A Bathing Beauty – Modern Design Meets Italian “Fusion”

I’m sharing a little side “trip” from my series, “Designing A Room At A Time”, by featuring a portion of a new-build project I completed, last year.  Actually, my client and I are still adding personalized touches, due to the scale of the process, but the bulk of the work has been done.  You’ll be able to view the architectural designer’s featured link to the home – Here. (It may be best viewed if you have Flash.)  I was the project’s interior designer, from blueprint to finish, and from top to bottom.  (The architect’s photography was done in an earlier stage, but you will have a good grasp of the overall design concept.)  There were so many special spaces in this home! It has been difficult to decide which one is my favorite.  Each area has its own little story.

One bath and bedroom area, in particular, required a little extra thought, given the overall design is an Italian Villa meets the French Mediterranean.  This area was designated to be a guest suite, as well as to be a retreat for a daughter, during her visits home.  She loved the aesthetic of a streamlined, fabulous hotel suite.  As I was pondering how to create this area, while still honoring the areas leading into this space, I knew I could call on color to be my “first assistant”.  I decided to focus on some of the softer palettes of green, mocha, and brick. I’m sharing with you the final results of the bath, and I do think “she” turned out to be a real bathing beauty!

 

The cabinet compliments the strié tile, with the sparkling deco inserts of crackled glass.  The broad horizontal plane, painted in the same color of the trim, creates the perfect location for placing crystallized, tile-like color accents.  It also brings a tall ceiling down to human scale.  The vanity light defers to an iron scroll design, used in the bedroom window treatments.

 

A closer look at the crystallized accents.  You can see the glimmer of green on top of the rust base.  Every girl loves a little bling!

The location of the bedroom and bath faces a very sunny exposure.  The mostly green palette virtually brings the temps down on a hot day.

This paisley bedding adds some feminine curves to the bedroom.  We are still tweaking that area so watch for a future post on the completed look.  The colors are spot on!

The starting point . . . This beautiful White River granite made us feel as if we were sailing on the Italian Riviera.

It was fun travelling with you, today!  I would love to hear about one of the most beautiful bathrooms you’ve seen.  Tell me what made it so special or about a favorite feature.

Con Grazie!

On A “Lighter” Note – Simple Summer Living

While I’m “officially” on hiatus for a few more days, I know many Americans are also “officially” kicking off the summer vacation season, or are planning for all of the fun times which coincide with it.  In order to have more summer fun, it’s best to keep it simple . . . cooking, entertaining, and even our daily routines.  It’s also the time of year when designers look at rooms, laden with heavy textures and colors, and clients are ready to open up their spaces, allow for more movement, and let the sun shine in!  Think of all of the phrases we’ve coined, containing a form of the word, “light”.  (Lighten our load., A lighter spirit., Lighten up., . . . to name a few.) 

So . . . . in the spirit of keeping this “light and simple”, I’m sharing some related posts from some other blog and design websites. 

Grilled pork tenderloin and a simple salad – from my friend, Amy, of “She Wears Many Hats”.  Click here for her recipe.  (I love that she uses “Yum-Yum” as her food tab!)  Amy is an avid blogger from upstate South Carolina.  We tweet, from time-to-time, and have met in real life at a recent book signing for the Pioneer Woman.

Leave it to the team at Martha Stewart to find simple solutions for outdoor living spaces!  Some cedar decking, placed on squares of wood, then pushed together, create this portable deck area.  Cluster some potted plants and you are done!  I also love the stacked pot fountain.  It’s a quick day project with rewarding results.

Sheers panels, as shown in this room setting from “Traditional Home”, provide an easy and airy solution for spur of the moment window treatments.  Later on, you can always layer side panels.  Some great blog reads, regarding window treatments and design, are:  terri’sfabrics.co.uk and Jackie Von Tobel Home

Need to plan a get-a-way?  Visit my friend, Julia Rosien’s blog, Go Girlfriend.  You’ll enjoy reading about her travel experiences, as she removes the complication from planning your travels.

Or . . . Is your home the arrival destination?  Quick ship bedding from Eastern Accents, (and a shameless plug, here), available through my design firm, can upgrade a plain Jane, (or John), room from economy class to a luxury suite, in a short order of time.

Of course, this is a great simple solution, too!

Have a safe and special Memorial Weekend.  Please take a moment to honor those who have served us well.

 

Experience the best about design!  Wanda