04 - Ma Salle de Bain Revisited

Last year, before I moved to New York, I got all excited and started playing Design Star. Scouring the internet, I threw together a lovely waterlily pond inspired escape. I went so far as to pick out linens, accessories, accents, and wall art. I searched for comparable (inexpensive) substitutes until I could afford the pricier, luxury accents. 

Then reality showed me what I had to work with: a toilet, sink with almost no counter space (but a single cabinet underneath), a built-in medicine cabinet with overhead lighting, a shower/tub, and a single towel rack. There is no window and the ventilation fan is built into the ceiling, and floor space is at a minimum. The Bamboo Space Saver that I L-O-V-E-D from Bed Bath and Beyond is now out of stock (but I am praying I can find it in store). I kept waiting for it to drop in price, but it never did. I may need to lean on Amazon.com to see if I can get it (possibly for cheaper). There is this one, but its depth is three inches shorter than the original.

Not that I am complaining, but my images of grandeur for ma salle de bain were dashed like a baby thrown out with the bath water. My excitement evaporated, and my creativity lulled to a stand still. As I am moving to another apartment with the same floor plan, my momentum has not gained any speed. Of course, allowing this lethargy to settle in has resulted in several of the items I wanted for this bathe-cation paradise. So I am forced to review my design selections (and edit for content).

Before » After - The less cluttered version

• B³ Exclusively Ours Bamboo Space Saver ($159.00) » Dorel Altra Bamboo Space Saver (from $129.00 via Amazon)
• Anthropolgie Flamenco Shower Curtain ($118.00)
• Bamboo Vinyl Shower Curtain ($14.99) » The shower curtain provided is aqua green!
• Orchid & Narcissus Shower Hooks ($12.99)
• Set of 3 Lotus Soaps with Ceramic Lilypad ($18.00)
• Lotus Soap and Body Butter Set ($29.90)
• 3 Piece Lotus Candle Set ($14.95)

I thought I would have to nix the paper lantern or two reasons: 1) I have only one outlet in the bathroom (and depending on the time of year it needs to be used for a hair dryer/or hot rollers), and 2) the cute Koi print lantern has been discontinued by the Paper Lantern Shop. Luckily, I found it (for $10.25) at Ooga Lights! If I hang the paper lantern in my bathroom, I may need to have it able to be easily removed, so I don't ruin it with a steamy shower. If paired with a battery operated LED ($5.50), I could eliminate the outlet debacle as well. Hmm... Good to know!

As far as the linens and floor mat are concerned, comparable items were purchased over the past year. The towels from Marshalls and the floor mat from Target. The luxury of teak has also been placed on the back burner for the time being. I need to learn how to properly care of actual wood products before investing in these bathroom pieces. With most things being made of particle board and synthetic finishes, I never needed to learn how to properly care for natural furnishings. I grew up with formica and glass being the two big designer favorites, so the only wood element I ever contended with was my parents' kitchen table (that still had etchings from where my sister and I did our homework as kids). Relinquishing the teak shower mat and bench make me rather sad, but sadly I do not have the space for them. I may be able to eventually incorporate the teak shower caddy, but at $70.00 it may have to wait.

I am still trying to think about what I can do about wall decoration. I have some personal photographs (o1 | o2 ) of flowers which I am considering cleaning up in a photo editing program and printing instead of hijacking images from DeviantArt. I have two bathrobes I would love to hang on the back of the door, but I may need to craft magnetic door hooks as the (fire safety) steel doors provided in my apartment are too wide for traditional over the door hooks. I am also considering a vinyl decal like this for the inside of the door.