Bachelorette Pad Tour: Part Duex

I thought I'd start off this long-ass post with the latest news on the house and move: There have been some setbacks.  Everything is all good, it happens with every renovation.  But I was supposed to move last Saturday and it has been postponed until Friday, the 15th.  My landlord was kind enough to let me leave half way through the month as extra "just in case" time.  Turns out we needed a little extra "just in case" time for the reno's.  Here's whats going to happen:  On Friday we get the Uhaul and move all the junk out of my apartment and into the basement/garage of the new homestead.  Since the floors will be in the middle of being re-done, we will have to leave it all down there without moving it directly into the space.  From Friday until the floors are dry and ready to be walked upon, I will be staying at Matt's condo with him and his brother. Once everything is all cured and ready for our tippie toes, we will move all my and Matt's belongings into our place and we will officially be "merged."  Y-I-K-E-S!  I am so excited to be in the house and out of box jungle!

Anyhooz... back to the imperative topic at hand.  And that should have been at hand a couple weeks ago when I finally gave you the first true House Tour.  Alas, things around here have been such a mess due to the move, I haven't had much energy to clean up my bedroom. But I did it.  And I did it just for you guys.  So if I may implore you, lets begin Part Duex...

I broke down...

... and finally bought the hand soap dispenser I've been coveting from Target for the last year.

Don't forget to look at the hot freckled tile and faux marble sink. H-O-T-T-T!

If I Had a Million Dollars: Jewels for Your Rooms

I have a confession: I am scared of using bold colors in my home.  I think many people feel that way.  I have ideas galore of great colors and what would work without clashing but still being bold and make a statement.  And then I step into my beige house. Hello, Beige couch.  Hello, Beige walls, Bathroom, kitchen, bedroom.... everything!  But it's safe.  My theory is that down the line I will have a home I own, that I can paint the walls rich colors and that way my furniture will match whatever walls I paint!  That's why this week, If I Had a Million Dollars I would have my whole house in rich, saturated jewel tones. 

 

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 The accessories in this room really complete the jewel toned heaven. The chair that incorporates all the colors and the bedding are all spectacular. Is it bad that my favorite part is still the silver deer head?  Damn you neutrals!!

If I Had a Million Dollars: Teenie Weenie Bubbles

Heya Nesters! Back to our weekly retreat to LaLaLand where we imagine all the things that could be if we has checkbooks that balanced out to look like Bill Gates.  Or I guess I would even take Jay Z.  If I already gave myself an awesome master bath I can't forget our visitors and give them a mini guest bath or two. 

Nanny's Suitcase

Hiya Nesters!  Today I'm going to show you one of my favorite little understated portions of my apartment. It's a suitcase that I found on a random rummage through my grandmother's {Nanny's} attic in Maine many many years back.

Out Of Office

Hey Nesters.  I am writing to you from my disgusting, tissue-ridden, medicine laden apartment. I have procured myself a terrible head cold-- which explains the lack of post today.   I'm pretty sure I'll be out of commission tomorrow too, unless a miracle happens overnight. 

On a side note- I took a bubble bath for the first time today {in an effort to steam the crap out of my respiratory system} and it was so relaxing and serene. Not to shabby for a tacky beige on beige, 70's bathroom.

I'm hoping to be back in action Friday.  Until then, wash those hands of yours, take your vitamins and stay healthy!

If I Had a Million Dollars: Bubbles and Suds

Heya Nesters! Many of you would agree: most women love their quiet time alone in a bubble bath with a book and a few candles.  Just a little while to let the world melt away and sink into the warmth blanket of the water and the fantasy world of your book.  But it's not easy to do if you have a crummy little bathroom like mine.  So If I Had a Million Dollars: I would have one helluva bathroom.

Bean there, Done that

If you havent noticed, I've been on kind of a Autumn kick recently.  {Note: It's not even official until tomorrow.} Maybe its because I grew up here in Boston but Fall, to me, is a symbol of New England. I think many people would agree.  Whether it be the Halloween tales of Salem, just down the road or the leaf peepers taking their treks, I have a feeling others understand what I'm saying. And what is more authentically New England than Maine based corporation LL Bean.

Bathroom Breakthrough

Hey Nesters! A happy Monday morning to you all! Okay... I know... the word Monday is not exactly synonymous with the word "happy" but I have to admit, I am one happy camper today.  Yesterday was a productive day for me and the nest. First thing, while my tea kettle was heating up for my morning Lady Grey, I cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes. 

 I hadn't even finished half of the cup of tea before I started maniacally cleaning the bathroom.  Oh yes, we're talkin': in PJ's, on hands and knees, with my gloves, bathroom-grout-relegated toothbrush and my spray bottle of Clorox and some Scrubby Bubbles.  I was Not. Messing. Around.

Being Shelfish

On Thursday we talked about closing the doors on all your toiletries and hiding them from the public. {Or at least the public that will be making their way into your bathroom.} But I know lots of people don't mind it a bit! If you can utilize some cute storage methods, why not show it off?  I mentioned in this post that I'd like to get this soap dispenser from Target.

I would hardly want to hide this looker away from any one's sight.  And so I've compiled a handsome little "slide show" of some awe inspiring bathrooms with some meticulously maintained open shelving... Enjoy!

  Built-ins' are always a phenomenal use of space.  And how about that wicker ottoman? I'll take two!

 If this breathtaking claw-foot tub leaves you wanting more, maybe the tiered shelving stacked with plush towels will make you want to go for a dip in the tub.

I love that this bathroom has double duty open shelves. The wicker baskets are a brilliant solution for allowing the appearance of open shelving and uniformity without restricting your toiletry purchasing to one container color.  {Not to mention that vintage mirror is swoon-worthy!}

I wonder if you could find an apothecary/dentistry cabinet like this on Craigslist or eBay on the cheap... because I might need one.

This jam-packed gorgeous armior of goodies is perfectly arranged and color coded.  I wish my house could look like that all the time... but let's be real here, Nesters... this was super well staged.  But that won't stop me from having dreams about it tonight!

A slightly more modern take on the open shelving concept. I love the combo of rolled and folded towels.

Ah yes, back to the shabby chic that I tend towards to often... Can't you imagine that soap dispenser on this simple glass shelf?

And now, heaven for a golden hearted girl like myself....  It's cottage-y.... It's beachy... It's luxurious ...And its yellow. This mantel-esque storage is the perfect home for your bath salts and bubbles, just in perfect arms' reach from the tub.  The mirrored element makes its less obtrusively white in the all-mustard-all-the-time commode. Brilliant!

Well I hope you enjoyed our little trip down Open-Shelving Lane today Nesters! We'll just have to wait and see what I end up going with... Seeing all these beaut's has made me second guess the closed-door subject!

As always, stay tuned for more!

Bathroom Bonanza

When you step into my bathroom, its like a time warp to the 1970s.

Ok ok, this isn't actually my bathroom... but its pretty groovy, right?

This is my bathroom.

It's really tiny but enough for just me.  This picture is making it look pretty darn good actually. But if you look a little closer, you'll see the bathtub is beige but the toilet is white, the vanity is somewhere in between {physically and color-wise} with a faux marble top. The tile on the walls are white with beige freckles and don't forget about that lovely beige border. But wait! There's more! The tile on the floor is beige 1/2"x 1/2" tiles {much like the currently popular mosaic tile} with the occasional brown tile thrown in.  Neato!

What's more problematic than the bland color scheme, is the storage. That medicine cabinet holds a good portion of nail polishes and vitamins and all the other first aide gear and cleaning supplies and things that aren't used daily are housed under the sink. But I have a slew of hair goo and lotions and all that good stuff that gets all of us girlie girls gussied every day... that is the only box that I still have not unpacked yet. So I've been thinking about how to utilize the space in my tiny little commode and get a space where once and for all, my doodads can find a home.

I really like the openness these two but I am a girl that likes things out of sight.  Having things that aren't meant to be seen, being seen is one of my pet peeves. No one needs to know how many leave-in conditioners I have in order to keep my locks luxurious! That means as much as I want glass doors on this cabinet it doesn't exactly lend itself to hiding things.  Let's take a look at a few styles that are little more demure.

 If my bathroom weren't so small and drowning in the color brown, I would probably have a dark wood cabinet.  Being that that is not the case, I will stick with white.  The simplicity of the last "space saver" with the small X elements at the top really is the the best combination that I've come across.  Another nice attribute of this one is that there are 4 legs with space between them. This removes the weighty feel of the solid sided pieces, which again is important when your bathroom is a wee one! {ha ha, "wee"}  Luckily, this one is a steal from Overstock! 

What do you guys think? Do you like open shelving? Or are you like me and want to hide all your goodies?