CLIMBING THE LADDERS...........

I've always loved ladders in interiors. And I've been collecting some images showcasing different kinds of ladders being used in many different rooms in the house.

In the mud room -

Source: houzz.com 

In the kitchen - 

via Houzz - traditional kitchen design Francoise Bollack Architects

Source: houzz.com 

Source: houzz.com

Source: houzz.com  

In the living room - 

Source: houzz.com 

 In the bedroom - 

Source: houzz.com

In the bathroom - 

Source: houzz.com

Jeffrey Bilhuber via House Beautiful

 As a decorative shelf or accent piece - 

                              Create a Shabby Chic Decorative Ladder @ Crafts by Amanda

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space!  

Lisa

FREE STANDING OR CLAW FOOT???

How do you feel about free standing tubs?  They are everywhere, especially claw foot tubs.  I hate to say it but I’m getting a little tired of the claw foot ones. Does anyone else feel like me? 

Don’t get me wrong I like the look of claw foot tubs – they are so romantic and feminine, but I can’t help but think there would be so much cleaning to do behind and under and around them.  Sorry the Mom of four (together with three cats) in me is showing… I probably would go for one of the free standing tubs that is on a platform in order to avoid the cleaning.

Here’s some inspirational pics:

eclectic bathroom design

Love the red in this bathroom – so unexpected!

 

A free standing one that feels a little more modern.

contemporary bathroom design by new york architect Fogarty Finger

Complete contrast between antique and modern.

A rustic looking bath tub and bath accessories.

 

 

Very interesting with those blue tiles and I think it is the same tub that Nate used.

 

A beautiful European style bathroom – the graphic floor adds lots of drama.

 Love the hits of black and brown in this bathroom – I wonder if the floor is actually stones? Though I think I would have to remove that small rug – totally out of place!

Interesting feet on this one – almost looks like slippers… I love the use of the hutch in the bathroom.

 

WOW! What a tub – makes such a statement – I would keep everything else in the bathroom white in order for the tub to be the focal point.

 

What a charming bathroom!  I think that is a mantle behind the tub.

 

I love this colour of green on the walls – so fresh and spring like. 

 

A very interesting paint treatment on this tub – I guess it was done during the barcode trend awhile back

This one looks like it is carved from stone…very dramatic!

 

A beautifully simple bathroom.

 

This is my favourite – I love, love that window and it looks so French!

 

Another one on a platform – such a beautiful setting and that room beyond looks heavenly.

This looks like it would be so peaceful to just lie and soak and look up at that incredibly high ceiling.

Another serene bathroom…

 

A lovely masculine bathroom.

traditional bathroom design by san Francisco architect Andre Rothblatt Architecture

Beautiful scenery outside…

 

eclectic bathroom design

Oh so girly – so pink – my daughters would be all over this one!

eclectic bathroom design

I love the back – looks like it would be great for reading in.

traditional bathroom design by san Francisco architect Gast Architects

Such a beautiful palette pale blue, white and black.

What romance with that netting!  Love blue in the bathroom. 

I know, I’ve used this photo before but I couldn’t help it I just love this bathroom – especially all that fab storage and the chandelier….

So what do you have and love or what would you love to have?

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space!

Email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at 613-762-0818.

Lisa

SHOWERS – CLEAR OR NOT??

I’m working on a client’s bathroom renovation and we’re including a customized shower enclosure.  So I’m researching full and partial shower enclosures with clear, etched and frosted glass.
What do you think of full glass walls versus half way glass walls.  And would you frost them, put a design on them or just leave them clear??
I guess the real question is how shy are you??? 

traditional bathroom design via Houzz

Room for two!!!

contemporary bathroom design by san Francisco architect Michael Tauber Architecture via Houzz

Love the recessed shelf tiled with pebbles.

 
Very cool and modern!

Having a rock in the shower – how neat is that!

 All photos above via HGTV Designer portfolio.
So come clean (couldn’t resist that pun!) and let me know what’s your favourite…

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space!

Email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at 613-762-0818.

Lisa

IT'S FINALLY FINISHED

I have a finished powder room!
After living in this home for three years and hating the powder room, can you believe it was too big!  Just felt like a big cavernous hole especially with the puny pedestal sink.  Anyways, I made do for awhile by wallpapering a couple of walls (the wallpaper from Graham & Brown called Charming - that I blogged about last week) and changing the light fixture to a much prettier one. 
Here's the before pictures:

 

This last one shows the wallpaper from Graham & Brown.  Check out how Kelly's used this wallpaper in her gorgeously finished master bedroom over at Design Ties.

But now, I think it is my favourite room in the house!!

So what did I do, well first I must give my hubby lots of credit as he did all the hard labour and had to sacrifice himself and go buy some new power tools - it was tough but he hung in there and finished it quickly! ;)   I was also trying to stay on a budget as we will have four children in university and college in the fall and we're trying to be responsible parents.


A couple of months ago I found the perfect 1920's mahogany dresser at an antique sale for the great price of $300.  I had been looking for one to convert into a vanity that was the correct size, shape and finish.   It looked like this when we got it.

Then I went looking for the sink and faucet.  Well I wanted an oval sink to mirror the bow in the dresser and I had wanted a bowl sink but the dresser was already 34" high so I had to find something else otherwise as a vanity it would be too high.  After much looking I finally found a Kohler sink for that was oval, the right size and had about a 1 1/2" lip to make it feel more like a bowl sink. Here it is:

Then the faucet, I originally wanted a more modern style faucet but I felt that since the sink, light fixture and wallpaper were quite modern that I should go with a more vintage feeling faucet to tie the vanity into the space.  Here's the faucet I chose, a bit of a splurge but it's beautiful - it's a Showhouse (by Moen) and it's called Waterhill in a chrome finish.

And the Waterhill matching toilet paper holder...so pretty!

Okay I have the two pieces that hubby needs to get started and here's the work in progress. This is our supervisor Milo always at the ready to lend a paw.

Now him and hubby are discussing the plumbing and what needs to be done....

Any mice back there?

And here's how it looks now!!

Here's a close up of the vanity and the mirror that I found a Home Sense that was perfect. The photographs are mine from Paris (of course)....

Even Milo was pleased with the results and gave it his Paw of Approval!

I don't know if you noticed but I didn't stick with one metallic finish.  The light fixture, faucet, towel and toilet paper holder and glass shelf are all in a chrome finish.  The orchid bowl, mirror, vase (on floor), picture frame above the toilet and the medallions over the toilet are all in an antiqued silver finish.  Because the handles on the vanity are the original brass ones (which I didn't want to change) and the wallpaper has an antique gold in it, I felt that bringing in some warm yellow tones would tie everything together. 

And my budget, well it came in around $1200 which I think is pretty good.  That included the vanity, plumbing pieces, mirror, sink, faucet and accessories.  It doesn't include my hubby's new tools as apparently we needed those anyways!! ;)  Well, I'm so very, very, very pleased with the results and that I have one room in the house completed.....now what's next????

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space – email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at 613-762-0818.