On Bathrooms

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On Bathrooms

Unfortunately not all of us possess such grandiose spaces (as pictured above) in which to do the things we do in a bathroom. Some of us do, and we try not emanate our bitterness toward those who do. If this were my bathroom there would definitely be changes.

I would add a window treatment, regardless of what the privacy issue is. People feel better in a bathroom even with just a token shear on the window, even if the window is 3 stories up and faces an empty meadow. The screen would stay, and I'm not sure where the toilet is in this room (they're not always so photogenic). You'll notice that none of the pictures on this page show a complete fuzzy bath mat set, in fact you would be hard pressed to find just the mat. I like the thick terry ones that can be picked up just about anywhere, but I do admit to owning a small Martha Stewart mat, you know, the large looped variety. I live with 2 guys (my son and my Husband) and they do not appreciate nor understand the necessity of taking out a clean mat for every shower when one should always be placed in front of the tub just like in everyone else's homes.

Chairs are good in a bathroom, I don't think anyone sits on them, they just look great. If you have the room and an old chair, you can stack books or towels on it. I think it really gives the room that "spa" look. Hardwood is awesome but you have to be diligent about wiping up the floor. If you are dealing with a small space, use a child's chair or a small wooden stool. Ikea has the greatest little bamboo stool right now for only $12.00 - They have some other little wooden stools also. Galvanized steel vases (available thru The Barefoot Robin) can be used in tight spaces to hold toilet paper rolls, magazines, or even as garbage receptacles.

You can never over decorate a Bathroom. If the rest of your home has been given a "less is more" feeling the Bathroom is your opportunity to go "more is more" . Or vice versa. Detract visually from the porcelain and chrome and fill the room with unusual objects. Think outside the box when it comes to counter accessories like soap dishes. Shop your kitchen or even the china cabinet for containers to hold soap, facecloths and like toiletries. Do you really need a towel bar? A chair can be used to hang a towel, or, if you have the room, how about an old ladder? Don't forget that people spend most of their time sitting in a bathroom. What do you see when you sit in yours? Hang pictures low and place accessories on the floor. Bathrooms should always smell lovely so plenty of scented stones, candles and potpourri are a must.

If you do not have a conventional mirrored medicine cabinet, all the better. A grouping of framed mirrors or an elaborate oversized mirror will create drama and still perform a function. Shelves are good. So are plants. If you do not have a window in the bathroom look for realistic silk plants. Ferns and even Orchids (available thru The Barefoot Robin!) look great in the bathroom. No room to place them? What about a wall sconce or shelf? Double the drama if reflected by your mirror!

The bathroom above had an odd problem; there are windows where mirrors were needed. Instead dry walling over the windows, mirrors were attached and made to look as though they are the bottom 1/2 of the windows.

Aah - bright and sunny, fresh and clean, what

a great bathroom!

If you've been agonizing over whether or not to employ more dramatic color in your home, the bathroom is a great place to start. You can use it as the guinea pig room. It's small so repainting is not such an endeavor, and visits to the room are brief, so if you hate the color, exposure is brief until it can be repainted.

Champagne Taste On A Beer Budget.....

OK so you don't yet have the 4 man soaker tub of your dreams, like a lot of us, when you bathe, it's in a little tub surrounded by everyone in the family's shower gel and shampoos. To take a bath you must first consider the condition of the tub, and then expend some of your precious hot water rinsing your partner's even less expendable hair down the drain. Yuck! So, if this is you, baths are probably rare. They shouldn't be, a long hot bath with a glass of wine, a decorating magazine and a million candles is still the cheapest, most luxurious pampering thing a girl can do for herself. And do we must, at least once a week. Make it your spa day, a day to do your nails, give yourself a facial, moisturize your precious skin, do it all and you'll feel like a million bucks until the next time.

Step One: Grab a cloth and tub cleaner, remove all the shower accessories from the tub, all of them. Bring a basket with you for this purpose. Then spot clean and rinse.

Step Two: Run your bath, use double the amount of bubble bath recommended. If you don't have bubble bath, use shower gel. We all get tons of bath stuff for Christmas and birthdays every year so you will have something. Loose Chamomile Tea is so nice in the tub, use it as a rub, then let it float about the tub.

Step Three: Grab every candle holder you own and place all around the bathroom. It has to be bright enough to read your decorating magazine. Light them as you place, it helps to figure out how many you really need. Place them on the tub's edge. Move your shower curtain (if you have one) from the side to the middle of the tub, then you don't have to worry about starting it on fire and the look achieved is nothing short of sublime. Tea lights are great to have on hand, especially for moments like this. You can keep them in a basket under the sink. In case you didn't already know, you can get a bag of 100 tea lights for $4.00 at Ikea. They also have great little tea light holders for $.95. I have been removing the tea lights from their metal cups and burning them in tea light holders for years without incident. Try it but keep an eye peeled.

Step Four: In a basket, get together all your spa essentials, I like to give myself a facial while soaking in the tub, so I take a face cleanser and facial, exfoliant, etc. Tuck your magazine and a small towel in the basket as well. Place the basket beside the tub within reach.

Step Five: Pour yourself a glass of wine or cold beverage. Something cold to sip on is vital to the whole experience.

Step Six: Lock The Door and get in!

Tip: Do you have any massage oil?

Is it almond based?

Does your skin feel dry?

If you answered yes to all three of these questions do I have a treat for you! Before getting in the tub, simply rub yourself all over with the massage oil. Go nuts and coat yourself with it. There are technical terms for what happens but basically, the heat and the water facilitates your skin in absorbing the moisturizing oil.

If the word gets out that you insist upon making time for these spa days, a seed will be planted in the minds of your partner, friends and family. A seed that, once planted, will better the chances of you ever receiving a for real day at the spa, as a gift. Ladies, if you've never been, you must, the experience is almost as good, if not better than, sex!

Bathroom Do's & Don'ts

Do display guest soaps in an attractive holder for guests.

Don't collect soaps from hotels and use them for this purpose.

Do display folded towels for guests to use, whether in the bathroom or the guestroom.

Don't leave them there so long they collect dust.

Do have air freshener handy in the bathroom. There is nothing more embarrasing than using someone's wash room and not being able to "freshen it up".

Don't purchase air freshener in a spray can. Buy something in an attractive receptacle.

Do have extra rolls of tissue paper in the bath.

Don't leave it just sitting out, your guest will find it if they need it, under or in something close to the biffy will be fine.


	The Barefoot Robin \| home First Impressions \| Creating An Exquisite Room \| Houseplants \| Feng Shui \| The Conversation Room \| Collecting \| The Family Room \| On Bathrooms \| Where We Eat \| A Day In The Country! \| In Bedrooms \| Hostess Rewards \| Contact Us \| About Style \| Other Great Sites \| Products \| Feather Your Nest - Our Monthly Newsletter \| Services On Bathrooms Unfortunately not all of us possess such grandiose spaces (as pictured above) in which to do the things we do in a bathroom. Some of us do, and we try not emanate our bitterness toward those who do. If this were my bathroom there would definitely be changes. I would add a window treatment, regardless of what the privacy issue is. People feel better in a bathroom even with just a token shear on the window, even if the window is 3 stories up and faces an empty meadow. The screen would stay, and I'm not sure where the toilet is in this room (they're not always so photogenic). You'll notice that none of the pictures on this page show a complete fuzzy bath mat set, in fact you would be hard pressed to find just the mat. I like the thick terry ones that can be picked up just about anywhere, but I do admit to owning a small Martha Stewart mat, you know, the large looped variety. I live with 2 guys (my son and my Husband) and they do not appreciate nor understand the necessity of taking out a clean mat for every shower when one should always be placed in front of the tub just like in everyone else's homes. Chairs are good in a bathroom, I don't think anyone sits on them, they just look great. If you have the room and an old chair, you can stack books or towels on it. I think it really gives the room that "spa" look. Hardwood is awesome but you have to be diligent about wiping up the floor. If you are dealing with a small space, use a child's chair or a small wooden stool. Ikea has the greatest little bamboo stool right now for only $12.00 - They have some other little wooden stools also. Galvanized steel vases (available thru The Barefoot Robin) can be used in tight spaces to hold toilet paper rolls, magazines, or even as garbage receptacles. You can never over decorate a Bathroom. If the rest of your home has been given a "less is more" feeling the Bathroom is your opportunity to go "more is more" . Or vice versa. Detract visually from the porcelain and chrome and fill the room with unusual objects. Think outside the box when it comes to counter accessories like soap dishes. Shop your kitchen or even the china cabinet for containers to hold soap, facecloths and like toiletries. Do you really need a towel bar? A chair can be used to hang a towel, or, if you have the room, how about an old ladder? Don't forget that people spend most of their time sitting in a bathroom. What do you see when you sit in yours? Hang pictures low and place accessories on the floor. Bathrooms should always smell lovely so plenty of scented stones, candles and potpourri are a must. If you do not have a conventional mirrored medicine cabinet, all the better. A grouping of framed mirrors or an elaborate oversized mirror will create drama and still perform a function. Shelves are good. So are plants. If you do not have a window in the bathroom look for realistic silk plants. Ferns and even Orchids (available thru The Barefoot Robin!) look great in the bathroom. No room to place them? What about a wall sconce or shelf? Double the drama if reflected by your mirror! The bathroom above had an odd problem; there are windows where mirrors were needed. Instead dry walling over the windows, mirrors were attached and made to look as though they are the bottom 1/2 of the windows. Aah - bright and sunny, fresh and clean, what a great bathroom! If you've been agonizing over whether or not to employ more dramatic color in your home, the bathroom is a great place to start. You can use it as the guinea pig room. It's small so repainting is not such an endeavor, and visits to the room are brief, so if you hate the color, exposure is brief until it can be repainted. Champagne Taste On A Beer Budget..... OK so you don't yet have the 4 man soaker tub of your dreams, like a lot of us, when you bathe, it's in a little tub surrounded by everyone in the family's shower gel and shampoos. To take a bath you must first consider the condition of the tub, and then expend some of your precious hot water rinsing your partner's even less expendable hair down the drain. Yuck! So, if this is you, baths are probably rare. They shouldn't be, a long hot bath with a glass of wine, a decorating magazine and a million candles is still the cheapest, most luxurious pampering thing a girl can do for herself. And do we must, at least once a week. Make it your spa day, a day to do your nails, give yourself a facial, moisturize your precious skin, do it all and you'll feel like a million bucks until the next time. Step One: Grab a cloth and tub cleaner, remove all the shower accessories from the tub, all of them. Bring a basket with you for this purpose. Then spot clean and rinse. Step Two: Run your bath, use double the amount of bubble bath recommended. If you don't have bubble bath, use shower gel. We all get tons of bath stuff for Christmas and birthdays every year so you will have something. Loose Chamomile Tea is so nice in the tub, use it as a rub, then let it float about the tub. Step Three: Grab every candle holder you own and place all around the bathroom. It has to be bright enough to read your decorating magazine. Light them as you place, it helps to figure out how many you really need. Place them on the tub's edge. Move your shower curtain (if you have one) from the side to the middle of the tub, then you don't have to worry about starting it on fire and the look achieved is nothing short of sublime. Tea lights are great to have on hand, especially for moments like this. You can keep them in a basket under the sink. In case you didn't already know, you can get a bag of 100 tea lights for $4.00 at Ikea. They also have great little tea light holders for $.95. I have been removing the tea lights from their metal cups and burning them in tea light holders for years without incident. Try it but keep an eye peeled. Step Four: In a basket, get together all your spa essentials, I like to give myself a facial while soaking in the tub, so I take a face cleanser and facial, exfoliant, etc. Tuck your magazine and a small towel in the basket as well. Place the basket beside the tub within reach. Step Five: Pour yourself a glass of wine or cold beverage. Something cold to sip on is vital to the whole experience. Step Six: Lock The Door and get in! Tip: Do you have any massage oil? Is it almond based? Does your skin feel dry? If you answered yes to all three of these questions do I have a treat for you! Before getting in the tub, simply rub yourself all over with the massage oil. Go nuts and coat yourself with it. There are technical terms for what happens but basically, the heat and the water facilitates your skin in absorbing the moisturizing oil. If the word gets out that you insist upon making time for these spa days, a seed will be planted in the minds of your partner, friends and family. A seed that, once planted, will better the chances of you ever receiving a for real day at the spa, as a gift. Ladies, if you've never been, you must, the experience is almost as good, if not better than, sex! Bathroom Do's & Don'ts Do display guest soaps in an attractive holder for guests. Don't collect soaps from hotels and use them for this purpose. Do display folded towels for guests to use, whether in the bathroom or the guestroom. Don't leave them there so long they collect dust. Do have air freshener handy in the bathroom. There is nothing more embarrasing than using someone's wash room and not being able to "freshen it up". Don't purchase air freshener in a spray can. Buy something in an attractive receptacle. Do have extra rolls of tissue paper in the bath. Don't leave it just sitting out, your guest will find it if they need it, under or in something close to the biffy will be fine. Copyright © 2001 Robin Popowich