Before and After: Kids Bathroom on a Budget

Meet "The Clients"...

Ages 10 and 13

The Mission:

Take their bathroom from ho-hum to happy for under $200.

Given that just about everything in this bathroom was staying put, this project became all about style and color.   I say, embrace what you can't change.  This floor?  We had to make peace and carry on.

Before...

gray, dark, and no fun to brush your teeth in.

After...

happy enough to maybe even get the girls to want to clean it (every mother's hope).

Here's the color pallet...

Why these colors? (The red dot is actually very deep cranberry like the floor).  Go back and look at that floor.  That's a lot of deep burgundy with gray grout, isn't it?  It sports a lot of muscle in that cozy room, and the wall color had to be something strong enough to push against it, and make it play nice.  So, looking at my inspiration Wall Pops (again, strong and vibrant),  I chose Wales Green from Ben Moore, and had it made up at 75% strength.  In this particular space, 75% gives the appearance of the color at full strength.  We now had walls and a floor that talked to each other in a happy tone :).


Here are more before and afters...

This wash stand came out and the laundry hamper took its place on this wall. (Function is a necessity after all.)

What you can't really see in this picture is that the white towels are a plush chevron pattern to pick up on the laundry hamper (again, embrace, embrace).

A white dresser from a spare room came in for storage, and there is actually a fish tank to the left.  The artwork was created and framed by the younger of the two girls.  It was casually left on this chest in the hopes that Auntie (that's who I am to these girls) might want to use it.  Of course, it had to take center stage!  The scale is on the floor on the right.

The vanity needed a little sprucing up.  (Here's a trick for cutting crisp edges -- use a quilter's circular scissor, transparent ruler and cutting mat.  Works great on wallpaper, too.)

While the budget didn't allow for new lighting or a different mirror, Matt, The Dad, (who also did the painting lickety split) recessed the existing medicine cabinet and moved the lighting so that both were aligned.  Check it out...

And that's the end of our story!  Mission accomplished.

 Life is swell, isn't it?

These girls are the kids of my friend-since-I-was-5 Ginny, and our kids are growing up very close (very cool -- it's like watching ourselves grow up all over again!)  When Ginny asked if I wanted to do their bathroom for the blog, well, how could I say no to that?  :)

Talk to you soon,
Carol

PS  Lesson learned on this one -- bathrooms can be ridiculously hard to photograph so that you get a true sense of the entire space.  Just saying.

Oh, A Portfolio?

Portfolios.  Images of completed work.  Hmmm.  How many designers, decorators, stylists out there have a significant number of completed project pictures that they feel truly reflects their ability (outside of their own home)?  Really, tell me in the comments, I honestly want to know. My mind is inquiring.

Now if you have had a spread in a magazine, or your name is known throughout the industry, well, this conversation isn't really pertinent to you.  You've arrived.  We all get to see your work and you are instantly validated.   (I admire you, by the way.)  But what about those of us who work with clients who don't always see the vision through to the end?  We are left with have-bloomed images.  Bummer, when we see the beauty of the full bloom in our mind, but the client's budget is limited.  That's real life.

Why address this today?  I've been working on a portfolio slide show for the blog, to show you ( my readers, clients and potential clients),  some of the things I've done.  (I think this is one of the brilliant advantages to blogging when you do it out of a passion and a profession -- you get to share what you know).  Some of my images I am really happy with, but most, well, they just don't tell the whole story.

Here's an example...

This is the home of a fantastic young couple with no children.  The gave me a double digit budget and wanted quality.  They did not want to address accessories, as they have a fantastic art collection, and really wanted the investment to be in the furniture, rug and window treatments.  While I was completely pleased with the way this room turned out, and this is only one view, it just doesn't show well.  No, I did not style the space for photographs, and in reality, that is not always an option (this was two years ago and we have since lost touch).  Nonetheless, here is the after...

I can see a million things I would change as I look at this image in terms of styling for a portfolio.  But, it's what I have, and so I use it.  (Can I just tell you that the drapes are a gorgeous stripe with some of the olive from the rug, etc, and it just doesn't show, and that the colors are just that bit off in this photo?)  Oh well, it gives you a glimpse.  This couple asked for something warm,  without a lot of color or pattern and it was achieved, I believe.   The husband wanted the television in that exact spot, as his beautiful leather chair from which to watch it is directly opposite.  I was happy with the job because they were happy getting what they wanted.

So, what was my question, again?  If you are a decorator, designer, stylist, or any other professional where you need to show "proof" of your ability, do you have a significant number of images where projects are complete?  Do you think it matters?  I think it would make for great reading if you'd care to share it in the comments.

Talk to you soon,
Carol