Re-create the Look: Living Etc. Bathroom

 

A fresh/vintage bathroom: I am no longer in denial.  Winter is here and it is time to give some serious thought to upcoming baths. There is reading material to select and bubble bath products to consider.  There are also bath spaces, like this one from LivingEtc., to stare at.  This space has an ideal blend of romantic touches and an apothecary-shop sensibility.  A dark-toned floor contrasts with airy white, grey, cream and chrome.  Modern, urban flair, like the frosted glass cabinet faces, make this room current.  The heart of this bath, however, belongs to a Victorian spa which is exactly where I would like to spend Sunday afternoons from January to March. 

To re-create the details of this bathroom:

1) Bathroom Chandelier:  This is a winsome, if slightly ridiculous, piece. The bathroom just wouldn't be the same without it.  $99 at Ballard Designs.

2) Marble Shelves:  See Martha's neat t utorial on how to creat a shelf from a marble threshold here.

3) Beveled Mirror: For that shiny, bold look.  Frameless, 24" $169 here.

 

4) Apothocary Jars: Ranging from $6.99-$9.99 here.

 

5) Bubble Bath! See those black-topped jars?  I say, pomegranate bubble bath? Oh man.  $25 for the cheers! set here.

 

*By the way, I plan on making a reading list this week.  Just in case I find myself in a place like this with a bottle of pomegranate bubble bath.*

Re-create the Look: Serena and Lily Nursery

 

While this nursery might be a styled image for the Dylan line of Serena and Lily crib bedding, I think it's something special in its own right. The natural textures and floating elements give the space interest and a global edge.  The shapes and color palette, meanwhile, feel serene and slightly arctic.  This space is perfect for a winter nursery.  The bedding itself is playful, elegant and not at all saccharine.  Like the name Dylan, this space could belong to an adventurous girl or boy.  In fact, the polar bear motif reminds me of this wonderful trilogy.  Here are the pieces to re-create the look:


First, and foremost: the Serena and Lily bedding.  There is a dreamy, folk-like quality to the pattern and muted palette.  Elephants, owls and crescent moons mirror each other in a scrolling design.  (See warnings about bumpers, of course).  The set (including bumper, skirt and fitted sheet) is $395, which is steep, but this is a pattern with style that would last through generations, and it is also the anchor for this particular nursery.

At left is Rufus, the polar bear rocker.  He (surely a he with a name like Rufus) is designed by David Netto for Macleran ($295 here).

 

 The three airy, wind-sock-esque shapes in the original proved too elusive. However, The Frazier & Wing mobile, at left is a more-than-worthy substitute.  I love how this mobile looks both substantial and and delicate.  $75 here.

At right is a basket available from Jeanne Beatrice (see their French market style baskets, and "doll basket" as well) for $29 .  I think it would be perfect for toy storage.  It could even be suspended from the ceiling as in the inspiration image.

Finally, we have the chevron pattern rug.  This would be a great DIY project like the one detailed here, using a natural fiber rug.  I would also dilute the paint to get the subtle, washed out look of the original.

Re-create the Look: G.P. Schafer Kitchen in the Country

This is a kitchen designed by G.P. Schafer for a horse farm in upstate New York.  It seems to have got the blend of industrial, traditional and utilitarian just right for the setting.  I love the built-in display cabinet with it's porch-ceiling blue background and the prep sink.  This looks like a place to chat with leftover apple pie and a glass of wine while someone does some serious cooking.

I put this kitchen in a special folder weeks ago, in fact, and set about scouring for the unique elements that make this space.

Sometimes, however, trying to find the secret sources in an attempt to replicate my favorite features from interior blogs gets exhausting.  I spent the longest time looking for a ceiling mounted pot rack, like the pictured, preferably with inset lighting.  It nearly broke my spirit.  Most  pot racks out there look like they belong in a French-country-style dungeon, or hung with some barbed-wire embellishment.   Where was the simplicity? Where was shiny chrome with tastefully-substantial ceiling mounts?  In any case, I was getting glum. Then I had a breakthrough, which might be brilliant or sheer stupidity, but a fine line, in any case.

Voila! I give you a simple, shiny ceiling mounted structure for $275, additional supports for $50, via. Pretty good, if slightly curvier and borrowed from a different room.  Imagine some pots on those s-hooks.  Ignore the shy shower head drooping in the corner.  Instead mount a couple of these (at right) to hang on the inside (hiding behind the pans in the original picture).


Now add H-L bracket hinges, such as these .  The ones pictured in the original might actually be shutter hinges!!!!! or maybe I'm just too eager to think outside the box after the magnificent shower rod revelation.  But maybe, just maybe, using shutter hinges on indoor cabinets would make you feel like a furniture hacking ninja, or so I would.  I think that's to be encouraged.


Finally, the bread box.  This is a perfect vintage detail, in my opinion, because it's so functional.  I love fresh bread and it really does keep better when it's stored in a bread box.  I would turn to Etsy to find the     likes of this:

Re-Create the Look: EmersonMade's Bedroom

Last March, a glimpse into the pantry and entryway of EmersonMade's New Hampshire home (from a Design*Sponge Sneak Peak) provided some breathtaking inspiration that still feels fresh.  I now dream of coming home in my faux leapord coat, putting my boots on their tray and surveying the contents of my larder arrayed in glass jars.  As the days get colder this year, however, the classic simplicity of Emerson Farm's bedroom seems especially relevant.  It looks like such a grown-up place to return to rest every night.  It would be an ideal place to prop yourself up, read and fill in a journal before falling asleep.  I love how the muted canvas of the space makes the monogram stand out and emphasizes the traditional impact of the initials--it's the kind of touch that seems both luxurious and personal.

(Above: The inspiration, via here ) Here are the elements to re-create this space:


#1 The Bed.

This is the ubiquitous Colette bed from Crate and Barrel, which is upholstered in natural-colored linen with a brushed pewter nailhead trim.  It costs $1599.00 for the queen size, excluding shipping.

If, however, you have fifteen spare hours and about $300.00 you can follow the instructions for recreating this piece  (see results at right) from the intrepid High-Heeled Foot in the Door.
    





#2 The Bedding:

The flat sheet is the monogrammed flat sheet from Williams-Sonoma Home's White Hotel Bedding
in blue.  It costs $ 168.00 for the queen size.  While the same look would be difficult to replicate, I think sewing on a double stripe (if you have the skills and a zig zag foot on your sewing machine) would create much the same style.

The shams also appear to be of Williams-Sonoma Home origins.  Standard shams from the Everyday Luxury B&B embroidered collection cost around $44.00 with embroidery, although only light blue appears to be available.  The Company Store offers embroidered shams in the same thread count, but in a diamond template and the monogram appears to be off-center, currently on sale for $12.00. It would probably be safer to match bedding purveyors as white can mean a variety of colors.  While the former doesn't seem exorbitant for such a personal feature, hand-embroidering monograms into the center of a pair of shams could be a great way to personalize existing bedding, and the template could be reused for other projects.  I would draw a four inch circle onto tracing paper and inscribe the initials, centering the family-name-initial.  At left is how Williams-Sonoma Home uses each letter of the alphabet in their designs.

When you're happy with the design apply it to pillow using the tracing paper (by coloring in the reverse side and "printing" it onto the pillow), then, using embroidery backing (to keep the fabric from puckering) tighten the fabric in an embroidery hoop and stitch out the design using embroidery thread and a satin stitch (basic horizontal stitches close together across the design).

While the Civil War blankets at Woolrich, specifically the Gettysburg, more closely resemble the inspiration, it appears that only the twin size is in stock (at $99.00).

The gorgeous alternative at the left from Brook Farm General Store's own line, Tourne.  According to the description, the sheep are locals (I know... I know what this means, but I would still love to see a flock crossing the Brooklyn Bridge) and it's made at a family mill.  It's $225.00 (excluding taxes, etc.) for the 79"x106".


# 3 The Light.

This happens to be the Chelsea swing arm sconce from Pottery Barn, in antique brass with the shade in bisque (I would personally select white).  Together the price is $99.00 and some professionally finagling could probably hardwire it.  In my search, I found many suitable options for this piece, so if this one is not quite to your liking explore the options.  Most of the furnishing companies provide a variation on this theme, but I liked that this sconce and shade came packaged together and that the antique finish resembles the original.




# 4 Finishing Touches.

Sunday White Wild Rose $58 from EmersonMade itself!  I know the internet is probably brimming with ways to copy this, I'm refusing to search for them on principle.  Here is an opportunity to get a real piece of the EmersonMade aesthetic into the picture.  I also love the idea that this casual, bedside display could be a memento from a wedding or meaningful occaision, an artifact to stand in for, or perhaps compliment, any photographic evidence.

I have a weakness for vintage, traveling alarm clocks such as these.  While I recognize that the pictured is in fact set in a wooden block, these analog faces look so dapper popping up out of their cases and I think they would go beautifully in the room (although they must function first to earn their place).

Last, but not least, covering material for the journals and other reading material in need of protection or going incognito (nothing too racy comes to mind, but several seventies-era-designs).  This is an alternative to kraft paper and may have cost upwards of 10 cents new, depending on the caliber and eco-awareness of your grocery store.  I understand that taking the time to fit each cover exactly to the book is essential here.


*Please feel free to comment with any insight into the above.  I'm especially intrigued by the DIY bed*

Re-create the Look: Extreme Edition

I'm not sure how I feel about winter --that is real, snowy, below-zero winter-- anymore.  Growing up it was the most magical New England season.  My best friend, sister and I were sledding- and snow-fort-building-enthusiasts, to say the least.  My mom used to have to drag us inside every couple hours to prevent frostbite.  As a young adult, I devoured books like Dogsong  by Gary Paulsen, which Google Books hilariously labels "Self Help" (perhaps, for twelve-year-old girls wanting to do the Iditarod). Now I wonder if I'll ever choose to live in a place with a real winter again.  I know my younger self would scoff at the no-fun kind of grown-up I've become, but I'm wary of the prospect of shoveling snow and waiting until April to see green.  Yet, there's a small part of my imagination that will always live in the snow.  Not in the real, cold snow, but more like the winter fantasy pictured above, where racing across snow and ice involves a puppy in a designer handbag and a camp as pictured for our destination. (See a slideshow of Eric Valli's campaign for Hermes here, you will not regret clicking, I promise).

Not that designer handbags are really my passion, per se, but puppies and forts are still at the top of my list.  The above via Helena Holmstedt .  Clearly the arctic dog sled is underutilized as a decor piece.  Here's what you need to live the fantasy on a backyard scale:

The classic, flexible flyer with red, powder-coated steel runners.  This is a dream sled of the variety that become family heirlooms and endure their time in the attic between generations with grace.  At 48", I have definitely outgrown this model.  I am not discouraged in the slightest.  Available here (currently out of stock) for around $80.00.

At right is a serious tent.  This is the SpikeII from Montana Canvas via.  Unlike the above, open air version, I'm sure you would stay toasty in there, especially with the addition of the stove.  You could actually camp in this, in the real winter.  It's priced accordingly (around $1000).  To re-create the former, only suitable for fantasy winter, or daytime lounging and cocoa consumption between sled runs, I think a tarp with grommets, some poles, twine and stakes, a princess in the pea mattress would work.

Here's the Coleman NORTHSTAR® INSTASTART™ PROPANE LANTERN.  the lantern resembles those hanging on the side of the tent and looks like it would adequately fulfill my needs for propane lanterns.  I love my little propane stove and the primal exhilaration that comes from cooking something incredibly simple over it.  It reminds me of the Bunsen-burner cooking in A Wrinkle in Time, continuing the YA fiction theme.  I can only imagine that this would do for lighting what that stove does for cooking i.e. make the magic.  For only about $50, I'm sold.  (We also have a few vintage kersosene lanterns around my Mom's house.  They don't burn clean, but when they're lit it's a really special occasion, and they make a great silver lining in any power outage).

 

I couldn't resist.  I don't know much about huskies, but I do know that they *are NOT for every home,* probably not for most dog-friendly homes, in fact.  The kind of dog that is comfortable pulling an arctic sled in a pack for hundreds of miles is a special, special breed.  They need a cooler climate, companionship, mental stimulation and a ton of exercise. That being said, here is a rescue organization for Siberian Huskies in Pennsylvania. (The pictures are from their site)