Bathroom Sneak Peek

Hello.

How are you?

It's been a while.  7 weeks to be precise. 

Sometimes life just re-prioritises itself and you just go with it, because it's the right thing to do.  I love blogging, I love writing, I love decorating, I love what I do - but I love people more.  I love my friends and I love my family, both 'real' and extended.  When they need me, I am there, and nothing else is important in that moment. 

But life does go on and after 3 or so months showering in the 1970s afterthought of a bathroom under the house, enough is enough!  Although I have to say that the co-ordination of fittings down there (and I mean everything: hooks, towel rails, toilet seat, toilet roll holder and toilet brush, even 'feature' spots on the white tiles) is pretty impressive - isn't forest green in at the moment?  They don't make 'em like they used to ....

So to ease myself back into blogland, I thought I'd give you a little 'sneak peek' at some of the key features in the new design ....

via Lighting55.com

That's my favourite part.  A late addition - and a bit of a splurge - but just the item I was looking for to really lift the design and make it unique. 

Luckily I fell in love with a feature tile other then the beautiful Dwell/Heath Ceramics one that would cost me more to ship from the U.S. than it would to make and buy!  A lesson learnt - never set your heart on something until you find out if you can 1. source it and 2. afford it!

via Methven

Bathrooms can be hard to design, hard to make interesting.  There are lots of lines and squares and hard surfaces and it can all end up feeling quite bland and cold.  I'm a fan of looking at everything you put in there, such as taps, shower heads, rails, handles & holders, and especially lighting, to see what you can do to lift the design and make it feel like a real room, not a utility area.

via happilyeverafterinseattle

Clever storage is another 'must' of mine.  Can't wait to show you how this picture (or one similar as the final selection hasn't been made yet) will be used in my pocket-size powder room. 

Well, it is nice to be back.  I hope you're still there!


'Til next time, take good care of you and the people you love, Nx

Try a night on these tiles ....

Happy Friday one and all.  How's your week been? 

I've been here and there and around and about this week, and on my travels, both virtual and otherwise, I've been sourcing all sorts of essential items for the impending (and I say that with a suitable amount of dread) bathroom renovation.

One of the fun parts for me though (what do you mean you don't find cisterns and associated plumbing fun, I hear you say) is looking at tiles.  You may have noticed, I'd pretty much put colour and pattern on anything, and everything, and oh my goodness, are there some STUNNING tiles out there to get my creative juices flowing. 

Little Diamond Mix in Tropics Blue from the Dwell Patterns collection - a superb collaboration between Heath Ceramics and Dwell Media

This one is slap bang in the middle of my inspiration board for the bathroom.  I love it's mid-century feel and the colour is exactly the same as the pool that you can see from the bathroom window, so it's perfect.  A real classic from the ever splendid Heath Ceramics.

Not quite bathroom material (I wouldn't want to try and keep it clean), but what about this slice of loveliness from the prolific and amazing Patricia Urquiola ....

Bas Relief brilliance from Patricia Urquiola - buy Patchwork Cipria here

Is there anything this woman can't design beautifully?  This tile is even better in real life - it's totally touchable and looks amazing as a wall feature.

Fired Earth are always worth a look for some inspiration - Kevin McCloud does paint colours for them, so they must be awesome.  Here's one of my fave tile shots from their website ....

Granada by Fired Earth

I love the Moroccan feel of these tiles, but they're sharp and modern enough to go anywhere without feeling too ethnic. 

There's even a tile out there for art lovers - check out these baby mosaics from Via Arkadia and see if you can spot the Pop Art pics ....

MultiColor Mosaic from Via Arkadia

Yes, that's Andy Warhol you've spotted.  I saw these in a magazine a few years ago now and fell instantly in lust.  Outrageously expensive, but if you had the cash, why wouldn't you?  And of course I can't leave the outrageously expensive mosaic topic without a Bisazza shot ....

Shaded blends by Bisazza - buy here

There's a lot more experimentation with texture happening in the tile world right now, which I'm really liking the look (and feel) of ....

Klolo - seen at Academy Tiles, Sydney

And when is a tile not a tile?  When it's a screen, of course ....

Bamboo Screen - also Academy Tiles

To finish off our tile tour, let's go out and out glam, shall we?  These Karim Rashid tiles are just crazy beautiful ....

Revolution ceramic tiles by Karim Rashid - buy here - photo via here

And finally let's add some glitz to the glam ....

Rumi - also Academy Tiles

And that pretty much covers the sheer loveliness I've been stumbling across on my search for the perfect tile.

Ah no, not quite, I nearly forgot!  Too much effort to tile?  Worried you'll get tired of your tile?  Not to worry, just wallpaper instead ....

Paper Tiles wallpaper by Louise Body

That's it from me this week.  May your weekend be delicious and may it please please please stop raining .... !


Til next time,
Nx