Swedish Yellow-Grout Bathroom

white bathroom tile with yellow groutA unique tile statement that says: why not?

Over the past year I’ve noticed a growing number of bathrooms with white tile and dark grout. Traditionally, that was a no-no except on floors.  But this is the first time I’ve seen bright-color grout used to ramp up the decorative value of plain white tile. I think it’s fabulous and budget friendly – look how it jazzes up standard 4 x 4 glazed tile!  True, grout is permanent but a carefully chosen flamboyant color insures that no bathroom tile will ever suffers from “the blands” we see too often.

(Source: fromScandinaviawithlove)

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Custom Stairway Gates

custom salvaged wood and copper piping staircase gateA collection of handcrafted custom gate ideas.

Our three children were in college when we built our Alabama Stone Cottage. The framers asked (more than once) why I didn’t want a door at the top of the stairs. I explained we had a dreary basement in our last home of 20 years – this one has a lower level. Closing off the stairs would make a big dent in this open and accessible feature. Fast forward six years, through graduations and a wedding.  As soon as DD2 announced she was expecting, and the Eclectic-Gender Neutral Nursery was ready, thoughts of his and future grandchildren crawling, walking and running around the house started a search for gate ideas.  The stairway is wide and the opening is arched to mimic the kitchen entrance to the left. The coat closet is directly across from the stairway and the wide door going to garage is to the right. I searched the internet for pre-built wooden baby and pet gates, but everything I found that would fit would stick out like a sore thumb. I wanted the gate to blend in with the rest of our home. I considered numerous options to rework: a pair of vintage shutters, cutting down a vintage door, repurposing an iron gate, decorative metal sheets, metal scissor gates and vintage elevator doors. It was sort of like The Three Bears — pieces I found were either too big or too small, never just right.

custom salvaged wood and copper piping staircase gateThen along came Larry.  I emailed him pictures of rustic garden gates, and he promised he could build us a sturdy and safe gate using salvaged wood and copper piping that would keep Baby J upstairs, but still be pet-friendly allowing our three cats slip downstairs for their daily naps.  A perfect gate would have been able to slide to the left when opened, in front of the wall.  As luck would have it, the wall is not quite wide enough.  Larry came up with a great solution – build a gate that appears to be a pair of gates when closed,  but is hinged so it folds against the wall when open.  He used old hinges for their patina. It’s mounted just above the baseboards to give the cats space to slip under.  We’ve gotten in the habit of leaving it closed 24/7 and I really like the secure feeling it gives when going out to the garage.  I’ve already started watching etsy for the perfect set of vintage strap hinges and/or decorative handles.  The hunt is part of the fun and I’ll update the post when they are discovered.  Dubya and Coco [top] approve of Larry’s handiwork.  Baby J will be walking soon, and our first granddaughter, Baby E, is due in June.

custom iron pet friendly gateHere is custom pet-friendly iron gate that keeps the dog out of the cat food bowls.  We contemplated a similar design that spaced the copper pipes to allow the cats to walk-thru… but two of ours are rather large and we decided the gate would not be baby friendly.

custom wood staircase safety gateCustom gates are an easy addition to new construction and pre-built homes. This gate features a small wheel underneath the end that swings open, which helps keep the weight evenly distributed.  The sliding hinge mechanism on the gate allows it to be easily removed when not in use.

salvaged wood panel door cut down to half doorThis homeowner simply cut down a wood panel door, similar to a Dutch door but without the top half.  We had a stairway like this in our last home.  Stairs that led to an attic eventually led the way to an added master suite.  The door was removed and the stairway was left open.   Be sure to check your local building codes, as we were told this was considered a hazard during a fire emergency and, therefore, against code.  That said, it is a charming option in the right location.

custom rustic painted staircase gate at Rachel Ashwell The Prairie B&BA more rustic version looks like a simple panel that swings open.  Knowing the owner, none other than Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic, she spotted it during one of her antique outings when shopping for The Prairie B&B.

custom modern wood slat staircase safety gateThis contemporary wooden slat gate is reminiscent of a MCM slat bench.

custom wood and wrought iron staircase safety gateThe wrought iron motif of the hand railing is repeated in this custom wood and iron gate.  Designing a gate might take awhile with all the hand forged metal art and decorative parts, balusters, and panels available.

custom wrought iron staircase safety gateThis one is very simple, and lays against the wall when not in use.  One concern I had in our space was that no one coming in or out be fooled by the gate.  I didn’t want it too low – afraid that someone might lean to far and tumble over the top.  We found that chest high was much better than wast high.

custom eclectic wrought iron staircase safety gateGreat example of modern, yet traditional. If you can dream it, someone can build it.

custom iron mesh panel staircase safety gatesContinuing staircases need more than one gate, and sometimes adjustments to the existing railing as well.  Here, blackened steel tubing and mesh panels were created and attached with custom hardware.

custom modern staircase gateWhile I like this design, they must have dogs instead of children… as the first thing I think of is a child climbing up and over the horizontal bars.  This gate also has a wheel for operational ease.

custom color block staircase safety gateA colorful Partridge Family bus style design is sure to please kids and the kids at heart.  This could be fashioned from painted wood or transparent colored plexiglass sheets.

Although we all want our homes to be beautiful, of course we want our family, guests and pets to stay safe.  If you are adding a baby or pet gate to your home, be sure to read the suggestions at Safety Gate Standards at Safe Kids and ASTM.org.

For more pet friendly ideas, don’t miss Built-ins For Pets.  And if you’re a Shabby Chic fan, be sure to read An Interview with Rachel Ashwell.

(Sources: Jezroc Metal, BILDnow.com, Internet, Holly Mathis Interiors, Blue Ant Studio, JD Stairs, HC Metals, Martel Fab, MILKdesign, Dijeau Poage Construction)

Linking up with Met Monday.

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Is Lavender the New Bedroom Blue?

bedroom with lavender check and toile printsA 1960s color refreshes the look of traditional patterns.

What if the fabric color in any of these bedrooms was changed to pale blue, or even light green? I’d think ‘predictable’ or at worse ‘yawn.’ Would you? Yet to my eye, some of the same old patterns we see again and again – large-scale checks, toiles, and plaid have a young and comfortable spirit in these bedrooms. Updating Swedish-style bedroom color [top] really works and lavender marries well with the natural wood finish of the bed frame and side table in addition to the blue table base.

bedroom with lavender toile wallpaper and solid lavender curtains and bed canopyLavender toile wallpaper sounds horrible but look how cozy that pattern makes this bedroom. White-painted furniture, trellis detail on the base of the window seat and the draped canopy over the bed help strengthen the French spirit.

bedroom with solid lavender curtains and check coverlet and throw pillowPlain curtains mixed with a checked pillow and throw brings a kiss of pale violet to an off-white bedroom. Switching out the bed covering offers a flexible approach to adjusting to the seasons or, eventually updating the look.

(Sources: southern accents, skonahem, pinterest)

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Eco-Friendly Quartz Countertops

white kitchen with black Elements by Durcon eco-friendly countersIt’s easy being green when materials are as attractive as Elements by Durcon.

Pure quartz and post-consumer glass are fused together through a unique manufacturing process. The result is a product suitable for the kitchen, laundry and bath. The surface is non-porous so it resists staining, such as food, juice or wine. Moisture and bacteria are out of luck too — it’s NSF certified for safe food contact.  Available in a dozen colors [below], it is 100% recyclable at the end of its lifetime with the company’s Dust-to-Dust program. I have to wonder if the shiny surface would be a maintenance nightmare for some but the website states Elements is easy to clean with a soap and water mixture. An environmentally friendly surface that’s durable and beautiful.

Elements by Durcon eco-friendly quartz and glass counter color chart (Source: Elements by Durcon)

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Built-ins For Pets 2

built-in dog bed in mudroomMore clever ideas to make life comfy for our fur family.

I continue to collect various ways for us to include pet-friendly areas in our homes.  We all know it’s not really whether Mama’a happy – it’s whether our dogs and cats are happy.  No “beware of dog” sign needed, as this big guy is all smiles. And who wouldn’t be, with his own space in the mudroom.  Humans should be happier too – no bending down to pick-up boots.

custom base cabinet hidden dog bed area with fabric curtainThe base cabinet next to a doorway puts doggie in prime position for meeting and greeting.  Notice this cabinet was designed with him in mind, as there is no knob on the front panel.  A washable curtain makes his den more private.

custom built in dog bed with arched openingNon-pet owners won’t understand all the beds in eating areas, but pet peeps know (and understand) they are always close by.

custom end table dog crate with wood spindle doorsAnimals love and crave attention, but it’s nice to have a safe place for them to be contained when guests drop by.  Here, a window bench at the kitchen table is nestled against a custom crate.  Spindle doors not only allow much needed airflow, but still gives them a visual connection to those nearby.

large custom built in dog bed niche with arched openingThis arched niche is big enough for two.  Custom cushions can be fabricated from fast dry foam and outdoor fabrics for easy cleaning.

vintage chest repurposed into hidden litter boxOut of sight, out of mind?  We love our feline friends, but decorating obsessed humans despise the dreaded litter box.  This blogger repurposed a vintage chest into a hidden space with an idea and a sharp saw.  The drawer boxes were removed and the drawer fronts were attached and hinged.  A pet door was placed on the side.

custom base cabinet cat silhouette cut out for hidden litter boxSimilar to the cat cut-out in Built-ins For Pets (Part 1), this mudroom laundry room combo has a double door entry with mat (to catch the litter before it hits the wood floors).  The litter box is most likely behind door #1 (to the right) and in the dead corner space.

custom base cabinet cat silhouette cut out for hidden litter boxA modern cat cut-out graces this pair of cabinet doors.  Notice these two examples extend to the bottom from the door as well (no frame).

cat litter box hidden inside base cabinetsNot handy?  You can still have a base cabinet litter box – just not as fancy.  This one takes up more real estate but gives them the top left shelf for a litter catching mat and storage below.  For those with cats that like to push littler out of the box, using a large plastic container solves that problem.

under the stairs dog bed den with custom iron gate doorLast, but not least, an under the stair way space gives pets room to roam.   A custom iron door adds a decorative touch, as does the heartfelt script above.

Don’t miss the double duty Utility Room Tub Sink, perfect for bathing pets.

(Sources:  Home Klondike, Better Homes & Gardens, That Inspirational Girl, House of Turquoise, Cat Basket, Internet, Maukaja, Recaptured Charm)

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