This is the true story of a real person with a rental bathroom, trying to accessorize and make the best of it. We moved into our apartment a year ago, and had virtually nothing to put in the bathroom, except for wedding gifts. And so we went shopping for accessories.
We started out trying to create a streamlined, simple bathroom, but then felt the need to add colorful accessories. Now we're somewhere in the middle of clean and colorful, playing with both ideas. (Nota bene: we're not allowed paint and are saving our money for a house.) We love the accessories we have, especially the ones that hint of a nautical theme &mdash glass urchin, jellyfish print, blue glass, but still plan on tinkering with the bath as a whole.
Future goals include: Replace bamboo tray with white lacquered tray, replace stainless-steel lidded Q-tip jar with all-glass jar. We would like to simplify without getting too boring.
Resources
• 1 Upon the recommendation of fellow Apartment Therapy readers and bloggers, we started with a basic "waffle" shower curtain in white, $49.50 at Macys. We wanted to keep the small bathroom looking as spacious as possible.
• 2 To protect the curtain, we bought a white (versus clear) shower liner, $14.95 from Crate & Barrel.
• 3 Also upon the recommendation of Apartment Therapy readers and bloggers, we chose stainless steel roller rings, $11.95 at Crate and Barrel. They do, indeed, roll smoothly.
• 4 Our main towels (which were wedding gifts) are Macy's Hotel Collection turkish towels in ivory and suede, but for a little fun, we snagged some zebra-print towels on sale from West Elm. $12-$64 at Macys.
• 5 The Thomas O'Brien bath mat from Target matches our suede turkish towels, and gets put on the tub, under the curtain, when not in use. The graphic mat is from West Elm.
• 6 Poster from the Monteray Bay Aquarium, frame from Target
• 7 Bamboo tray, $14.95 at Crate and Barrel
• 8 Apothecary jar for Q-tips, $7.99 at The Container Store
• 9 Big Ben Folding Alarm Clock, $29.50 at L.L. Bean, so I know what time it is in the morning rush to get out the door.
• 10 White tissue box, West Elm.
• 11 Prism replica, from a whaling ship, $12.95 at Mystic Seaport
• 12 Glass sea urchin by Roost, $10.00 at Velocity Art and Design
• 12 Small canister for cotton pads, $16.95 from Crate and Barrel
Images: Lindsey Roberts
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FYI - "sans" means "without". I think you meant something more like "except."
Fun space! All the accessories seem personal to you, not generic, and I appreciate that. I also like how you are envisioning the space as you continue to work on it. I think we are also going to buy a white waffle curtain! Love the jellyfish print, too!
Never thought about adding a little clock... good call, definitely something I'll have to do with my rental!
Ah! We have the exact same sink cabinet! Except the knobs - did you change those out, too?
DodieGoldney -- no I didn't change the knobs, they came like that. Kinda funky!
How does a white liner protect the curtain better than a clear one?
"How does a white liner protect the curtain better than a clear one?"
Clear one tends to be hard and stiff white nylon is softer.
I have a non PVC liner that is more like fabric and less like plastic.
Wow, this looks like the exact same set-up as my bathroom – but ours ISN'T a rental. We just have no idea where to begin (or how much it will cost).
What would you do if you had the right (and the money)?
I think it looks awesome, but If I hung pictures in my bathroom, they would get water damaged.
Also, I love the arrangement on top of the toilet. Couldn't do that either though, it would block the flush button (and I'm pretty sure the top of ours is curved.
I really dislike that brown rug right next to the black one. They don't complement each other. I'm sure you could find either a black, white or colored one on sale. I'm a little worried for your wedding photo. Even if you aren't splashing it, a hot shower will create condensation that could get it wet.
I like most of it, but can't get past the bath mats. I have a weird aversion to using them...They are so great when just out of the dryer, but after a day or two they just look stepped on and dirty. If a client demands them, I try for fabric alternatives like bamboo or stone. If fabric is essential, I try for white, so they can be bleached weekly and will blend with the white floor, thus making the floor appear uncluttered. The dark, mismatched bath mats in this bathroom just make it look messy.
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/
yup, definitely still looks like a rental. keep trying.
I love the picture of your ducks! We were given the same ones from my in-laws when we first got married and now our son plays with them in the bath! Nice playful touch.
I so sympathize with the renter bathroom situation. My advice? Get one larger, more colorful rug and place it lengthwise (short end against the tub) to replace the two smaller rugs. You could also really use a plant on the toilet tank (I love the tray). I don't know if it's just the picture or what, but it looks like your bathroom doesn't get much natural light, which, to me, makes all the neutral colors (the black and white, the brown) look dingy. I would pep things up with some brighter colors in your towels and rugs. Finally, I would take those cabinet doors off altogether and replace them with a little skirt or curtain. They look as if they don't fit the frame well and are a different white from the rest of the vanity, which adds to the whole "renter" feel. Adding a skirt gives you yet another chance to add color or pattern.
PS-- Replace the switch plate, maybe with a chrome one to match the towel bar. You can stick the old one in a drawer and put it back when you move.
fail
Gosh, I'm new to this community but people can be so rude, huh? I think it looks cute, especially the bride & groom ducks! And I like the waffle shower curtain. I've just moved into a rented house here in the UK, and trying to figure out what to do with my bathroom, this has given me a few ideas.