Wednesday, August 6, 2008

My bathroom had that "gotta go" feeling

So, here I was going through life preaching the benefits of creating a spa feeling in your bathroom, especially if you have a master bathroom.

Even if it's small, I would say, it's so much more relaxing if you treat it like a sanctuary... especially if you are staging your home for sale, but even just to treat yourself.

But, in reality, my own master bath resembled something out of the movie Poltergeist, where you open the bedroom closet to Satan's lair... only with mold and peeling wallpaper thrown in.

Recently though we pried open the door, beat back the demons and got to work.

Two counters used to form an "L", with another sink where the towel rack is. We closed up the plumbing on that wall and moved the two sinks to one wall to make the place roomier.

But what I really want to point out are the two ottomans. I wanted to incorporate some seating for that spa feeling, and this is really all that would fit. (I took this photo standing in the bathtub, so although it's a good-sized bathroom, you can see it's not gigantic.)

We were skeptical at first. Would the ottomans be in the way? Would we trip on them in the night? Would they feel contrived?

So far, so good. I really like sitting there to blow dry my hair or paint my nails.

I'd give it a go in your bathroom if there's any space at all. Add a chair or a stool, a plant and a few fluffy towels and see if it doesn't transform the room.

Any other suggestions out there for creating a bit of a spa at home?

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22 comments:

Caren said...

It looks great! I really have to get to work on our master bed/bath. It has such potential but right now is seriously ignored.

Maybe I'll start with picking the clean laundry up off the floor, that in and of itself would be a huge improvement!

FancyPants-design said...

Looks great! I love that idea of incorporating seating into a bathroom. ..one day I will have a bathroom big enough to do that :)

Darlene said...

It looks great....my bathrooms (both master & main) are tiny without even a place to put an ottoman, stool or anything. Someday my dream is to have a larger house with big spa bathrooms.....

Blogger said...

I painted my master bath the color "Spa" by Behr...does that count? lol ;) It's the same color as my master bedroom, very tranquil, we love it :)

Your bathroom is gorgeous, the ottomans are a nice touch, we, don't have room in any of our bathrooms for something like that, maybe one day...

Bella :)

Unknown said...

I love the addition of the ottomans! You have the perfect space for them...most baths are too tiny! I really like the black cabinets. I am seriously considering painting cabinets black in one of our baths!
Thanks for visiting me...you have a great blog! I'm adding you to my list.
Diane

Trixi said...

It looks really good. Ottomans is the bathroom, who would have thought?! I really like that idea.

Chris said...

I love it, Mary. I love the rug!! I want one in my bathroom, but it needs to be more of a runner. Wish me luck on finding that! I also love the ottomans. I like to sit down to get ready--mostly because I'm too tired in the morning. The seating is perfect for your space!

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

Your bathroom redo looks fantabulous! :) I also like white towels, a candle for ambiance, and a basket of pretty bath items and lotions for a spa feel. Your ottomans are so great, love those!

Kristy said...

I dream of the day when I've saved enough money to create a fabulous master bathroom/walk-in closet. Until then, I live with a fairly small one with very little room to maneuver – and really, for now, that’s fine.

I’m saving up ideas for that dream bathroom – I know it will include candles, lots of big fluffy towels, a high-quality bathrobe and slippers, and big soft rugs.

Debra from Bungalow said...

Oh... a very pretty room & the ottomans are a great idea. My dream house would have large bathrooms.

I Love what you did in there. Stop over & visit sometime, DebraK

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Thanks for visiting! I wish something like that would work in our bathroom. Maybe I should send you a picture and get your help?!?

Katina said...

Thanks for your comment on my blog. I'm glad I found your design blog as I am trying to decorate our new home. :)

Melanie said...

I LOVE the ottoman idea! I have a very large bathroom and these look great!

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

I would have never, ever thought to put ottomans and I think they're great! Are they storage ones??

My bathrooms are too tiny to recreate a full-on spa experience, but one has a clawfoot tub and toile wallpaper (both of which we inherited from the previous owners) so I'm sort of going for a little "homage a Paris" to at least create a softer, relaxing (if not spa-like!) feel working around all of the existing fixtures. So far, so good.

Mary said...

Hi Laura:

Good point...I should have mentioned that they are storage ottomans to boot.

Should also say they are faux leather... so weren't expensive.

I bought them at Bed, Bath and Beyond... I don't see the exact ones online, but they are along the lines of:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14553959

Thanks,
Mary

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

That's a great looking space! I love ottomans in a roomy bathroom, but mine's not quite big enough. My big husband would definitely squawk at a piece of furniture right in the middle of the room. Great idea though!

Rhoda

Julie said...

Really like the look! While not exactly "spa," this idea might work for some who have a only little bit of space yet want to be a little different: What about a smallish cheval mirror with an old piano stool in front? It'd be a place to sit without taking up too much space, and the vertical height of the mirror would sort of anchor the stool. They could be painted a color to suit the room.

Anonymous said...

Glad that the ottomans worked out, I have to say the idea made me a little skeptical too, but it sounds like they're working out. I once put a stool in my bathroom (haha, I mean the kind you sit on) I don't do a lot of sitting down though to blow dry my hair.

Nancy Hood said...

We've had chairs in bathrooms before, or steps to the tub, and have found them to be needed! I love your 'new' bathroom!!!

Tara said...

It looks great. Someday I hope to have a bathroom with room like that!!

Free Art Printables said...

I like that space a lot. I should do that to ours but it's really tiny. Jen R

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

What? No BEFORE picture?? I need the before one! Ha ha.