Why? a little boy is awaiting new siblings from overseas.  In fact, his mom is visiting the orphanage this week.  Andrew will likely be blessed with a brother soon, maybe TWO brothers or an entire sibling group. (Let’s just say mom has bunkbeds and a crib ready just in case)  So his mom and I wanted to make a fun and colorful bath for the new family members to share with Andrew but not TOO colorful and crazy. This new life will be an adjustment for everyone after all.

This is the before.

Above are the elements of the room as its coming together…mom painted the old wood cabinets and doors and we added ONE colorful piece of art and towels. 

Art is from land of nod and towels from garnet hill.

She also found the cutest numbered hooks! The chevron shower curtain is from West Elm and of course the metal letters spelling BATH from Anthropologie. The mason jar soap dispenser is from Delta girl! The light is the Pullman light from Shades of Light..i just love this light!.  We planned to replace the mirrors but dad thought the big sheet of mirror would be good for multiple little faces crowding in the bath…good thinking Dad!

The paint colors are (1). Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal on cabinets, (2.) Martha Stewart’s Bedford Gray on walls from Home Depot, and (3) good ol’ Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray on the doors!

So it may seem strange i am mentioning adoption and a kids bath in the same post but I am thrilled to be a part of this project…I can’t wait for these little people to meet their new family and crowd into this fun bath to brush their teeth and giggle..it may be a long road before those fun times but a mama and family have been preparing/nesting and waiting for the littles to arrive home! 

God bless you Gerbig family!

I’ve been wanting to re-paper by hall bath for sometime..its black and white toile and I love it but we’ve had it on TWO different homes over 13 years of marriage and well CAROLINE says its old lady and time to let go of the Waverly Country Life toile. 

Paeonia  from Anthropologie

Not that toile isnt classic and all and if you have this toile or any other toile in your house (I still have the red toile drapes BTW in the living room) I am not trying to make you feel bad.  Just sayin’..I have been on the lookout for new paper…and while there are multiple choices and pricepoints and options out there, isnt there just something, even if you are designer, decorator/stylist  or house person type, there is just SOMETHING about a well edited “here are a few papers” category of choices at ANTHROPOLOGIE no less.  {yes i know that was a lot of commas, trying to make a wallpaper point;)

And whattayouknow, its my BIRTHDAY soon?? So what do you think?

YEP. this is the one i think. BEGONIAS.  I love it, its on a kraft like paper!

My poor husband.  He is shaking his head and saying NO!

But baby, i provided the link and everything!

{note: reviews say this paper is very large scale which is exciting but concerning}

So recently Caroline announced she has tired of the Waverly black and white wallpaper in the hall bath (her bathroom as well)…she has deemed it “old lady” which slightly upset me since I HAVE A BATHROOM PAPERED IN THE SAME PATTERN! (and I have since 1998) So if you have this paper as well, please don’t let Caroline make you feel bad about your wallpaper, but well she is ready to move on. She and Big Mama are in discussions and I am trying to mediate.

And what does Caroline want for the new decor? Hawaiian sunsets. That’s right. A HAWAIIAN SUNSET MURAL. S0 being the smart and fashionable mom she is, Bigmama steered her toward a shower curtain at Anthropolgie and that is the jumping off point for our idea board…here is a peak at our plan!

And I am not sure who is going to break it to Caroline about the lack of a Hawaiian sunset MURAL in the new design plan..I am diplomatically suggesting she paint a small canvas with a gorgeous Hawaiian sunset to add to her bath or frame and mat some lovely tropical drawings!

How do you accommodate your children’s ideas for “creativity” in their spaces??

Lets talk about beadboard. Oh how I love beadboard, usually slathered up with white paint BUT I must admit I love the look above painted a with color!

One of my bedrooms growing up (we lived in several different homes) had it on the ceiling..the old kind with the gaps and cracks (which I actually love..don’t like it too perfect..more about that in a bit)…However, I must say, beadboard is not a good floor treatment..yes I am serious, we lived in a historic home when we were newlyweds and it had beadboard on the bathroom floor..not a nice feeling on the feet!and just a weird use of beadboard.  Not to mention the cleaning!  ha!

{Image from Meredith Corporation}

So with the exception of floors, I think beadboard is perfection in many different areas..obviously ceilings, mudrooms, kitchen backsplash, nursery, entry, mudroom, ceilings and of course bathrooms.  I think some of the tile companies even market a ceramic tile beadboard look if humidity is a concern.

Here it is below in classic white. I love it in hallways and entryways where there is not a lot of room for artwork or even a bench.

And everyone is talking about beadboard..read what The Remodeling Guy says here and even the NYTimes did this article..because beadboard is not just for cottage anymore..its popping up in newer homes and even the city!

No matter how popular and widely loved it has become, there is still nothing to me like seeing it on an old porch ceiling…in that great Southern tradition of haint blue..great combo!

… or inside a piece of authentic utilitarian furniture.  LOVE.

Yes, old beadboard surely makes me swoon whether on a porch, inside an old cabinet or on a ceiling!

So we know beadboard is great in many places but my question is..which type of product do you prefer for current projects:

1. vintage style strips or planks, installed the old school way… I like this method, the history major part of me feels this is “authentic” and most accurate..ha! It is also probably the most expensive and most trouble..so unless you live in an historic home and really care about details…this may not be the way to go..it also can shift and show gaps over the years..I like this but it might drive some people crazy!
2. beadboard “panels” or sheets  they come in various grades and price points but I know for a fact you can buy the sheets really inexpensively at big box home improvement stores…This is a great solution if you are trying to cover an ugly or scarred wall in a bath or on a ceiling..you do have to consider seams, perhaps add a strip of molding/trim over the seams but not the gaps and cracks like the old stuff.
3. beadboard wallpaper. Correct me if I am wrong but I think this has been in the home improvement stores for a while..along with other “paintable” heavy wallpapers.  Recently, however it has stormed the Internet.  Rhoda at Southern Hospitality did a great post on it complete with fab pictures and links to others who have used the product.  Very easy and like Rhoda says, if you don’t want to mess with removing molding and cutting trim, nails etc.., this is a great way to go.and it is inexpensive! I have even seen this product in Ballard’s catalog!

SO WHICH HAVE YOU USED for your projects?? Where in your home? Which look do you prefer??  Is there really even a difference visually unless you really take note and are a beadboard snob ..ha!??? I can’t wait to hear what y’all think, share links and leave comments!

Just like her kitchen, Grace’s bathroom redo does not dissapoint… In fact, it is amazing considering they did it in TWO weeks.  The glass tile is gorgeous!

and the styling is right on too…what i love…the stool, the monogrammed lampshades…just perfection in my book.  Read more here. 

And really, yall should follow Grace’s blog..she is so sweet and she has such great ideas..she is the perfect combo of Southern belle meets California girl..oh and I just noticed she has links in her sidebar to her Virginia home where they lived before making the recent California move and links to little boy Harper’s room. I can’t wait to look at those pictures!

Keep up the good work Grace..if yall get bored, you can come to Texas and stay with us a few weeks!