Well, well, well…I do believe this is the last bathroom of my brother’s river house, and likely the one that gets seen the most by guests. I have an order of favorites, for sure, but this one seems to be the reigning #1 (I’m partial to the primary myself, but perhaps that’s because I’m middle-aged and love an at-home spa experience – I mean, they have a sauna inside the bathroom). This one has a punch and a pattern, and a lot of green (go Ducks!). Green tiled bathrooms for the win. We chose the tile back when Max and I were both working on this project, and that man also loves a big green tile moment. I mean who doesn’t love a good green tiled bathroom. We worked with Ann Sacks, which has extremely good colors and really solid tile. Max felt really strongly about this tile and wanted it staggered as a 4″ square. I wanted it stacked as a rectangle, and somewhere along the line, it ended up staggered as a rectangle. I honestly don’t remember who is responsible for what anymore! But it turned out so great, and it’s pretty beloved in the home. A Big Pivot… I do remember that at one point, Ken and Max chose this big double faucet-ed wall-hung farm sink from Kohler that I objectively love, but as the house came together, it started to feel like it didn’t belong here. Katie felt the same. So with conflicting design visions, we looked for other options. We had to make decisions quickly as the subs were working hard on all the bathrooms at the same time. So we played around with what we had on hand, which was a leftover wall-hung drawer vanity (seen above) that felt oddly big. But that’s when Gretchen has the idea of using our leftover tile to tile a smaller version of that wall-hung vanity. So JP and his crews built a box for an inset sink, with the vision to tile overtop of it, keeping the look of the wall tile and running the same way. We taped it out, making sure that it worked with the plumbing that was already behind the tiled wall, while also ensuring that it was the right scale for this bathroom. It was a risk, and a last-minute one on the bathroom that the most people would see and near the end of a long project… We ordered the faucet from Kohler, and I was so relieved that it turned out pretty darn great. Still unexpected in the house, but now that it’s fully decorated, the pattern of the wallpaper and the colorful tile work so well together. The pendants were bought from Schoolhouse Electric – modern yet traditional and on the affordable side. On Choosing The Wallpaper This bathroom is big for a powder bath and dark (no natural light), and just painting felt a bit dead, so once again I was tasked with finding a wallpaper that was organic and fluid so that it contrasted against the linear brick tile, but not too traditional like most florals. As you know, I’m a massive fan of the Raphael pattern for this exact reason – it has this beautiful movement without it being too busy or bold. The large scale of it works so well with smaller tiles, and the white grout pulled so well with the white background. It also felt very Oregon to me – what with the trees and such. Yes, we see it a lot these days, but I enjoy seeing it every single time. The variation in the tile color is so pretty (with many shaky edges – so make sure you are up for that look). It’s just such a deep, rich green with a lot of high gloss texture. Can’t forget the toilet :) There was enough room for a little side table, which I was on the fence about, but the gap was big, so we added it, and it looked cute. I went to my inventory of art and found that I had two more of these MaryAnn Puls pieces (I had bought and framed a bunch for my team holiday present years ago, and had a couple left over). They felt like a sweet moment in here and brought in that hit of warmth with the wood that was echoed with the stool and the wooden arch sculptures (which I bought on Amazon, last minute, LOL). She’s pretty dang cute and a fun punch for guests upon arrival. Actually, my whole family is coming over tonight to Ken’s for a BBQ to get a full updated tour now that it’s all decorated, which I’m super excited about. Last bathroom done!!! Don’t worry, we still have like 6 more rooms to reveal (I love them all SOOO MUCH), so stay tuned. The river house project is truly never-ending :)
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Welcome to a quick reveal of my brother’s guest bath which is small, cute, blue and right next to that new pink bedroom that we are obsessed with. Max Humphrey and I designed this together – starting almost 3 years ago when I was still in Arrowhead! He has the same tile in his bathroom, which was the jumping-off point and we designed the rest of it it to be simple and contemporary. The Tile We worked with Ann Sacks on the tile and chose their Context line for the walls in this really pretty denim blue color called Spa. The wall tile is 2×12 so you can see we did a vertical row and then a horizontal tile on top, essentially creating a type of stripe. It’s a nice way to lay out tile to have it not be busy but do something interesting (neither a stack nor a stagger, no offense to either of those :)). We wanted to do a sort of color drench in here so we used a darker blue penny tile in a color called Lantern on the floor – a real Max Humphrey move. As you can see there is a lot of color variation to the tile that you can’t really tell on a sample, so when it’s installed it has some dark spots making each piece look more organic (but good to know). The Shower Plumbing We went with the Purist line in the Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass with cross handles. The Purist remains my favorite line of theirs for both modern and transitional, but can absolutely go “modern traditional” as well. And per usual it comes in nine different finishes – all so pretty. Max chose the grout for the tile which was lighter on the walls and a bit darker grey on the floors. We talked about it after the grout was put in, and both of us would’ve done a darker blue grout on the floor, adding more of a contrast with the walls. We used white Caesarstone leftovers for all the trim and niche. We wanted to add some other design elements but didn’t want to make it too busy (and honestly at this point we were on a budget so we didn’t want to add a second tile. I felt that a paint color wouldn’t be impactful enough and didn’t necessarily want to add any wood paneling or anything like that. So once I found this wallpaper from Mitchell Black I loved how it picked up on the warmer tones of the brass and wood, but was still quiet and organic. We also didn’t know how we were going to design the guest room (and this bathroom is inside the guest room so they really needed to coordinate). So whatever we chose we didn’t want to lock us into a specific color palette just yet. This wallpaper is so neutral, soft, and pretty. This bathroom is pretty small, but this vanity has a lot of storage and works really well in here. We switched out the hardware to be black wood (stained, from Etsy) and I love that it looks like freestanding furniture. The sink and counter come with it making it easy for purchasing and install. I LOVE that light fixture, by Worley’s, which you can customize both the metal and the wood. I was greedy and wanted a multi-finish sconce so this black and wood double sconce was perfect here and married all of our finishes. The mirror was a $50 Home Goods purchase, y’all. I know these are a bit trendy and I bought it on a whim, but once I held it up we all agreed it was pretty dang cute and the idea of continuing to shop for something “better” wasn’t necessary. I like the tone of the wood with the wallpaper and the shape of the mirror with the organic “flock of birds” like pattern. For this bathroom we did a deck mount faucet, mostly to switch it up after a lot of wall mounts :) Designing five bathrooms at the same time makes you want a bit of variety. But behind the scenes, we may have wallpapered a dark slightly gold-flecked navy blue paper at first…it was a big “hell no” which was a bummer, but thank god the install of it was also problematic so we were able to re-install the new paper for free. So much better :) The flow between this bathroom and its bedroom is really pretty and while it’s small, it’s highly functional, so pretty, and does the job. Only one more bathroom left :) Stay tuned!
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Like the kids’ bath, this bathroom was “done enough” but I always knew that I wanted to add wallpaper to the water closet (i.e. the toilet room). But life had other priorities and I didn’t feel like rushing any more decisions. The room didn’t need it and I have to be careful because I like “stuff” so sometimes it’s better for me to keep the foundations of a house simple so I can style with my fun things without it getting crazy busy or overdesigned. But after two years of living in this bathroom (which I LOVE) I’ve decided that a pattern in this room wouldn’t add much visual clutter (whereas I’ve thought about doing a pattern on the curtains and I think that might be too much and take away from the sereneness of this room). As a reminder, this is what it looks like (when it’s clean) and the floor is really the star – one tone but so much pretty texture and that blue tile is PERFECT. Shout out to Pratt + Larson :) But the water closet was kinda boring, yet fine! It’s just a water closet! But it’s also a missed opportunity. And I figured that the wallpaper installer could do both the kids’ and this room on the same day, so I got motivated all of a sudden. I narrowed it down to this pattern – another tree motif (no one is surprised here – nature motifs have long been my go-to). I love that this pattern has a lot of organic movement without a lot of negative space – i.e. it’s busy but not high contrast since the branches run into each other. I also love the warmth of the “wood” that I knew would work with all our hits of wood and gold in the bathroom. Honestly, I love the blue colorway more, but I was genuinely fearful that I would have too much blue in this bathroom, what with the floors and the shower room being all blue. I was afraid that you’d walk in and it would be overwhelmingly blue. If I’m being honest, I also think I was influenced by people saying “woah, you have a lot of blue in your house” and maybe not wanting to just take my “comfort color” easy route. Which Wallpaper Did I Choose? The green! And when I first walked in I was like, “woah”. As in it felt like a LOT. Now that I’ve gotten used to it, I really like it, but admittedly it is a lot. I think if I could snap my fingers I’d add paneling, our horizontal beadboard up to wainscot height, like in our powder bath, but I’ve got other fish to fry so likely won’t get to that for years if ever. The artwork helps tie in the green with the blue on the floor – I think the undertones are working fine, but maybe not as ideal as they could. All in all, I’m happy, it’s cute/fun, etc, but I didn’t have the same reaction as I have in the kids’ bath (which I think I perfectly nailed the wallpaper color and pattern). When you look at it altogether – with the shower room and pulling the green from the big tree it works together and I’m pleased :) I suppose the narrowness of the room makes it feel a little more overwhelming than I had predicted – like if it were wider and/or we had paneling 40″ up the wall I think it would be better. But I swear I’m not unhappy and have zero inclination to do anything about it, I just think it’s funny how you can be 100% sure about something that once installed is only an 80% love. And that’s ok because it’s just our toilet room (thank goodness).
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Well, well, well. A year and a half after the “reveal”, I finally did the update that this bathroom always wanted – wallpaper, and it looks so good that even my kids noticed and went out of their way to tell me! There is nothing sweeter than your 11-year-old son saying “Mama, I love the wallpaper” before you even have time to point it out. I always knew that this bathroom wanted wallpaper above the tile and trim, but I needed to shoot it and I hadn’t found the right paper. It was still pretty beforehand, but now it’s just so much better. Before Wallpaper Here’s how we shot it in August of 2023, it really remained the same for the most part. The art fell down off the tile (dumb Command strips) but otherwise, it was sweet and worked. So I kept my eye out for the perfect pattern and colorway… Choosing The Right Paper I fell in love with a few of these from Graham & Brown, ordered some samples, and was delighted that there were many that I loved. While the middle blue one looks so powerful on camera (and I think maybe one on stories?), I went with the green colorway on the right that has hits of blue in it just so it felt a little more timeless and less saturated I guess? I think the intense color on top with the green tile might have been too much, whereas the green obviously spoke to the floor, more in harmony. The Reveal I LOVE IT. The “wood” of the branches speaks to the warmer tones in the room (like the vanity and the gold fixtures) and the green and blue work so well with the green tile and blue accents (like the curtains and the vintage dog painting). I love that the green vintage light fixture still pops off it nicely without getting too lost. And while I was open to changing out the curtains (I mean, it was just yardage that I iron hemmed and hung up) I think this looks so fun and cute. The colors are great together and the scale of the large gingham is offset so nicely with the organic movement of the wallpaper pattern. The bathroom just feels so much more finished, like it was always meant to be this way. The only thing/s that I’m still debating are: Do I add crown molding? My typical answer would be yes, but outside the tub niche, it would end up being just a little sliver. But you could skip the molding on that front part (maybe, unsure about that) and just do the perimeter of the room… I also might add cafe curtains IF I find the right pattern, but I’m not terribly motivated to persist on that one. Like sure, it could look cute but there is a lot happening already – we may have hit our whimsy quota. It’s another box checked and only 3 years after we moved in which I don’t think is THAT bad. I actually am loving adding these layers in a slower (and less stressful way). It’s just so happy and feels appropriate to the house (Scandinavian farmhouse vibes FTW). The organic nature of it contrasts well with the tile, too. With the green floor/wall tile border looking like grass and the wallpaper clearly being a forest, we have a fully executed theme in here :) What do you think??
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It’s funny writing a trend post every year on a room like the bathroom. This is, of course, a space that wears some fairly permanent and expensive decisions. In fact, it’s common for true “trends” in kitchens and bathrooms to run the length of about a decade (or more). And surely, there are some design decisions that look good for a lifetime. But you wouldn’t be here reading about home aesthetics if you weren’t an enthusiast of sorts, wondering what’s next. So while I kind of cringe at the idea of trends for the sake of newness, I do also know there is a time and place for fresh ideas. If you’re embarking on a home reno or new home journey, you’ll likely need some concepts to chew on, whether you’re after just a few special details to add to your traditional design plan, or are looking to create something completely drama-filled. And just like Jess said in her trend observations for kitchens in the coming year(s), I also don’t take these kinds of posts lightly. We research for weeks and often months (heck, sometimes the whole year) to see what other designers and firms have dared to do. What might stick? What could be fun to dream about? What feels like an entirely new idea? What feels like a classic detail done in a crisp way? So, without further ado, here are the seven design “trends” I’ve taken notice of that I think have some serious legs. Moody Boutique Hotel The whole moody vibes thing really started to take hold maybe five-ish years ago, and with the color-drenching trend that exploded in the last year, it just makes sense this would make its way into the bathroom. It’s kind of always been a thing for powder baths where people are more comfortable taking risks, but this boutique hotel slash members-club aesthetic is primed to also make its way into primary baths. First up is this absolutely gorgeous space by Life of Plenty Home. I especially love how subtle the contrast is between the dark lime-washed (or possibly Roman clay) walls and the more cream-leaning marble-fluted sink basin and rattan mirror. This keeps the design super interesting and layered without coming off overly glam. Here’s the treatment in a full bath, by our friend A1000xbetter. This one is a bit more retro in vibe, between the terrazzo floor and the wood paneling, but the feeling is the same. It feels like the kind of room you can enter at 2 am when your bladder can’t make it to the morning, and your eyes won’t be smited by brightness. I’m screaming this is so good. Forgive me for being graphic, but it’s kind of like the inside of a uterus in the absolute best way (girl power!). All jokes aside, it takes a very daring person to let their designer (Crystal Sinclair Designs in this case) implement something like this and I applaud this homeowner. And while that custom red marble sink is likely the cost of a hospital bill after giving birth, you can get a similar—if not so bold—look by opting for a deep burgundy wall or tile color, adding some thin picture frame molding, and going with an antiqued mirror finish on multiple surfaces. A bit less glam is this powder back by Laura Brophy, achieved with a rough, possibly vintage or antique stone basin. Contemporary touches like the streamlined wall-mounted faucet, sconces, and the thin-framed mirror keep this space feeling forward-thinking rather than overly rustic. Natural Spa Vibes On the complete flip side of “moody boutique hotel” is the warm, natural spa aesthetic. While your mind might go to something very clean and white, this trend is far more rooted in earth tones and materials. Marble is replaced with wood, limestone, and slate. Surfaces are cohesive—meaning the same finish is seen across ceilings, walls, even vanities. It’s calm, luxe, and rich-looking while also down to earth. While I was only really able to get two images approved for use, don’t let that make you think this isn’t having its moment. Because it is, and big time. In the last decade, we’ve seen a lot of colorful bathrooms, eclectic and glam spaces, charming English cottage looks, but I think this is where modern design is heading. More “quiet luxury” than in your face (but expected) spa. I especially love how Yond Interiors mixed the nearly velveting mushroom finish of the walls, ceilings, and pony wall (that houses the vanity) with a thick grouted slate and a stunning wood surround for the tub. I’m not sure how a wood like that would hold up to water over time, but I have to imagine that was thought through. (Also, you heard it here first: Slate and terra cotta floors are having a comeback…) Here’s a fairly different look, from Studio Utkan Gunerkan but the serenity they both serve is unmistakable. I think this is accomplished by picking just a few materials and using them all over. Here, the concrete-like material on the walls, floor, ceiling, and vanity is balanced by a pinkish clay-hued tile in the walk-in shower. That’s it. It’s simple but powerful. Raw Edge Vanity This is more of a detail than a full-room design move, and also kind of an offshoot of the warm natural spa look from above. I’ve been seeing so much of this lately, executed both in stone and in wood. Raw edges are particularly interesting when juxtaposed with the cold and pristine nature of a stone like marble. I originally pulled this image to illustrate the previous trend, but then I couldn’t stop finding bathrooms with wood or stone with raw edges, like this one by Anke Design Studio. And while I’m sure this detail isn’t for everyone, it lends a one-of-a-kindness that doesn’t feel like it can be replicated. It’s uniquely yours and celebrates the beauty of stone. If you told me to close my eyes and picture a bathroom with rough-hewn and scraped wood on every surface besides the sink vanity, which was a boulder-like chiseled stone, I’d struggle to come up with something this refined in my brain. But Alessandro Isola somehow managed it expertly. This feels like a 5-star resort, as many of Isola’s spaces do, which typically feature raw-edged rock and stone elements where most tend to lean in linear, clean-cut marble and wood. A bit less grand but no less beautiful. I love this bathroom by Susannah Holmberg Studios because it feels both incredibly special but somehow attainable. The live edge counter that flanks the plinth stone basin really grounds the room. White Plumbing Fixtures Gold and brass has had a chokehold on metal finishes for well over a decade at this point, and we’ve toyed with wondering what’s next. Chrome maybe? Polished nickel? Bronze? All of those are great options, but strangely white fixture finishes are kind of having a (niche) moment. Now, I don’t see this replacing brass in any way, but it’s a good contender if you’re after something new and modern. A white faucet really plays to the youthfulness of this bathroom (this is actually a design in collaboration with Domino for surface company Concrete Collaborative). It doesn’t cut through or juxtapose anything about the checkered tile or the bobbin-esque mirror, but rather complements it perfectly. Here, by Lizzie Green of Popix Designs, the white faucet is more of a contemporary foil to the earthenware thin stacked tile on the wall. A brass fixture would have been beautiful, but this is unexpected, cheerful, and feels like an eternal spring. And while I know this isn’t a faucet, I couldn’t skip over including the white finish on the metal doors of this shower (the space was designed by Handelsmann + Khaw). It’s such a cool look that we don’t see often. Interesting Trimwork We’ve been seeing picture frame molding everywhere, but it’s taken its time to make it into the bathroom in the same way it’s applied in living spaces. In addition to that, there’s also so much fun being had with subtle tile and marble trim work. Think contrasting colors, stripes, and barely-there stone. It’s really the kind of thing that can take a fairly subtle room and take it to the next level. You don’t often see so much molding in a bathroom, but I love it! Now, keep in mind that in a powder bath like this one by Carlos Garcia Interiors, there isn’t much to be concerned with in terms of moisture, but in a bathing space, you may want to consider a PVC molding to avoid any warping or deterioration over time of the wood. The image I’m referencing here is on the second slide (in case it doesn’t default to that for you). This is a bathroom in Le Grand Mazarin Hotel, which was designed by Martin Brudnizki. As if the peachy tile with a subtle darker peach stripe every four rows wasn’t punchy enough, they added a black and white vertical stripe prior to the bullnosing. I think almost every room can stand to have some black sprinkled in, and this is a highly effective and quirky way to do it that’ll draw the eye and make you smile every morning and night. Heidi Caillier Design knows just how to take a fairly serious (and seriously beautiful) room and add that je ne sais quoi to make it feel new. In this instance, it’s the thick, lacquered green trim at the baseboard and around the opening to the bathtub nook. Another one by A1000xbetter, I almost missed the delicate marble trim along the top line of the tile and around the threshold of the shower stall. I can’t stop looking at it and it’s such a surprising, simple detail in a room with so much else to look at. Brown, Black & Dark Gray Natural Stone Move over white marble because darker pigment natural stone is here to take its seat on the throne (and no, I don’t mean the toilet…or do I?). There’s such a gravitas to opting for an Emperador Marble or Nero Marquina marble over the more commonly used Carrara or Calacatta, and also feeds into the moody boutique hotel look I shared earlier. My jaw is on the floor here, and if ever I would allow my mouth to touch the ground, it would be on this gorgeous creamy and dreamy stone floor in a space by Montana Labelle. And look, I know that marble tub is something few could fathom for themselves, it’s great inspiration for the power of dark stone. Hard to go back to white stone after laying eyes (and jaw) on this. I’m fairly certain this stone is actually a red marble, but when I first earmarked it, I thought it was dark brown, so I’m letting it slide anyway. Isn’t this just so gorgeous? Thank you Style House LA for this marvel. For those not inclined to go so potent, darker gray marbles might just be for you. It’s stormy, modern, and plays nice with both warm and cool tones on other surfaces. I especially like it against a grey-washed wood like the one in this bathroom by Lark+Palm. Color Drenching Surprise, surprise…said no one. We can’t get away from color-drenching (I mean, I’m not ready to anyway), so it’s no wonder it’s sneaked into the bathroom. I love this one because it’s a fairly simple way to make a huge impact with some pretty affordable materials. Of course, like anything else, it can also read luxurious, modern and personality-filled, all depending on what you pick to get the point across. Another Human‘s Leah Ring is no stranger to creating spaces that make you smile while simultaneously leaving you thinking “wait, why didn’t I come up with that?” In white, the classic square tile and floating flat-fronted vanity would feel sterile, nearly clinical, but in sage and mint green, it’s just so dang pleasant. Color drenching doesn’t always have to feel contemporary, either. Erdem Hamza went monotone (with white for contrast) but in a way that is organic, worldly, and chic. Don’t be afraid to look at sinks and fixtures in colors other than white, and then match it to your wall paint and tile selections. Talk about happy! This is what I call color-drench-light. Meaning, yellow isn’t on every single surface, but it’s on just enough to get the point across. Tamsin Johnson varied a buttery yellow on the cabinets and mirrors and a darker ochre on the tile. Even the antiqued brass faucets seem to play into the color scheme. And finally, a mauve moment by Decus Interiors. This is similar to Leah Ring’s green bathroom in that it’s a straight-forward square tile with a painted flat-front floating vanity, but it feels very different with the swirling stone that picks up on those purple hues, and the linear color-matched cabinet handles. It’s hushed but speaks volumes. — There you have it. Overall, there’s definitely a trend toward deeper, more personality-filled bathrooms, replacing the cold, white spaces that were the norm for decades. I hope these rooms inspire you, even if they wouldn’t be something you’d choose for yourself. Heck, may they push you to think outside the box for any room in your home, not just your bathrooms. But well, especially your bathrooms if you have the inclination to work on yours. Until next time friends…
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Today we have quite the luxury bathroom for you – including a hers and his shared shower, a view of the river, a heated toilet, and a sauna inside the bathroom (I’m truly jealous). It’s another River House bathroom, my favorite one that is so warm and airy – and the white tile in here might be my favorite I’ve ever used. The bathroom itself is more long and narrow – the shower faces east and the windows over the vanity are south. The footprint of this wing was dictated by how the house was designed by Anne Usher (the architect) and built by JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction. It’s not huge so it had to be really thoughtful in how it was going to be maximized. They actually added the sauna near the end which I think they stole by flipping the toilet room and getting rid of that small storage cabinet between the old toilet room and the vanity area. Here you can see how it connects to the primary bedroom. There is a pocket door to ensure that if one person needs to get up early to get ready or needs privacy they can just close it. The view from the bedroom (reveal here!) into the bathroom is just so pretty. Those mirrors hanging in front of the window might be my favorite thing (albeit controversial). Here’s a little video before we get into the pretty photos! (just wait for the ad to play:)) She is such a sophisticated bathroom – wood, green, brass, and so much natural light that you would never need to turn on the overhead lights (except during the 5 months of darkness that we are about to enter, LOL). The vanity is a long floating custom vanity designed by Max and Anne (and maybe me, I honestly don’t remember at this point). Mirrors In Front Of The Windows? Anne was the one driving the mirror in front of the window situation which I was fully on board with because it’s weird and cool (and I’ll do anything for natural light + quirk). Anne had an interesting philosophy that basically says we should prioritize seeing nature over seeing our faces all day. Obviously, you need a mirror when you are getting ready but I love the idea of not being confronted with my own face when I’m just getting up or even brushing my teeth and instead looking at the trees. Now of course we ended up putting mirrors above the vanity in front of the windows anyway, and here is why… We originally wanted to hang the mirrors from the side or ceiling on a pivot that could be stored out of the way, but the ceilings are vaulted and angled and the sconces needed to be hung as flush mounts up there. Also, the sides weren’t symmetrical which felt odd to us. We worked with a welder and tried to figure out how to hang from the top of the wood or the side, but he basically told us that it would be floppy and never solid (which seemed like a bad choice). So we designed them to be attached inside the wood frame and used the Kohler mirrors (which were perfect in size and shape) with a custom welded back. The vanity has three drawers – two with cutouts for the sink plumbing then a huge drawer in the middle. The faucets are part of the Components Collection from Kohler that comes in all the different finishes and a few different shapes. The line is called “components” because you can choose separate handles and spouts – essentially customize the exact look you are going for. We used the gooseneck faucet for the guest bath so opted for the Row spout, a squared-off version, up here. These light fixtures are new and so awesome. They are so heavy and high quality, with a really pretty gold patina, and they give off excellent light. You can obviously use them vertically flanking a vanity mirror as well. To the right of the bathroom is the tub/shower wet room and it’s so flooded with light, bouncing off all the textures in the tile and the faucets – it’s extremely dreamy to be in there. Because we were working with Kohler on this we were able to go all out in the plumbing department – a rain shower, two showerheads for joint showering, and a hand shower. Their new Statement and Anthem line is so beautiful and with a lot of flexibility and customization – with options for mechanical valves that don’t require electrical in addition to plumbing (so an easier install) or digital. We chose the Ceric tub because it was the narrowest and has such a sculptural and classic shape. The water temp is automatically set and you simply just push on and off and it reaches that temperature. The look of it is so design-forward, but the function is really simple. The tub is big enough for two people but doesn’t have a huge footprint so fitting into this shower was just fine (which was something we worried about and went through all the exercises like bringing a cardboard template to make sure it fit). The knob controls the temperature and the buttons turn it on and off (and control the hand shower). It’s just so streamlined and squared off with these modern round knobs – so graphic and simple. Each person gets to control their own temperature, all pre-set by them, and they can change the water pressure and stream with a few different options (there is a really fun spray that is so soft that we love). This tile is one of my favorites I’ve ever used – such a pretty texture with white and vertical organic stripes. We stacked them horizontally and the vibe is so rich and textured, and yet still calm. Ann Sacks has a lot of stone tile as well, and we chose the large format 12×24 for the vanity floor and then switched to a small herringbone of the same tile for the shower room (smaller tile always works to slope better towards the drain). It’s all so gorgeous. The stone has a lot of warmth and green in it, calling back to the trees outside all the windows. I can’t stop staring at it. Anne (the architect) designed this storage cabinet with three shelves and a door for extra storage. The Kohler hooks are black to help pull in the black sliding door frame and all the black light switches (we also chose a black hand towel bar). The Sauna Now, TBH I had very little to do design-wise with this sauna, beyond my extreme support and enthusiasm. The best part is that it’s both infrared AND a traditional dry sauna. I’m so jealous. Essentially the infrared goes deeper and some say is better for your skin, but they don’t heat up to be as hot as fast (and you have to stay in much longer to get the benefits) whereas a traditional dry sauna can get really hot and you only need 20 minutes to drip with sweat and get the mood-boosting benefits. The black panels are the infrared heat and then below you’ll see the dry system with all the rocks. My brother worked with a local sauna builder (that is a design/build firm) and Ken was super happy with their service and work. The sauna is big enough to fit both of them sitting up or one lounging. They have been using it 5 nights a week, watching Friday Night Lights through the glass on an iPad. Again, very jealous. The Toilet Room/Watercloset Yes, there is a toilet in its own little room with a pocket door and a beautiful deep color. It’s a smart toilet with a heated seat, bidet, and a lot of bells and whistles (controlled by a remote that is attached to the wall). Yes, you need to plan for a plug (and I’d suggest all toilet rooms get an outlet just in case a future owner is as obsessed with having a bidet as the general bidet enthusiasts club population seems to be. LOL). They LOVE it. And I love how streamlined the toilet is, thus making it easy to clean:) Jess thought it would be fun to show you the difference between the bathroom before and after styling – it’s so simple and calm so the styling really added a lot. Human for scale:) I love my bathroom, I do, but when you are in this bathroom, showering with a view of the river, surrounded by trees it’s pretty darn glorious. A huge thanks to Kohler for partnering with us on this bathroom – we are so thankful to work with our favorite brands to create beautiful rooms (and photos for the blog).
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While this house has a lot of contemporary lines (with hits of traditional vibes throughout), it’s still a house for a family with two elementary school-aged kids (6 and 9). They share a hall bathroom that is a nice size and Max and I were able to design it to be happy and playful, and yet use high-quality material that will last (and obviously grow with them). I honestly never pictured this bathroom like this – it’s really sweet and charming and full of layers that are far from “contemporary”. Some of this is in the styling, for sure, but whatever it is I love looking at these photos and every time I walk in I get that surge of, “Oh this is so fun”. Where Are We In The House? Ok, we are on the second floor and you can see the kid’s rooms are nearby. The bathroom is pretty big – although I see that the floor plan has changed since this above version to NOT have a separation between the vanity area and the toilet/bath. It’s part of the house that was designed to be vaulted so it has high ceilings. When they did the window plan they chose a huge window in here – so it has a lot of natural light. Three Different Tiles Max Humphrey and I chose the tile (we co-designed many of the bathrooms together), but this tile is more him, I’d say (and I love it). That guy is a master at selecting and mixing tiles. He generally takes more risks than me but still stays within a restrained palette which you all know I love. We worked within Ann Sacks Made line (made in Portland, which we are big fans of) which has a huge variety of colors. What I love so much about it is the variation of the color at the edges in both the penny tile on the floor and the shower tile – it gives it a lot of dimension and texture (the outline isn’t the grout, it’s the tile). I should back up and say that my brother and SIL didn’t want a tub in here – their kids take showers so they didn’t see the point of a tub (and thought it would be hard to get in and out of). But as an avid bather, I pushed back hard saying how bad for resale it would be not to have a tub for kids. So they chose the most shallow tub (one that would be easy for the kids to get in and out of as a compromise. At times I feared that it would look too basic and not special enough, but as we built the rest of the design elements now I hardly notice that it’s just an alcove tub. The shower surround that we customized (with much agony, more on that later) really helps it feel more elevated. Also a huge shout out to Anne Usher, the architect who planned the skylight in here – the light that it brings into the shower is incredible and makes this area of the room come alive. We used a leftover Caesarstone slab for the niche (making it as big as possible to be in scale with the shower wall). The tray and little pot are from a local resin maker, Swift and Stone who I found at a market and immediately reached out to for this bathroom (you can see her work on the vanities as well). Mixing Tiles We mixed three different scales – the larger blue vanity wall, the medium shower tile and the small penny on the floor. The tones of them all looked really cohesive together and it feels highly customized and yet really cohesive. Purist Faucet Line FTW Always and forever I love the Purist line from Kohler. Of course, you have a variety of finishes (we chose vibrant brushed moderne brass) and different handle profiles (we chose the cross for this bathroom). It’s just simple, modern, streamlined, and timeless. We have this line all over the mountain house. It feels more contemporary there and here it leans more transitional – it’s really easy to mix in most styles, IMHO. The toilet is tucked on the other side of the vanities. We hung embroidery art from the OG Portland project by local artist Annie Odorisio and then styled the opposite wall with robe/towel hooks and a cute wicker hamper to warm it all up. You’ll see in here a circle motif everywhere, which I think really helped it feel more playful and fun for kids. Alright – a his and hers vanity that I seriously wish we had for our kids (who share and quibble and it’s a thing). These are two Tresham vanities that have a simple (and even shaker) vibe to them and then we made them more modern with the wood handles (from Etsy). If you are wondering why they are so close, we did too. In the plans, they were 18″ apart but the room just didn’t allow it so somewhere something was off. At first, I was like “uhhhh…” and then we just worked with it and now I barely notice that they are so close and I even think it’s really sweet. They both have their own storage and counters. With the more traditional tilework and vanities, I wanted to finish the room in a way that went more modern and contemporary like the rest of the house. So once I found these sconces from Worley’s I showed them to my SIL and we both were like, “these are them.” I love that they are graphic, with these playful round glass shades (which also provide great soft light), and you can choose from a variety of metals and wood tones (we chose brushed brass to match the faucets and cornsilk oak for the wood). The three of them flanking the pill shaped mirrors. I like how they call back to the penny tile, the shower faucet shape, the rug, and even the bench. The backsplash tile goes from floor to ceiling (although it originally didn’t – it stopped at 7′ which felt weird so we had to order more tile and cross our fingers the color would match perfectly). The pattern and color make this room come alive – it’s a pattern mixed with three different tiles, stacked in a repeat (this is a Max Humphrey move that I am into). The Tresham vanities also come with an integrated countertop and sink, making it a really easy one-and-done situation. I have this vanity in our mountain house guest room and love the joinery of the base. It comes in a couple of different sizes (I wish it came in 60″ or 72″ TBH – I think it’s awesome.) If you are opening up the walls and changing plumbing (or in this case, building a new house basically) definitely think about wall mount faucets. They really do free up space and I think give a more custom look (we didn’t do this in every bathroom – I like to mix it up). The room is pretty wide in a great way and we were able to add something opposite the vanities. The pocket door was custom (and white oak) and I hung a piece of art that I’ve had forever that worked perfectly in here. I continued with the circle/scallop motif with the rug (from Etsy), wicker pot (from The Container Store, can also be a cute trash can) and bench (from AllModern). We bought a lot of these resin (not pottery, which is nice for kids) bathroom accessories from Swift and Stone which she makes in a variety of colors and sells both locally and on Etsy. Top Down Bottom Up Window Treatments Opposite the vanity is this large window with black frames and while I’m so grateful for the natural light, these kids needed some privacy. So we had Decorview make the same shades that we have in our guest room that I love. They are modern Roman shades that as you can see can be used from the top down or bottom up (therefore letting nice light in through the top). It turned out to be far more of a mix of modern/traditional than I had predicted 3+ years ago, in such a good way. It’s really spacious, airy and bright with playful elements, but executed so well by a great team. Thanks to Max Humphrey, Anne Usher (architect), and JP Macy of Sierra Construction (general contractor).
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Another reveal of the rooms that are done in my brother’s house – this one being a really quiet, neutral bathroom that makes me want creamy beige everywhere and dare I say a pony wall (shout out to Max). This bathroom has a small footprint, off the mudroom near the family room, and will be used for guests and dirty kids from the river (probably not that frequently). It turned out really pretty, quiet, clean, and simple with high-quality materials and a timeless contemporary style (with a touch of PNW whimsy). As a reminder, here we are: The shaded pink area is where we are located in the house (right next to the also finished mudroom:)), and the layout of the bathroom is relatively classic and simple – small vanity, toilet, and shower. The layout was done by Anne Usher (then I came in, with Max Humphrey, to choose the finishes). Bathrooms are so hard to shoot (because they are small) but here you can see the whole space – the mix of tiles, the layout with this rather adorable pony wall, and simplicity in shapes and colors with a really nice contrast. As a lover of tile (and I LOVE these creamy tiles) we wanted to see them more instead of more glass, so we added this pony wall with the glass panel above it to help create a sense of a shower “room” and have more visual interest. I pitched this house to Kohler and Ann Sacks early on (3+ years ago), knowing that inventories run deep, quality is high, and we’d be able to make every bathroom feel custom and yet cohesive. So this bathroom is in partnership with Kohler so almost everything is from their many lines of plumbing, vanities, mirrors, and now lighting! And thank god their plumbing designs are so timeless because things change a lot in 3 internet years, but our choices still look really fresh and perfect for the house. The Plumbing We went with the Purist Faucet line and the Components handles. I love how clean and simple they are (but they look cool). We put the main handles to be reachable from outside the pony wall, further away from the shower so you don’t have to get drenched before you get in. For the tile, we chose the MADE Provencal for the walls in two different shapes, staggered them, and paired them with a really warm black hex on the floor. For a contemporary house (read: new build) we wanted to stay within the simple parameters of the home, but keep it warm, timeless, and use high-quality materials that wouldn’t date. But we didn’t want boring. So finding that balance between interest but not trendy felt really good in here. If you are a grout nerd (which I am – my GOODNESS it changes the look of a tile and room) we chose Dove Gray for the floor, lighter than the tile but not too bright, and Oyster Gray for the walls. The wall grout added depth and brought out the pattern, without making it too busy and we triple obsessed about the tones of the grout to make sure they had the right level of warmth without being too “brown”. The Vanity For the vanity side, we chose the 36″ Winnow Vanity which is a super transitional style (i.e. can be classic or contemporary). It comes with the stone countertop which makes life so easy (one order and done) and for a guest bath I like to break up the bulkiness and have a shelf at the bottom). This color is mostly black but has a slight blue hue as you can see in the photos. The mirror is a simple pill-shaped called “The Essential Mirror”, which they sell in so many different styles and finishes and works so well with all the shapes in here – it contrasts the squareness of the vanity and calls back to the shape and finish of the faucet. The sconces are part of Kohler’s newer line called “Jabot” and have a really creamy, oyster-like color which we really liked with the tile and wallpaper. We flanked the mirror with two double sconces (they have single sconces, too) and a semi-flush light fixture that matches. The faucet is part of the Components line which I LOVE – there are a lot of different faucet and handle styles to choose from, again making it easy to customize in a way that you know will look good together. These knobs are easy to twist on and off, hot and cold (obviously), and look so unfussy and simple. The Natural Light And A Window Around 3 pm the light in here gets so dreamy that we had to capture it. There is a window in the shower that floods the room with reflection and brings out all the gloss and texture in the tile. It’s soooo beautiful. The Tile Pattern Max Humphrey and I played around with the tile pattern, wanting it to feel staggered and yet random and the tile installer totally got it. I was nervous about some of the lines being too close or not looking random enough but they did a great job. The Wallpaper Once again I chose a wallpaper that in person is so perfect, warm and fun to look at but it’s so hard to see in photos. It is QUIET. It’s a Nordic treescape in all of our neutral colors. It brought so much to the room, without adding any busyness or style contrast. We did end up adding wallpaper to now 5 of the spaces in this home and almost all of them have this nature element that brings together the contemporary vibe of the house with the sense of a young fun family. There she is:) It’s a bathroom that people see the most right now and it’s undeniably lovely to be in. The light, airy quality mixed with the high contrast faucets and tile creates a neutral yet interesting bathroom that is totally timeless. The resources are below. A huge thanks to Anne Usher, Sierra Custom Construction, and Max Humphrey for all the work on this project.
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The other month my dear friend asked if I could help her with her vanity/bathroom area. It wasn’t bad but it was feeling a little lifeless. She lives in a rental so obviously there was only so much we could do and the budget also had a limit:) And let me tell you, it never ceases to amaze me what some elbow grease, a fresh coat of paint, and a few new decor pieces can do to a room. She’s so happy now! So when I was thinking about the next “Fix it Friday” prompt I was already in the bathroom refresh mindset. And truly the bathroom is a place I don’t think we realize how much time we spend in. It makes a WORLD of difference if you feel at ease and maybe even a little pampered by your surroundings. But just to be clear, this post is all about working with what you have in terms of hard materials. No one is going to be asked to retile! So before I help out some real-life readers with their “in need” bathrooms, I have a few pretty incredible examples from other designers who refreshed instead of remodeled… First up is our very own EHD alum, Sara Ligorria Tramp, and the refresh she gave to her parents’ bathroom. As you can see all of the tile, fixtures, and vanity didn’t get touched. But a lighter green paint color, new sconces, a new shower curtain, and some general decluttering made this bathroom look BRAND NEW!! How happy yet peaceful does this space feel now? Then designer/homeowner, Alison Pierce, decided to embrace her amazing colorful vintage tiles and lean in hard! It may seem counterintuitive to go bolder in an already bold space, but matching the color intensity of these tiles lowered the contrast making the overall design easier on the eyes. Look, both of these beautiful bathrooms definitely still pack a visual punch but in the best and most balanced way. But sadly not all of us have amazing vintage tile to play off of so here are some general NO DEMO things you can do to make your bathroom feel a bit better/updated and more cohesive: DECLUTTER/get rid of what you don’t use (if you just do this I promise you’ll feel better) Consider some closed storage to quiet the visual chaos Paint or wallpaper the walls Paint or restain your cabinets Change out hardware (pulls, knobs, towel rings, towel bars, hooks, etc) Hang shelves Get a new rug Get new towels Change the lighting Switch out your vanity mirror (if possible) Get a new faucet (but maybe have a pro install that one:)) Hang some art (yes, your bathroom deserves pretty stuff too!) Good smells are important so get a candle or diffuser you love As I said, these are just some ideas! Julie (above!) and Mallory also designed incredible rental bathrooms if you want to get even more inspired. So while you don’t need to do a lot to make a big difference, here are some readers submitted bathrooms, in need of some love, that I am going to try to give helpful advice to. Let’s go! An Early ’00s Neutral Upgrade Let’s start on the easier side, shall we? There is a near-perfect bathroom under some of these slightly outdated design elements. But also it’s pretty beautiful as is. Regardless, this reader wants a refresh so that is what she’s going to get. Here’s what she asked for: “I saw the post about a bathroom refresh! Would love to update this and make it more my style, but don’t know where to start! I feel like it needs a paint refresh (cabinets and walls), lighting change +/- mirrors, and maybe wallpaper?” Not a problem! Now I think if she just swapped the mirrors and lights for something a little less…ornate and gave the walls a happier creamy white color, she could call it a day! But obviously, I wanted to give her “a few more” suggestions because this is what I love to do:) Some new hardware and towel ring (in the same metal finish) would also really change the feel. Swapping in a bigger tray on the vanity will look more intentional. Her other vanity decor pieces are cute so those can stay! And while I totally get having your more colorful things on a vanity like hairbrushes and toothpaste bottles, if those can easily be tucked away in a top drawer that will help to keep the color palette more consistent and calmer to the eye. But look, NO judgment! Not everything needs to be “aesthetic” 24/7 because life comes first. However, this is a design blog so it’s just a little suggestion. Man, that tub looks amazing! However, this area could use just a little design love. Let’s first get some art (one large piece or a little gallery) or floating shelves on that empty wall. Then let’s give some new styling life to the ledge. I really love the pieces I found and can’t wait for you all to see. And while new towels aren’t necessary, with the color palette I chose below, I think something a little softer in tone would look pretty nice. The tub tray and cute laundry baskets stay! Here it is! As always, any wall color I choose is a general suggestion. Always test out paint colors in the space to see how they actually look in person. But I do think a creamy white (one that contrasts enough with the white on the cabinets) would look so pretty. Sometimes those taupey greys can weigh down a room when it’s on the walls. I also decided to go with a paint color instead of wallpaper because the floors already have so much pattern with the darker marbling that I think a wallpaper might compete too much. Then I chose a simple but classic vanity mirror option (under $150 each!) that will immediately make the space look and feel more elevated. The lights on the other hand are more expensive but the opal glass shades are STUNNING and are pieces you keep forever even if you move. I decided to go with a matte black finish instead of brass because A. I didn’t know if the different brass finishes (mirror and light fixture) would work together and B. peppering black around the space will make it look a little more grounded and balanced. And because I chose black for the lights, I decided the towel ring, towel bar, and cabinet hardware should also be matte black. Speaking of hardware, I just love these knurled pulls and knobs! Modern, elegant, and fun. Then to finish off the vanity side of the bathroom, I LOVE that wooden tray from H&M which seems a bit bigger than the one that’s there and also keeps a dark tone to the countertop to balance out all the matte black. I am a big ole fan of a long runner in front of a double sink. This one from CB2 is vintage-inspired, the colors are beautiful and forgiving, and the fringe gives it a little extra personality. Onto the tub side, I chose this big art piece from Target that works so perfectly with the other colors in the space. Then on the ledge, I do think a vase with a bit more of an interesting shape with a big branch or two would be sooooo pretty! I love this vase/jug so much because the texture is so good and those curves are to die for. Plus it’s 14″ tall so its got some good height on it. Then I think if some of those products in the tray they have could be decanted into canisters like these it would be a real chef’s kiss. I think choosing glass for those nice contrasts with the terra cotta of the vase. Oh, and a candle is a MUST and why not have it also be a beautiful piece of art? I have this candle and love it! 10/10. And finally, since we’re here, I think a lighter bath mat (this light taupe tone is kinda perfect) would look so pretty and those light green waffle towels that Emily AND Arlyn have are a nicer color with the overall design…plus the texture is beautiful too:) Giving Power To The Powder Bath We always think having a little “fun” with your powder bathroom design is the way to go and this reader already had their eyes set on dark blue but was second-guessing her ideas… “My home’s powder bathroom urgently needs design attention, and I would love your help! The sticking point for me is how to bring color into a small room with no natural light. I tested Benjamin Moore’s Van Deusen Blue on the walls. I love the color, but I grew concerned that it was too dark for a space without a window. The style of the house is NW modern. Our budget is about 2 thousand dollars for a new mirror, light fixture, hardware, small storage solution, and decor. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration!” Actually going dark in an already dark space is something we almost always recommend so it’s a big YES to the dark blue walls. Wanna see what else I’m thinking. Aside from the paint, mirror, light, and some hardware there’s not much else they need. Just a few more decor pieces and maybe a new faucet if they felt like switching things up. I definitely leaned into the modern PWN style they said they have so here we go! Modern PNW to me translates often to darker tones and midcentury modern design. And since Schoolhouse is a PNW company (Portland) I went there first and found the prettiest light fixture (amongst other things)! I love it so much but since I don’t have the bathroom measurements I’m hoping that this light/mirror combo works together. I think a little overlap would be so sick. Oh and how good is that Target mirror? Only $70! And staying with the vanity, if they want I do love the idea of mixing metals and bringing in a little brass faucet. Then I went with matte black for the towel ring and toilet paper holder (which are only $16 each, WILD) to blend into the blue walls a bit. But of course, I wanted to bring in a little color and texture so that waffle hand towel adds such a fun but cool pop, and how amazing is that bath mat?! I love that it’s a brighter blue than the walls and has a pattern, adding some dimension and a tonal vibe. And is it even a PNW room if something isn’t dark green? That little trash can is so cute and has the prettiest tone. Ok, back to the walls. Let’s start over the toilet with the piece of art by Jordan Sullivan. I love his work so much and this photograph brings in so much movement and a beautiful, happy, contrasting color. It livens the whole design up. It’s not cheap but it’s a limited-run print and so special. The reader also asked for some storage and I found this awesome wall cabinet from ferm Living. It’s simple but detailed and very slim so I think it will work perfectly hung on the wall across from the toilet. And finally, I couldn’t not have something to put on top of the cabinet. That’s what the candle, matches, and book are for. The candle can sit on top of the book to one side and the match cloche can sit on the cabinet next to the book. I think that will look very cute but have fun and play around! P.S. We are over $100 under budget:) The Grain Is REAL When I first saw this bathroom I thought two things, 1. “Wow, that’s a LOT of grain” and 2. I really like those mouldings.” And if you know me then you know I love wood but this wood would require something special. Here’s what the reader sent in: “Hello!! We are trying to update our early 2000s built home. This is our master bedroom. I like a clean, classic look. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!” Ok! Sweet and simple and something I think I can handle:) The first order of business is the wood grain. I do love some grain, but given the intensity and the amount in this one space, I think that if the reader is up for it they should consider stripping and restaining all of this wood a really dark tone, masking a lot of the grain. That way they don’t have to cover that beautiful wood with paint and it saves them lots of money by not replacing them. I definitely don’t want to downplay the hours that this would take and that it would potentially drive them to curse my name every day until the end of time. BUT after they are done they will have stunning cabinets. Worth it?? Then if they were up for spending some money, honing those countertops would make them look nicer and more expensive. Not let’s talk walls. I think they should go for a white like Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams – bright with a hint of warmth so the room doesn’t feel too stark. Then those lights really need to be updated and that ceiling fan also could really use a modern makeover. The countertop could use some cute styling but I do love the plants in the shower! Oh, but all of the switchplate covers and hooks need to be updated, and let’s see if I can find a solution for the towel rings. Much to do so let’s get to it… Clean and pretty classic, right? So the biggest changes would be the wall color suggestion and the darker stain on the wood cabinets and trim. But switching up those old sconces with these stunning ones would be amazing! Just would want the reader to make sure they were long enough. And keep things golden, those switchplates need some love…or not. Get rid of them! These are all of our favorites so do with that what you will:) Another fun item I had to swap was that outdated ceiling fan! This one is simple, pretty, and has a brass detail to tie everything together. A super great thing about this bathroom is that the countertop is huge! That leaves room for almost any size of tray and I really love this beauty from Target. Then I chose that white vase and pretty candle. But since the countertop is so long I think that tall pitcher will look so great in the left corner. For some reason, I really wanted to keep the metals consistent in this bathroom so that very elegant towel holder, switchplates, and hook are all from Rejuvenation. Lastly, we have the textiles. I wanted to keep it super simple but really textured and the combo of these two I think looks great together and mesh really well with the space. Ok guys, it’s the freakin weekend now so I hope that this post inspired you a little to start to tackle a big or even small home project. And as always thank you to everyone that submitted!! Love you, mean it.
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Irecently went to the mall (shout out to Washington Square) and rather enjoyed myself, drenched in nostalgia and impressed with the updates malls are making now. I walked past Bath & Body Works and it was BUZZING with people and dripping with product. As a 90s child I have a lot of nostalgia for the smell of Cucumber Melon (I think that and Daffodil Fields were my two go-to scents back then – anyone else?), and I felt a bit sad that I didn’t have enough time to step in for some good old-fashioned candle smelling and sample testing for old time’s sake. But almost like magic, they reached out with a partnership request and my curiosity was piqued. Is the loud, iconic, sweet-smelling brand of the 90s back? Are there products that would work on my body and in my home? Could this be a way to restock my almost always-out-of-supply bath staples without going over budget? I ordered a variety of different products, tried them around the farm, and y’all, great news: this is an awesome source for affordable candles, soaps, hand creams, and lotions that smell (and look, TBH) way more expensive than their price tag. All of our bathrooms have been stocked and every Henderson guest will be getting the 5-star treatment this summer. Let me show you what I ended up putting in my home (and seriously, the 4 candle scents below are SO GOOD): Affordable Spa Supplies As you know I’m a frequent bather and go through spa basics very quickly (I don’t hoard, I actually use). I do love the splurgy stuff for special occasions, but I have a rotating supply of affordable bubble baths, bath salts, and bath bombs that I like to try. I’m a snob about a lot, but not this. So when I grabbed a few products in the Eucalyptus Spearmint scent (designed to relieve stress), I was pleasantly surprised to find that they’re also infused with all kinds of good stuff (natural essential oils, vitamin E, and their fizzy even has shea butter in it) with no parabens or artificial dyes. The bath soak smells clean and refreshing and it makes a really nice and smooth bubble, if you’re into that (a little goes a long way, FYI). The body wash scent is natural and calming, like a nice spa. Both the body wash and bath soak come in 100% recycled plastic bottles, too. It’s hard to be stressed when you’re enjoying such a nice bath :) Technically, I bought this candle for Brian because he loves a candle at his writing office and this one has rich mahogany, black teakwood, dark oak, and frosted lavender. (It’s weird to call a scent masculine but it’s soooo lovely and earthy.) I ended up stealing it for the bath because it smells so good, but he loves it and he’s taking it back to the office. FYI it burns for 25-45 hours and is super affordable (even more so if you can catch it during a promotion) with such nice branding and a really good throw that fills the room. It even has near-unanimous 5-star reviews, so it seems like Brian and I aren’t the only big fans. (If candles aren’t your favorite but the scent profile sounds interesting, Mahogany Teakwood also comes in everything from hand sanitizer to laundry detergent.) Since Brian’s bringing Mahogany Teakwood to the office, this was the affordable candle I decided to keep in our bath for the summer. It’s called ‘Fiji White Sands,’ and the copywriting is spot on because it really does smell like “the sweetest, brightest beach day ever.” (Fragrance notes for candle enthusiasts: fresh cut sugarcane, white nectarine, and sandalwood.) If you prefer something a little lighter and cleaner during the warm weather months, Fiji White Sands is right up your alley. Two more products landed on the bath vanity: this pretty, ultra-nourishing hand cream and a clay face mask (I go through masks as fast as bubble bath). I’m admittedly not moisturizing my hands NEARLY often enough, so I’m hoping that this setup will make it easier. Bath & Body Works obviously has a lot of different hand creams, but I liked that this one is infused with cocoa butter and shea butter that keeps hands smooth for 24 hours (and I also liked the price – only $8.95). Upgrading Our Guest Suite I feel a little embarrassed to admit it here, but in my mind, Bath & Body Works was always directly linked with the Cucumber Melon-scented time in my life (probably since our sense of smell has the closest tie to our memories and all that). I was blinded a bit by the nostalgia. I didn’t realize that as we all grew up, Bath & Body Works also kind of grew up too. Now there are more elevated, sophisticated scents to choose from and even the products themselves look a bit more modern and fresh. But that affordable 1990s pricing you remember? Still intact, thankfully :) So intact, in fact, that I decked out the whole guest bedroom and bathroom with self-care essentials that I know our guests will love. We always work to be good hosts, but when we can provide a few special indulgences (especially ones that look this pretty), it takes our guest spaces to the next level. It’s an inexpensive, easy way to make a great impression that sets the tone for a relaxing visit. :) The standouts in here: the Wild Rose & Suede candle, which I grabbed after seeing it described as smelling like “an antique store filled with forgotten treasures.” OBVIOUSLY, we had to try it. The scent’s cleaner and more subtle than expected (based on my years of field research ;)) but it’s well-balanced between musky and sweet. A great neutral pick for any guest room IMO. I also grabbed a lightweight/fast-absorbing nourishing body lotion in ‘Pure Wonder’ (simple, sweet, bright, with a little earthy bend) and finished the setup with a musk hand cream, which has since sold out. (I’m intrigued by the restorative one or the Hyaluronic Acid one though. Anyone tried either?) I found a few really pretty soap bottles that were so easy to style in our bathrooms (as you can see). We only photographed the Pink Lavender & Espresso, but we also grabbed a bottle in the Wild Rose & Suede scent for the future (only $3.25 on sale, too). FYI our kids love using foaming hand soaps (mostly because it’s so fun to play with that they don’t realize they’re washing their hands LOL) and so I’m happy to have found an affordable source. The whole family agrees that this scent is really lovely (a little creamy and fresh, with chocolate-y coffee and sweet vanilla). I also want to give some props for the HUGE soap refill cartons. $13.95 for almost 4 full bottles of soap in one recyclable package is a great deal, I think :) A Bridgerton-Style Powder Bath I think this is such a fun and unexpected collab – I’m a big ol’ Bridgerton Fan and the branding and labels on these feel royal, but not too gaudy (I think they could have really went for it and I’m glad they didn’t). This bathroom is right off of the family room where we all watch TV, too, so these feel like a little wink and nod. I think ‘Diamond of the Season’ is my favorite (LOL) but there are a few other fun scents like ‘Queen Charlotte’s Tea’ and ‘Danbury Shortbread.’ Some of the small candles or hand sanitizers would be the sweetest host gift or party favor for any Bridgerton-themed parties in the future!! Here’s what these smell like, which made me LOL: “you’ve captivated and enchanted even your toughest critics”. (Fragrance notes: sparkling peach, spring daffodil and radiant jasmine, for those looking for a more concrete description.) I ordered A LOT of other products (including the nostalgic Cucumber Melon Lotion which TOTALLY DELIVERED) and Brian got some Father’s Day Stuff like this Whiskey Soap, and this Noir 3-in-1 Bathing Bar. After my initial skepticism, I was so pleased that we loved so many of the products (and we still have a lot to try, to be fair) – but especially the candles, hand soaps, and hand creams. And it’s not just me saying this, either. The real-life customer reviews on the website are overwhelmingly glowing. We’ve all been missing out!! A huge shout out and thanks to Bath & Body Works for making luxe home scents and body care essentials available at affordable prices. I know they never stopped, but it feels like a fun refresh for a new (and nostalgic) generation. And if you ever spot me stocking up on candles at the Washington Square Mall…come say hi :)
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