Home Renovation: Bathroom Tiles

Have you ever been tile shopping? I had the best time today looking around the gorgeous showroom of Morris Tile Distributors here in Richmond. I am looking for tile for the new bathroom on the third floor.

The blues and greens in the SenacaBlends collection are so beautiful and soothing. The colors remind me of the Caribbean waters.

I am amazed at all the different designs and patterns available to choose from. Aren't these fun?

Contemporary San Francisco Kitchen

before

Design firm LQ Living Design of Mill Valley, California, took this rather mundane San Francisco kitchen and transformed it into a sleek contemporary space that is as beautiful as it is functional.

The island topped with Zodiac Bianco Carrera marble was turned so that the homeowners could move throughout the space and entertain guests with ease. The custom cabinetry in a dark Wenge wood is dramatic. It contrasts nicely with the light countertops - the perimeter is in CeasarStone Pebble. I particularly like the trio of Satin Nickel Mini Pendant with Clear Glass and Opal Inner above the island.

Crisp edged glass tile by Interstyle in Stone Arch makes for a stunning back splash and adds hints of soft gray and green to the neutral color scheme.

The contemporary stools are Aria Bar Stools from Advanced Interior Designs. This artistic bar stool can swivel a full 360 degrees and has a gas lift mechanism so you can adjust your designed height from 21.5" to 29". Loving it!

The gorgeous flooring is Cumaru wood from Golden State Flooring and it extends up a new staircase. The new railing also visually opens up the space. The spindles are black brushed steel rubbed and powder coated to look like stainless steel for a fraction of the cost. Gotta love that.

www.lqlivingdesign.com

Simply Stunning - Luxurious Master Bathroom Design

This summer I had the pleasure of meeting Debbie Grewal, a very talented San Francisco Peninsula-based interior designer. She recently completed this luxurious master bath in a Woodside, California home (pictured above). Before designing residential homes, Grewal worked for 17 years on the commercial side of interior design. Some of her many projects included corporate offices, private banks, senior living facilities and a dining yacht. During this time she occasionally designed for high-end residential clients and realized her passion for personal design and detail. In more recent years she has shifted to all types of residential design including new construction and specification/consulting on custom homes.

Grewal created a serene spa-like bath that started with the fireplace - a “must” for the homeowner who envisioned a tranquil retreat. The stately, dark mahogany stained fireplace is surrounded in gorgeous Walker Zanger Tuscany tiles in Driftwood. The trellis patterned fireplace screen by Restoration Hardware is the perfect finishing touch. The fireplace focal point is wonderfully flanked by the shower and sunken tub.

Bathroom design has become a favorite of Grewal. She loves tile and stone, and I know why after seeing this bathroom. The tub is surrounded by a gorgeous slab of Calacatta Gold marble from Da Vinci Marble and nicely positioned under double hung windows that provide lots of natural light and beautiful views of the garden. The satin nickel hardware is by the Rohl Country Bath Collection and pulls out the lovely gray in the marble.

Here’s a close-up of two glass vases filled with beautiful bath soaps and sponges – love how they vary in height and are finished off with silky dark brown ropes and tassels.

The handsome double sink vanity by Xylem in espresso finish houses Kohler Devonshire white undercounter sinks and is topped with Calacatta Gold marble. Again the plumbing fixtures are by Rohl Country Bath Collection in satin nickel. I love the stunning mirror Grewal selected from Aaron Brothers.

OK, isn't this simply the most beautiful shower you've seen? Look closely at the wall; Grewal has Calacatta Manhattan 12"x18" marble tiles for the lower half and 6"x9" cut tiles in the upper half. The wall border and showerbox inset are in Dark Travertine, Opus Anticato mosaic tiles by Walker Zanger.

Here is a view of the amazing shower floor. The inset is tile in Calacatta long offset brick and beautifully trimmed in Dark Travertine.

The simple frameless double shower doors and panels are in a heavy Starphire glass and adorned with satin nickel hardware by Portals. Look, a second showerhead; This one is a rainhead - divine!

Grewal is quite the color expert too. She always tells her clients that paint is their most inexpensive source of decorating. For the walls she selected Northhampton Putty (HC-89) by Benjamin Moore; for the ceiling Latte by Restoration Hardware, and for the trim, doors and wainscoting, Mayonnaise (OC-85) also by Benjamin Moore. The bathroom's two lovely chandeliers are by Restoration Hardware.

The woodwork throughout the bath is exceptional. The gorgeous reclaimed pine wood flooring was hand scraped. And the wainscoting was masterfully installed by Bay Area Molding. Look how it wraps around near the glass shower doors – the attention to detail is beautiful and doesn’t go unnoticed.

The Kohler Memoirs toilet is tucked away for privacy - love this! Grewal definitely has a knack of blending design elements such as color, texture, lighting, finishes and scale of furnishings. Even the smallest accessory isn't ignored - don't you just love the taupe and chocolate monogram towels she had made by Restoration Hardware?

Grewal best describes her design style as transitional, eclectic and casual elegance. She strives for well balanced rooms with impact and definitely succeeds with this stunning master bath - wouldn't you agree?

Debbie Grewal Designs ~ 650-342-8299 ~ grewaldebbie@hotmail.com

"The best accolade is knowing the interiors perfectly reflect the style and attitude of the people who live there." ~ Debbie Grewal Designs

*images from Debbie Grewal Designs

Clean and Simple - White Kitchens

Los Angeles designers and brothers, Ryan and Joshua Brown of Brown Design created this stunning open kitchen, dining and great room. This gourmet kitchen has simple clean lines and wonderful natural light from the skylight and wall of windows. It also features two islands each with a row of white and beige upholstered barstools. Perfect space for entertaining!

Designers, Berkley Vallone and Caroline DeCesare designed this beautiful, old-fashion kitchen in a Las Vegas home. The Grohe pot filler will extend to reach all of the burners on the impressive Wolf range - the focal point in the room. The stainless-steel hood with accessory rails is by Viking. The kitchen's island houses a stainless-steel Manor House sink by Franke and is paired with the Vinnata faucet in brushed nickel by Kohler. The simple countertops are in a wonderfully contrasting Indian Premium black granite. The black is again picked up in the cabinetry hardware and Roman shades. And that gorgeous wooden floor is made of seven-inch-wide walnut planks.

The beautiful marble tile backsplash in this creamy white kitchen caught my eye. The darling glass pendants are nicely positioned on either sided of the double sinks. It also appears there is a third sink with wooden prep area on the other side of the kitchen. That must come in handy on Thanksgiving! 

I found this lovely simple white kitchen on DecorPad and discovered that is was designed by Washington DC's Frank Babb Randolph - Thanks to Things That Inspire! The subway tile backsplash and marble countertops are beautifully paired. This kitchen like several others in this series has wonderful windows that provides lovely natural light.

*Images from DecorPad, House Beautiful, Brown inc.

Keeping it Lavishly Simple - White Bathrooms

White symbolizes purity, cleanliness and innocence. In most Western cultures white is the color for brides. In the Eastern, it's the color for mourning and funerals.

In decor, white goes well with almost any color. The designers of these beautiful bathrooms keep the decor neutral in soft pearly white.

This master bath looks like it could be in an upscale spa. The gorgeous Empire tub with polished nickel Etoile fixtures by Waterworks is now on my wish list. Designer Dana Lyon nailed it when she positioned the tub under the window looking out onto a private enclosed garden. The chandelier is just right too - not too big or overdone.

Photographer and designer Victoria Pearson's master bathroom in her Ojai, California home is simple and calming. I love how she added earth-friendly woven elements - baskets, raffia shades and slippers.

Is this heaven? This lavish marble bathroom was designed by James Michael Howard. He seamlessly blends modern and classical elements - the claw foot bench is divine.

This timeless bathroom by designer David Jimenez is simple, yet elegant. The beautiful counters and floors are in Calacatta Gold marble. Keeping the look fresh and serene, Jimenez selected classic white subway tiles on the walls and in the shower. The dark wooden tray with hand towels, tissues and flowers gives this room a spa like feel. Love it!

*images from House Beautiful and James Michael Howard

Colour baths

Well, I'm recouping from Alaska and have for you one last (but not least), guest post. This one is super fun and comes to you from Trudi of The Deco Detective - who really helped me out and supported me by spreading the word about my fund raising and marathon training. Thanks Trudi! And I'm with you - I would've loved the turquoise bathroom!

Hi, I'm Trudi aka The Deco Detective! I'm here today to help Ashley out while she's away running the marathon to cure lymphoma. I'm so honoured to be asked to do a guest post at Decorology, but most of all, I'm very impressed with Ashley. I think she's really brave to sign up for a marathon!

After running marathons, I can imagine that a beautiful, luxurious bathroom will feel like heaven to sore feet and beaten muscles. To relieve things a little for her, I've picked seven bathrooms for Ashley to choose between when she's finished running. There's one bathroom for each colour of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, indigo and violet:

I hope you find (at least) one bathroom you like, Ashley. I'm curious to know which one you'll choose! And Decorology readers: which one would you pick after running a marathon? I think I'd prefer the turquoise one to cool myself off - although me running a marathon would be a purely hypothetical situation...





Ashley - good luck with your running! We'll all cheer you on from the sidelines, even if we're not there in person.

Orange, yellow and green bathroom found at My Home Ideas

Turquoise bathroom found at House of Turquoise

Red, blue, indigo and violet bathroom found at Living Etc