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Dream Bathroom to Your Bathroom: Translate the Look
You don't need a major bathroom makeover to get that designer look — minor accents and tweaks can convey luxe style
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
We each have our own idea of what makes a perfect bathroom. It could be a spectacular view from the tub, a spalike ambience, classic English country fixtures, or rich colors and exotic, hand-painted tiles. Of course for many of us, a complete bathroom overhaul isn't in the cards.
No matter what look is calling your name, there are ways to translate the key elements of the style you love into your bathroom without the high price of remodeling. Let's explore some accessible ideas in five dream bathrooms.
No matter what look is calling your name, there are ways to translate the key elements of the style you love into your bathroom without the high price of remodeling. Let's explore some accessible ideas in five dream bathrooms.
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The dream bath: Classic designer luxury
The translation: Even without the massive square footage or fancy designer, you can pull together a gorgeous room with classic, crisp decorator touches that are well within reach.
• Swap out standard blinds for fabric shades and your bath will suddenly feel like a real room.
• Upgrade your towels for a fluffy version with contrasting piping or grosgrain trim.
• Want to let in more light? Try adhesive window films for more sun without sacrificing privacy.
• Replace the standard ceiling fixture with a classic drum pendant light on a dimmer switch.
• Add a piece of real furniture. An armchair (if you have the room) or a small gleaming wood or marble table is a good choice for the classic bath.
The translation: Even without the massive square footage or fancy designer, you can pull together a gorgeous room with classic, crisp decorator touches that are well within reach.
• Swap out standard blinds for fabric shades and your bath will suddenly feel like a real room.
• Upgrade your towels for a fluffy version with contrasting piping or grosgrain trim.
• Want to let in more light? Try adhesive window films for more sun without sacrificing privacy.
• Replace the standard ceiling fixture with a classic drum pendant light on a dimmer switch.
• Add a piece of real furniture. An armchair (if you have the room) or a small gleaming wood or marble table is a good choice for the classic bath.
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The dream bath: Spa escape
The translation: Amp up the exotic touches and pay attention to the sensory experience to create a spalike ambience in your own bathroom.
• Put your overhead light on a dimmer. Everything looks better in soft light.
• Choose a few beautiful hand-painted tiles and prop them up on your sink backsplash or hang them on the wall as art.
• Splurge on nice towels. I suggest supersoft and luxuriously big bath sheets, as well as fringed and knotted hammam-style towels to hang by the sink.
• Use fancy little trays to collect and curate your bath items; place a few bath oils and soaps on one, a cluster of votive candles on another.
• Potted plants are a wonderful way to add mystery and depth. Try ferns, orchids or a palm.
The translation: Amp up the exotic touches and pay attention to the sensory experience to create a spalike ambience in your own bathroom.
• Put your overhead light on a dimmer. Everything looks better in soft light.
• Choose a few beautiful hand-painted tiles and prop them up on your sink backsplash or hang them on the wall as art.
• Splurge on nice towels. I suggest supersoft and luxuriously big bath sheets, as well as fringed and knotted hammam-style towels to hang by the sink.
• Use fancy little trays to collect and curate your bath items; place a few bath oils and soaps on one, a cluster of votive candles on another.
• Potted plants are a wonderful way to add mystery and depth. Try ferns, orchids or a palm.
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Mood lighting is key for the spa escape look, so look beyond the standard choices for interesting light fixtures. I adore Moroccan hanging lanterns; hung alone or in a cluster, they add a big punch of style and cast an amazing glow.
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| The dream bath: Crisp Euro elegance The translation: Cultivate the feel of a five-star European hotel with rich materials, glossy finishes and a tightly edited black and white palette.
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It's true that if your existing bath fixtures consist of a pink sink and lemon yellow tile, you will be hard pressed to create the black and white palette this look calls for. If you have a bit more time and savings to invest in your bathroom makeover, adding wallpaper or a dark paint color to the upper walls and white paneling below (less pricey than retiling) will go far.
If you are considering replacing the sink, having a vintage cabinet or table fitted with a simple sink bowl can be a creative solution. While you are at it, remove that medicine cabinet and hang a pretty mirror instead.
If you are considering replacing the sink, having a vintage cabinet or table fitted with a simple sink bowl can be a creative solution. While you are at it, remove that medicine cabinet and hang a pretty mirror instead.
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The dream bath: Greek island idyll
The translation: Is escaping to a private whitewashed cottage in Mykonos your idea of heaven? Re-create the look at home with a pared-down palette of blue and white, along with a few classically Greek details.
• American Clay makes real clay plaster that can be tinted in any hue and applied to your walls for a gorgeous textured look.
• Keep a small, potted herb garden in the windowsill for fragrance and beauty. Try thyme, oregano or mint.
• If you have enough sun and space, you could even bring in a potted lemon tree.
• Sinkside, choose handmade pottery to hold soap and toothbrushes.
• A classic Greek key print on the edges of towels or trimming window shades would be a nice finishing touch.
The translation: Is escaping to a private whitewashed cottage in Mykonos your idea of heaven? Re-create the look at home with a pared-down palette of blue and white, along with a few classically Greek details.
• American Clay makes real clay plaster that can be tinted in any hue and applied to your walls for a gorgeous textured look.
• Keep a small, potted herb garden in the windowsill for fragrance and beauty. Try thyme, oregano or mint.
• If you have enough sun and space, you could even bring in a potted lemon tree.
• Sinkside, choose handmade pottery to hold soap and toothbrushes.
• A classic Greek key print on the edges of towels or trimming window shades would be a nice finishing touch.
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The dream bath: Organic modern
The translation: This look is all about texture, so each surface should delight the senses. Keep color to a minimum, focusing on white, cream and natural wood tones.
• A tree stump stool by the tub fits perfectly with this look; pick up a ready-made version or try crafting one yourself.
• If you choose metallic accents (for drawer pulls, etc.), keep them in the warm family; brass or copper would be good choices.
• Hang a classic hotel-style robe on a wall hook.
• Choose an unusual bath mat — bamboo, cork or river stone. Wool and sheepskin hold up surprisingly well in damp conditions, but it's best to keep them away from direct contact with drippy toes. On the other side of the room by the sink would be a better choice.
• Natural linen shades filter light beautifully and add a textural note.
The translation: This look is all about texture, so each surface should delight the senses. Keep color to a minimum, focusing on white, cream and natural wood tones.
• A tree stump stool by the tub fits perfectly with this look; pick up a ready-made version or try crafting one yourself.
• If you choose metallic accents (for drawer pulls, etc.), keep them in the warm family; brass or copper would be good choices.
• Hang a classic hotel-style robe on a wall hook.
• Choose an unusual bath mat — bamboo, cork or river stone. Wool and sheepskin hold up surprisingly well in damp conditions, but it's best to keep them away from direct contact with drippy toes. On the other side of the room by the sink would be a better choice.
• Natural linen shades filter light beautifully and add a textural note.
More ideas for any bathroom:
• Stow extra toiletries and supplies under the sink or in bins or a nearby closet, reducing visual clutter.
• Decant frequently used items into pretty containers, or at least remove the unattractive outer packaging.
• Borrow accessories from elsewhere in your home. For instance, cake stands, dessert plates and teacups all make beautiful organizers.
• Use a fabric shower curtain, not plastic.
• Remove the standard-issue mirrored medicine cabinet in favor of a pretty mirror, plus sconces.
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• Stow extra toiletries and supplies under the sink or in bins or a nearby closet, reducing visual clutter.
• Decant frequently used items into pretty containers, or at least remove the unattractive outer packaging.
• Borrow accessories from elsewhere in your home. For instance, cake stands, dessert plates and teacups all make beautiful organizers.
• Use a fabric shower curtain, not plastic.
• Remove the standard-issue mirrored medicine cabinet in favor of a pretty mirror, plus sconces.
Browse thousands of beautiful bathroom photos
Ideabook published on May 11, 2012.
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The previous owners spent a HUGE amount redoing the master bath and guest bath - we're talking onyx and marble.
Issues:
Master - frameless shower leaks all over the floor when using many of the vast number of showerheads. There are no hooks or towel bars, spa bath is difficult to get out (though I love it), and no medicine cabinet. And really? ya need Swarovski chandeliers? And when we had someone here to fix the shower, they realized they were the ones who put it in - and had told the previous owner to have the shower wall meet the bath tiles (no room to clean the bottom glass) and that the shower should be slightly sunken. Not for her though...
The guest: copper hammered sink splashes water everywhere, no towelbars or hooks, etc
We do love the house and really the bathrooms. But if these issues had been addressed at the time of construction, the rooms would have been perfect. When we moved in, my husband swore every day in the shower - it really affects how you feel about your house!