e-Design: A Young Girl's Bathroom

This has been such a FUN project and I am so excited to share this bathroom with you!  It's girly, it's fun, it's young and fresh!!  Perfect for an eight year old girl!!

The Lowmans, who live in Birmingham, emailed me seven months ago asking if I would be interested in helping them design their 8 year old daughter's bathroom.  Beth, the mom, and I knew of each other through instagram/blogging.   Needless to say,  I was completely flattered that she asked for my help.

She and John sent me pictures of their bathroom mid "tear down" and Beth basically said, "...whatever you think, Fran!"

I remember sending her an inspiration picture of a bathroom I found on pinterest with bright blue hexagonal floor tile and asked her if she liked it.  She wrote back and said her daughter, Elizabeth, loved it!

I knew her daughter, Elizabeth, and I would hit it off!!  And, while I know Beth and John, were a little reticent about the blue tile; in fact, Beth told me later, "we just tore out blue tile and now we're putting blue tile back in!?!?".....I knew it would be the right amount of 'fun' to make this bathroom perfect for a young girl!

Once the tile was selected, everything else just fell into place....

Look at all that beautiful subway tile and the bullnose chair rail!  Good-bye beadboard...hello subway tile!!

The blue hexagonal floor tile was a bit of a risk, but it paid off big time!  

Even subway tile on the top of the bath/shower you guys!!

Beth's husband, John, did ALL the installation himself!  ALL THAT TILE work - completely himself!   And, let me tell you, he did an AMAZING job.  My design was only 50% of this whole project, his execution was the other 50% if not more.   Tiling is so technical and difficult.  He installed everything so seamlessly.  

And, just to give you an idea of the where we started.  These are the pictures Beth and John sent me.  Here is where we started......

Thank you to Beth Hontzas who did an amazing job photographing the bathroom and was so much fun!!  If you live in Birmingham, she does excellent work.  And, a huge THANK YOU to the Lowman family.  You guys are a beautiful family and I'm so happy to call you friends!  I'm happy Elizabeth loves her bathroom!  

The Perfect Desk Chair

I love this desk chair and I would like to find one like it - I bet I could find one at a antique fair, consignment store or the like.

If I found one, I'm sure it would need to be reupholstered.  I would choose a black and white striped fabric.  I think the black and white fabric paired with the brass frame and casters would look so chic.

This fabric which has a sort of john robshaw'esque' feel (at least to me) would be perfect (the price is perfect too)!

I would only need a yard and 1/2 given this nifty little yardage table for reupholstery projects.  And, if the frame and casters weren't brass, I would paint it in Rustoleum's Metallic spray paint in brass.  Or switch out the existing feet for these beauties!

Okay, now I gotta go out and find me this chair!! :)

Two small yet stylish kitchens

This past weekend I saw two great kitchens that I had to post.  The first you probably saw in this month's (July 2011) Southern Living.  It's Southern Living's decorating editor, Lindsey Ellis Beatty's kitchen.

This kitchen is an inspiration.  They kept the existing cabinets (just raised them) and also added some new elements like the hardwood floors, tongue and groove ceiling, quartz countertops, built-in pantry, new appliances, hardware and the vintage style lights.

I really like how she raised the cabinets and installed floating shelves.   Do you spy the chevron patterned backsplash!!  I always thought I was a subway tile girl, but this might change my mind.  I really like it.

Such a fun breakfast area. 

I love how she added a double door built in pantry to echo the look of the refrigerator!  It anchors the space and creates symmetry.  

The second kitchen I spotted was the design of Amy Meier who (in my book) can do no wrong.  I love this kitchen.  It's timeless, classic with a hint of the unexpected.  To see the before pictures, go here. 

The (moody) navy columns (and moldings) are amazing in my opinion!  I love this detail.  And, once again, those beautiful subway tiles.  I believe Amy used black grout.  The contrast is stunning.  I would be scared to do something like that, but it totally makes this kitchen!

Don't get me started on those brass fixtures!!  I want, I want, I want!

And, an antique lamp she scored to add a touch of nautical to the kitchen.  Simply genius! 

So, do any of these kitchens strike your fancy??  I hope so!!