’s kitchen for the film Julie & Julia, a film contrasting the early years of Julia Child’s life culinary career with Julie Powell, the New York blogger who deliciously mastered the culinary detail of cooking all 524 recipes printed in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook, one recipe per day for one year.

Country Living

That’s 365 days of bon appétit blogging goodness.

willow_blue_composite_xWillow-Blue Plate by Johnson Brothers
Richmond Stemware by Rogaska
Westchester Stainless by Towle

640px-julia_childs_kitchen_-_smithsonian

Julia Child’s Kitchen – Smithsonian

Modern lighting option in the style of the original in Julia Child’s actual kitchen.

Matte-White+Gold-Curved-Bowl-Metal-Shade-1-Light-Wall-Sconce (1)

Richmond Matte White+Gold Curved Bowl Metal Shade 1-Light Wall Sconce

Close option to the Smithsonian replica of Julia Child’s kitchen.

1chiswick-wall-lamp-clay

Chiswick Wall Lamp

This French Mid-Century Modern design glass Diabolo shaded brass sconces lamps option with the ooh la la factor present and accounted for.

french-mid-century-modern-sconce-lamps

maple butcher block

Antique Maple Butcher’s Block Table

copper pots and pans set OKL (1)

19th-C. English Copper Pans, S/7

cobalt-blue-kitchen-aid-mixer

KitchenAid® Artisan Stand Mixer in Cobalt Blue

If a stove, oven, and pegboard could talk!

white-pegboard

Classic Hollywood interiors of set and on location design and decor star in an award-winning role in our favorite films.

Love your style!

Show & Tell

Have Ideas, Will Repurpose: Our Home Improvement Ideas

Places In The Home hails from the house I grew up in.

My parent’s built the house in 1965, and in the forty years they lived in the house it underwent two major renovations.

My partner in this crazy home improvement ideas life, Dave the Builder, convinced me we are up to the challenge of home improvement ideas renovation.

The standard issue formal living room/dining room combination of the 1960’s ranch house served its entertaining, special occasion event, and makeshift photography studio for homecoming and prom pictures purposes for many years.

Thankfully, my mother received the all good things and trends come to an end memo and did away with the design relic during the great renovation of 1986.

My mother design ideas included turning the formal living room into a formal dining room, and repurposing the small formal dining space into a sitting parlor.

What designs worked then do not work now, so here’s the new home improvement ideas plan:  keep the formal dining room space in place, but with one major design modification.

I’m a huge fan of taking down walls and opening up a space to new design and decor possibilities, so taking down the wall between the sitting parlor and the kitchen it is.

With the home improvement ideas flowing, it’s bye-bye swinging ’60s, get down tonight ’70s, and don’t you forget about how you hated the decorating trends of the ’80s interior design.

As soon as the subject of home improvement ideas came up, Dave the Builder read my mind.

“The wall is coming down, isn’t it?”

Yes, Dave.

Yes it is.

It’s really the only option.

Running the numbers through my head convinced me even more I was on the right track.

It would be much more cost efficient to repurpose existing rooms in order to emphasize function, relaxed formality, and flow.

Although eight foot ceilings are not exactly a hot design favorite, they’re not a design deal breaker either.

As I snapped the shot the bulb went out. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

We vaulted the ceiling in the foyer and added the decorative molding to accommodate our taste.

For less than $200 we added the beveled glass panes to the front door unit.

The five figure estimate from the architect to raise the ceilings throughout the house put a big “that ain’t happening” damper on that idea real fast.

home improvement ideas

Change comes again.

foyer-paint-fixture

foyer-change

Subtle replacements, salvaged fixtures, deeply discounted flooring and wholesale lots helped to make this a cost efficient update.

dining-room-2011

dining-room-table-2011

Two and a half rooms down with a few more to come.

Change has come.

dining-room-table-image

Show & Tell

Go With The Interior Decorating Flow

It came to me one evening as I was going over the afternoon spent with family that the walls and windows of a home frame so much more than the house, they frame the life lived within.

Think of it in terms of a baseball diamond.

baseball-diamond (1)

The entire game starts and ends at home plate.

The bases represent milestones in the lives we lead; the good, bad, the in-between while making memories made along the way.

Your home should provide the calm in the storm, and reflect the personalities of those seeking shelter.

no-place-like-home

Scarlett O’Hara worked her fingers to the bone in war ravaged fields, and Dorothy walked off a month’s worth of calories on the yellow brick road for it.

A rebel with a cause and a Kansas farm girl both knew the score.

home-font

There really is no place like it.

dining-room-chairs

Each space within our home should have a personality all its own.

I feel I’ve done my best interior decorating work when a space stands on its own while creating a key essential; the all important and pleasing interior decorating flow.

In the name of all that is tasteful, try not to be guilty of subjecting others to a interior decorating snafu guaranteed to result in Pretty Baby Face Syndrome (PBFS).

Allow me to explain.

Your close friends have recently had a baby and all they can talk about is how precious little Johnnie or little Susie is.

The proud parents present their bundle of joy and immediately you begin to experience Pretty Baby Face Syndrome(PBFS).

It’s too late at this point, and the window of control over your reaction has just closed.

Smack dab across the middle of your face is one part fear and two parts shock.

mr-bean-baby (1)

I don’t believe I’m going out on a limb here by saying precious is probably not the first word that comes to your scrambled mind.

Being the good friend you are (and an even better actor) you will gracefully pull it all together, aiming in the end to save not only the day, but the friendship as well.

Time will bring beauty to the baby.

You and I will bring beauty to your home.

I’m big on celebrating the homeowner’s individuality and decorating choices.

You own-lease-rent the house- stand tall and own your interior design, decorating and home decor choices.

Just remember to go with the interior decorating flow.

Love your style!

 

Show & Tell