We're going in. Last month we dealt with soft goods and a good night sleep, and this month we're getting into the hardware, tile, mirrors and all those things that make your bathroom rock. It's always amazing to discover all the great resources and ideas that go into people's bathrooms.
Submit pics of your amazing bathroom and tell us all your sources. If it's really good or inspirational, we'll post it for all to see and send you a gift to thank you (the first 30 posted on any AT site only). Please send to newyork(at)apartmenttherapy.com and put BATHROOM in the subject header. (Pic: Jeremy's Travertine Showstopper)
Didn't vote for any of the options. Whatever my mood is I do either shower or a nice long relaxing bath.
May I be the first to note that the bowl mounted on top of the vanity is the overdone bathroom trend of the decade.
I hope the bathroom contest features some more original approaches to bathroom design than those offered at by the average McMansion builder or home improvement megalith.
I'll now retreat from my soap box and say that a daily shower is efficient and necessary, but a slow soak every now and then is pure pleasure.
I agree about the bowl. I loved it the first time I saw it, but it will be dated so soon! Maybe there are some things that just don't lend themselves to reinvention?
I like vessel sinks. I think they look great and I don't care that they've been used a lot before. Three cheers for vessel sinks! Yeah!!!
I get my best thinking done in the shower, so I'm definately a shower person.
I totally agree with the vessel sink comments #2 and 3. I was walking through Expo and as I was standing in front of some of these, the thought that kept popping in my head was that it just appears... stale.
it'd be great to see advice on what things work well in bathrooms where you cannot replace hardware (i.e. tub, sink, vanity, showerhead).
for example, what kind of colors work well, what type of mirroring/fabrics, organization ideas?
look forward to this! my plan is to make the bathroom in our rental white (relying on the basic color of tiles and bath, plus repainting the vanity) and red (as the hairdrier that has to hang on the wall is red). thus, currently looking for a neat way to make a great red shower curtain :-)
re vessel sinks: perhaps this puts me as outdated, but I still think they look great! compare 2 vessel sinks to a double vanity all laminated counter - which one makes you think "20 year old house" more?
Vessel sinks don't make me think "20 year old house." The point is that in, oh, 15 years, they WILL :)
Some things get dated a lot sooner and more obviously than others. As was so eloquently and accurately stated on the Bluelines post, vessel sinks are sort of an Ugg boot!
I have to admit that I still like them when I see them, but that I keep thinking of how stale they will be soon.
It's comforting to know that I am not alone in this world when it comes to my distaste for Ugg boots! And I'm a man! Now I will never look at vessel sinks in the same way and thanks to you I see glass consoles like crooked trucker caps.
I do however see the porcelain vessel sinks in sqaure and rectangle shapes to have a more sophisticated look and almost necessary to create a modern wall-mounted console or simple modern vanity. I don't think they are even in the same category as the millions of imported glass, tin, marble and stone bowl-like vessels that have been labeled and re-labled by 50 different companies on the internet or by home depot, lowes, etc.
Ugg boots in the proper context are fantastic: after a long day of snow skiing, they help warm your super cold feet during the walk back to the car/cabin, etc. Wearing Ugg boots as a fashion statement (e.g., during 80 weather because you saw some celebrity wearing them in US Weekly) is just confusing. Anyway, my point is that everything has value in one way or another...it just depends on how it is used. If in 20 years you think the vessel sinks are dated, give it another ten years and you'll probably think it is cool again. In the 90's I turned my nose up at the late 70's/early 80's decor in my parents' house. Now, I'm begging them for half of that stuff because it suddenly makes sense in the design world again. Go figure.
Olya, both are going to be dated, unlike more classic styles. Vessel sinks are going to be the avocado green of the bathroom.
I wish there was an ugliest bathroom contest, because I would definitely win it. A corner of the wall juts out into the toilet area, so one must sit diagonally across the seat with one's head hanging over the sink. The only time this setup works is during a bout of stomach flu.
I agree with Jean, ugliest bathroom contest would be fun. Then you could ask everyone what their ideas for your ugly bathroom should be to get inspired. I have a brown and yellow (Brown tile 3/4 of the wall trimmed with yellow tile, then flower wallpaper) bathroom, and believe me it is not a pretty brown, or yellow. The bathtub/shower toilet and sink are all yellow. It is a trial just to find a bathmat let alone towels
I had asked in another entry, what were the pros and cons of vessel (I hope that's the bowl) sinks especially without a base my foor space is just enough space to open the door without being banged in the back...tight. So does the floor get wet with moderate use...no kids in the house.