Inspiration is all around us, but when it’s time to make a commitment to something, I think we all can be a little nervous. Is there something better? Will I love it in 5 years? Or 10?
Last week at Blogfest, House Beautiful Editor-In-Chief, Newell Turner asked us to share our “A-Ha” moments…so I thought I would share the process of creating our new powder bath and the “A-Ha” moment that started it all.
Our new powder bath will be used primarily by our sons and their friends. It is located just outside their new playroom on a 2nd floor. For this reason, I wanted it to be functional, but I didn’t want to compromise on style.
Instead of focusing on wallpaper, like I did on our primary powder bath, I looked down for inspiration. I started with floor tile before shopping for anything else. And, once I committed to this fun, Moroccan style, everything else fell into place.
So, my “A-Ha” takeaway is this…When you’re faced with a new project, find one aspect that you love…and build everything else around that. It doesn’t have to be in the most obvious place to make an impact.
It’s just design…have fun with it!
Elizabeth,
Love that floor and your powder room turned out so lovely. Would you mind sharing your source for that shade?
I am looking for romans tailored like that and am getting estimates.
pve
Gorgeous! You definitely didn't compromise on style! The subway tile and the roman shade are perfection.
Gorgeous Elizabeth!!!
I adore that floor!!!
Ever since I went to Morocco I am loving this style. I have it on my living room rug. The new room looks stunning! xx
Elizabeth-
You and I share the same taste here. I couldn't love the powder room more! Perfection.
Thank you for sharing.
Happy Tuesday.
Teresa
xoxo
Gorgeous – bottom to top! Love the wall color too – so beautiful w/those floor tiles.
We're starting our bathroom remodel today & I am a bit overwhelmed with some of our choices. I think you just helped me out- perfect timing, we're shopping for tile tonight!
What a terrific bit of advice! I have a terrible time making design decisions – perhaps this way of thinking will help me move faster. It's so fun to see how your powder room came together, Elizabeth. It looks absolutely gorgeous. Great job! XO
I love mosaic bathroom tile, and this one is wonderful. And I like this style of sink, it is really timeless.
Such fabulous advice! And I just love your powder bath. The floor is incredible.
Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, Elizabeth! And thanks so much for the book recs. I'll definitely be taking you up on them. So my taste 🙂 xoxo
Beautiful! Still trying to come up with my aha moment!! Time is running out!
Great post! I love the floor tile!
http://www.donnaviningblog.com
This is simply stunning! SUBMIT STAT to Newell…not kidding…
Absolutely spectacular! I love that sink so much. We had a very similar one in our home before we renovated a couple of years ago. It was one of three pieces we wanted to salvage from our whole-house gutting…. and unfortunately it was mistakenly thrown out the 2nd floor window during the first week of construction. Still makes me sick to think about it!!!
i love that tile. honestly, that bathroom is so perfect… restoration hardware stylists could have done it better if they tried. 🙂
I am with PVE, your powder room is beautiful. I love the floor tile and the roman shade.
Can you share your source for the shade?
Marybeth
Yowza – love everything about this powder room and being the mom of two boys, I know how it will be used! Love that you tiles up the wall a bit so that wet spots won't be visible after all that vigorous handwashing boys do so well. 🙂
xxoo
Love your powder room Elizabeth it turned out so well and I like how you started. For young children and grownups it's perfect, easy to clean and looks great!
XX
Debra~
Your powder room is gorgeous Elizabeth! I love hearing of peoples different aha moments! Send it to House Beautiful and maybe they will do a piece on your aha moment and blogfest!!!
http://www.lifeofamodernhousewife.com
Well you just pointed out that beauty and function go hand in hand. It is so important to show our children that you can live well without compromising on utility. Well done, love it!!!
I think that is such great advice! I have been getting overwhelmed from time to time with all of the house decisions we have since we moved (although it's a good problem to have :)) – this is a helpful way to narrow it down and get going! 🙂 Also saw your note about Watson Kennedy – it's new to me, so I will be sure to check it out – thanks so much! 🙂
Oh, it's exquisite! You really did a beautiful job with it. Love all of your choices! xo
Thanks for the great advice!! That floor is divine by the way!
xo
Sharon
Increadibly perfect, amazing dark gray wall and the sink is just so delicious, if our house was more victorian in over all styling I would have this sink too (:
ciao Z
Great approach and just beautiful results!! Although a beautiful white monogrammed hand towel wouldn't fare so well with my boys!! Yours must be better trained!
I love the floor tile! What a great idea to start there and work up rather than the traditional approach to focus on the walls. It's a beautiful bath – your boys and their guests are lucky 🙂
Hi,
beautiful bathroom and love your book in general.
Was wondering if you would please share you shade source, it is beautifully done.
Thank you
looks good but with boys using it…they need sturdy hand towels..lovely white one was just for staging?
Gorgeous bath … hope the boys appreciate the fabulousness of it! I love that sink style … elegantly chic and simple and the black graphic striping on the roman shade is beautiful and the perfect window treatment for this bath! Lovely, Elizabeth. Want to see more now … I'm catching up and reading back … I've been busy with the purchase of our new place and the work required to do before we move in … in mid-June!
Sandy M Illustration ~
Ooh La Frou Frou http://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com
To all who inquired about the roman shade…I'm posting all the details tomorrow on the blog + another shade I think you'll like.
To all who were eagle eyed enough to spy my nice linen hand towel….it has been relocated to the primary powder bath and terry towels have replaced it. 🙂
xo Elizabeth
What a great aha moment! Love it!!
I love your Aha moment and that is great advice to anyone starting a reno project, Kathysue
Oh that tile is absolutely gorgeous! I don't think I will ever tire of Moroccan Trellis patterns. I love how you kept everything else tailored and traditional. Very nice mix.
Lovely day
Renovation Diary: An "A-Ha" moment
While reading this magical article, I have feel that this blog really has all the quality that qualify a blog to be a good one!
elizabeth, so amazingly stunning yet classic and timeless. you hit this one right on! donna
Hi there! Just found your blog through pinterest. I love the bathroom! WOuld you mind sharing what faucet that is? wolfe dot ayleen at gmail
thanks!
Renovation always adds the value to your investment. So, it needs very care to be done.
I may have missed it somewhere along the thread, but can you share where the tile and sink are from? Also, the paint color if you remember. It's all so great I'd like to repeat it!
Thanks,
Jen