Yesterday I made my annual visit to the 2010 NW Natural Street of Dreams in Portland, Oregon. To give you a little sneak peak, I’m sharing some pictures I took of a few interior design details that caught my eye — without giving it all away, of course!

~ my favorite coffee table~

If it’s been a long time since you went to one of these, I think you are in for a pleasant surprise. In the past the NW Natural Street of Dreams was made up of palatial homes that most of us will never — EVER — be able to live in. I understand there’s a certain element of fun to seeing how the rich and famous live. But a couple years ago after viewing more than one room that had multiple wide screen tv’s on a single wall — I started to feel faintly nauseous at the extreme excess. On top of that, heavy Italian Tuscan furniture has never been my preferred style and there was a real overload of that in past Street of Dreams.

~My favorite dining chair and area rug in the show~

Then last year the HBA (the sponsor and manager of the show) broke out of the norm with a show made up of penthouses in the Pearl District. Right up my alley!

~Creative idea for kitchen counter storage~

This year they have mixed things up again to give a whole new perspective on “dreams”. If I had to sum it up I would say that this year’s Street of Dreams is all about attainable dreams that are easy on your conscience. This year the show includes 4 traditional houses, 1 detached townhome and a super cool pre-fab house by Ideabox. These homes all have LEED silver certification so sustainability in home building is the common denominator. On the weekends only, there are also 2 penthouses open at Indigo — the only LEED certified rental high rise in the country.

~Loved the shape of this silver side table~

Although there is still one very large home complete with its own indoor/outdoor swimming pool – in general these homes are pared down to moderate sizes that would be possible for many people to own. I found the building styles and decor to be refreshingly modern. All of the homes have tips and facts about sustainable living posted throughout. Definitely worth seeing this year. Here is the link to their website for all the information you need to get to the 2010 NW Natural Street of Dreams.

You may also like these posts on “cool things”:

Simplicity – Leonardo da Vinci – and Light Switches

Top 10 Sexy Chairs!

I read a lot of blogs. Most of them are Interior Design blogs, but some of them are on other topics of interest to me. One of the blogs I like is called The Calm Space and the topics are about Happiness and Serenity. Yesterday the writer, Vitania M. Liscio posted an article that is all about using what you already have to redecorate your home and freshen it up. It fit my sentiments exactly! After all, my work in Interior Design is really all about helping my clients be more happy with their homes.  It isn’t all about buying new stuff (although that is fun!). But if the things you already have can be arranged, changed and displayed to improve the feel of your home, then that’s a great way to get started on making your surroundings the best they can be. Plus, she gives great tips, so I thought I would share it with you.

Happiness is Wanting What You’ve Got!

~~photo is of one of my paintings displayed in a penthouse I staged~~

So, how do I redecorate my own home with what I’ve already got? Well, I enjoy painting as a hobby, plus I buy a lot of inexpensive and colorful art for my work in home staging. When I need a change, I rotate my art, bringing out pieces I haven’t seen in awhile and putting others away.  It is an easy way to change the whole look and color palette of my home without having to buy anything new.

Interior Designers usually refer to this rearranging and re-purposing of your furniture, art and accessories as “Re-Design” and it’s one of the services I offer. One great bonus is that this is a very sustainable way to redecorate because you don’t have to find a place to get rid of your older things. It’s also a thrifty way to allocate your design dollars.

Do you love the idea of re-designing your rooms with what you have, but just can’t imagine where to start? After living with your belongings in one arrangement for so long, it can be tough to imagine them any other way. A fresh pair of eyes can be very helpful. If you’d like help with re-designing your space, pick up the phone and give me a call. I’d love to help! 503.816.4394

Chandeliers are bullies!! There — I’ve said it!  When there is a chandelier in your dining area, you’re immediately stuck having to center your table under it — or ARE you? When it comes to dining room chandeliers, do you ever wonder “Why did they have to put that THERE?!!” This past month alone, I’ve had 4 clients all with the same problem. The chandelier in the dining room — or dining area in an open floor plan —  is placed in a spot that forces them to put a table in an awkward spot. Here’s what we are doing in each case.

The first client has a chandelier and a large window in their kitchen dining area which don’t line up. If they center their table under the chandelier, it is noticeably out of alignment with the window, and vice versa. So,  since it’s easier to move the chandelier than to move the window, we’ll have an electrician move the j-box about 10″ over to the correct position and use a large, simple ceiling medallion to cover where the old location was.

Client #2 has a large, ornate, dark bronze colored ceiling fan in her dining area. If she centers her table under it, then the table and chairs are smack in the way of a heavily used traffic flow area to the back door. The table really needs to be about 18″ further away from the door area. Since the client really needs a ceiling fan my recommendation in this case is to change to a much lower profile “ceiling hugging” version in white to match the ceiling. That will really minimize the visual of the ceiling fan, allowing it to become a non-issue in the placement of the table. The client is going more contemporary in their decor, so this kills two birds …

Client #3 had a tiny eat-in area in their kitchen with a door to the garage that opens into the kitchen. Centering the table under the chandelier meant that the door would hit the table when it opened. The client was thinking of swagging the chandelier chain, which is certainly a viable option. But that would really call attention to the ceiling and the fact that the whole business (table-chandelier) has to be off center. Since the client already had a 3-light track fixture at the other end of the kitchen, I suggested installing a matching 3-light track fixture instead of the chandelier. Now the table can be toward one side without any off-center visual issues, plus they are able to light the table and put a spotlight on wall art.

Client #4 just bought a new condo. They have an open plan kitchen/dining/living room. There is a nice large niche with a bay window that is a natural spot for the table. But of course, the chandelier has been placed too far into the room so that centering their table under it will mean that it is too close to one of the pathways into their kitchen area. The rest of the room has recessed can light fixtures, so this time we will retrofit a ceiling can light in place of the chandelier (which the client didn’t like anyway).

Is there a chandelier in your life giving you trouble? Give me a call. For all 4 of these clients, I came up with a solution that fit their particular situation on my initial consultation.

Today in the news there’s something GOOD for a change! Oregon has a new law and program to help recycle leftover paint. Read the full article on the new Paint Stewardship Law here.

I know that after painting rooms I always end up with paint left over. And I love to change paint colors in my house every so often because it’s such an easy way to change the look. So all that paint adds up. Here’s a great tip on the best way to properly store paint for later use (from the article).

Place plastic wrap on the tops of paint cans before fitting lids on snugly, and store upside down at a moderate temperature.

It’s great to have touch-up paint for the occasional dings we get in our walls. But once you change colors in your house and no longer need the old color on hand, it’s great that you now have a much easier way to get your paint into a recycling center.

This is also good news if you’ve ever bought a gallon of paint and begun painting – only to realize you really blew it on the color! Now you have a whole gallon of paint you won’t be using! Of course, this wouldn’t be happening to you if you had hired me to give you the best paint color consultation you’ll ever have!

And when you are choosing your paint in the first place – be sure to ask for zero VOC paint. I’m using a Benjamin Moore low VOC paint for my kitchen cabinets in my current project. Almost all of the paint brands now have a zero VOC option. Just ask!

You may also like:

Painting Kitchen Cabinets: What Color Would You Choose?

Paint Color To Sell Your Home: It Isn’t White!

Do you ever find yourself giving great advice (you KNOW what someone else should do) but not taking it yourself?

I’ve given advice to countless clients to paint outdated cabinets or unattractive brick to freshen up a space. And I have done it in past homes of my own. But for over 4 years now, I’ve been living with a kitchen that is very outdated and not so very functional because I don’t have the funds right now to do the BIG KITCHEN REMODEL. I put that in all caps because it really will be an enormous task that will require taking out a wall, moving plumbing lines and lots and lots of money.

I have done a few things. The photos above show the kitchen as it was when we bought our home and then after my first mini-makeover. It had navy blue wallpaper and a refrigerator that stuck out into the kitchen.

The first thing I did was to chop off the end of my kitchen counter & cabinets so I could fit in a wider, counter depth refrigerator. I did that with a circular saw my first week here and the raw end of the cabinet has been the same ever since because I didn’t want to put in new countertops or cabinetry until I can remodel. Not a pretty sight as you can see in the picture below. But I do have a piece of the old cabinet that I can use as a door and reconstruct the end to be functional. I also took out the wallpaper and painted colors that I like. I know – they are pretty wild. I would not force these colors on a client, so don’t be frightened!

I also tore out some upper cabinets that were between the kitchen & family room. No photos of that yet. You had to stoop to look under them and they closed off the space. But there is still the raw end of the remaining cabinets showing and a couple holes in the ceiling. But the last couple years have been … well, you know how they’ve been … so I am not buying new cabinets. Not even Ikea cabinets! Not even just the uppers! And the last improvement I made was to remove the dropped ceiling fluorescent light fixture and replace it with halogen recessed spot lights. Much better! But I’ve made no further improvements for over a year and a half now.

Then a few things happened that got me thinking I should take my own advice. Last week I sent out my newsletter and wrote about 5 Quick & Affordable Pick-Me-Ups For a Tired Kitchen. And then I read a great post -  Sometimes “Good Enough” Is Good Enough by Anna at Door Sixteen. An excellent post on not requiring perfection out of yourself so that you have time to enjoy life. And on top of that, my neighbor and friend is buying a home built in the 70′s – like mine – and has asked me to help her remodel her kitchen. I have kitchens on the brain right now.

So, I’m finally taking my own advice and making some relatively small and affordable improvements in my kitchen so I can enjoy it for now and stop feeling embarrassed about it.

First: I’m painting the cabinets. Trust me – the wood looks a lot better in the photos than it does in person. I’m using deep warm gray on the base cabinets (Benjamin Moore Dragon’s Breath) and white white white on the wall cabinets.

Next: I am replacing the cabinet hardware. I only needed handles for the base cabinets so this is very inexpensive. I went with Ikea handles. They are good enough for now.

Last: I will move one upper cabinet to the other side of the kitchen to replace the one with the raw end. Then I will put up open shelves to replace the cabinet I’m moving. This will give me upper cabinets on only one side of the kitchen. I think it’s going to feel more open and a bonus will be that I can unload my dishwasher quickly onto open shelves — well the dishes anyway.

That will be it for this mini-makeover. New countertops, backsplash & flooring will have to wait.

So, for now I am painting and re-drilling holes for the handles. I’ll post photos as I go along, so stay tuned.

What “good enough” improvements are you making in your own homes?

Are you living with a kitchen that has seen better days? I certainly am! My house – purchased almost 5 years ago – was built in the 70′s and the kitchen had not had updates of any kind. Eventually I will remodel. But when I do, it will be the kind of remodel that includes knocking down walls, moving windows, adding an exterior door and will cost tens of thousands. Business is getting better all the time, so hopefully the day is not far off when I can have the sleek and modern kitchen of my dreams like this beauty by Bulthaup.

Maybe you are living with a kitchen that is outdated, or even a new construction home with a kitchen that is bland and boring. If you aren’t ready for a full blown remodel, it doesn’t mean you can’t inject a fresh feel into your kitchen and do it affordably. In the meantime, why not make some quick and relatively inexpensive improvements that will make your kitchen more enjoyable and livable for now?

Today I’m sharing 5 ways to freshen up your kitchen without a remodel. These quick and lower cost improvements are also great for people who want to make their home look it’s best before putting it on the market.

1. Lighting: Just a few improvements in your kitchen’s lighting can make a dramatic impact in how warm and beautiful it looks and make your kitchen more functional. Under-cabinet lights are available in both plug-in models you can install yourself or hard-wired versions that will require an electrician. Getting ones that have a low and high setting means you can set them to bright so you can see to cook, and then turn them down to a soft glow for ambience when you are entertaining. This is especially nice in open plan homes because it makes great accent lighting. Placing them toward the front of the cabinets gives the best light over your work area. In the kitchen below, the under-cabinet lights cast a beautiful glow on the tile backsplash and light the countertop beautifully making it easy to see what you’re doing.

via Gardenweb

Updating ceiling light fixtures is another quick way to improve lighting. Removing an old dropped-ceiling fluorescent fixture and replacing it with track or spot lights gives a more contemporary look and better light. If you have higher ceilings in the kitchen, consider a chandelier to replace a nondescript ceiling light or ceiling pendants above a breakfast bar or kitchen island.

2. Backsplash: Changing your backsplash is a quick way to add interest or color without all the work and expense of changing out your countertops. In the kitchen below, the single row of 6″ x 6″ glass tiles adds shine and complements the color of the painted cabinets. Although glass tile is not cheap, you don’t need much to do a simple backsplash like this.

via HGTV, designed by Beth Haley

This beautiful stainless steel backsplash below is done in peel & stick tiles that require no grouting. They are carried at Lowe’s and are manufactured from 60% recycled material. When adding a new backsplash, take care to choose a material that relates to something else in the kitchen. The glass tiles above relate in color to the cabinets. The steel tiles below relate in finish to the cabinet and appliance hardware.

via Lowe’s

3. Paint and Paintings: Giving the walls a fresh coat of paint in a new color will give you an instant transformation. But an even easier way to add color and interest to a kitchen is to add art. Just as in other rooms, be sure to use art that is large enough for the wall to really make an impact. In the 50′s kitchen below, the bright orange countertop didn’t go well with the gold linoleum. This home was going up for sale and the client didn’t have the budget to change flooring or countertop. So the large colorful art with oranges, golds, reds and greens pulls together the disparate colors in the room.

You can incorporate art even when there isn’t much wall space. Inexpensive printed giclee canvases are easy to wipe clean, so they can be placed anywhere. Here I used art above the backsplash and below the wall cabinets to add a bit of color to this bland kitchen. Colorful accessories continue the color scheme.

4. Flooring: Kitchen flooring takes quite a beating. If your kitchen flooring is looking shabby, and it is different from the rest of the flooring in your house as is often the case – then changing it can be a relatively inexpensive project with big results. If you have old wood floors that are beyond refinishing, consider painting them. Painted checker board patterns are popular, but the kitchen below is very contemporary. I know this is unusual, but the dramatic black floor and charcoal wall work well against the white cabinetry and yellow tile behind the stove with a bright yellow chair as accent. Light colors like soft aqua or muted yellow-green work well in a kitchen too. Again, just be sure to relate the color to other finishes in your kitchen.

via apartmenttherapy.com

Other great flooring options are cork, or Marmoleum. Cork and Marmoleum both come in tiles and can be handled by an experienced do-it-yourselfer. Linoleum comes in a great range of patterns including ones that look like stone. Installation of the large sheet material is better left to a pro.

via apartmenttherapy.com

5. Hardware: If you have that shiny brass hardware from the 80′s – RUN – DON’T WALK, to your nearest hardware store! Your cabinet drawer pulls and handles and kitchen plumbing fixtures are like jewelry for your kitchen. Updating them is like getting a new tie to wear with your favorite suit, or a new necklace to wear with that classic dress you love. And just like a new tie or a new necklace, new hardware will change the look of your kitchen equally as effectively. But before you are tempted to pick the cheapest ones you can find — let me say this: hardware is something that you touch everyday. It should feel good in your hand and be of a good quality.

Choose a style and finish that works with the rest of your home. With thousands of styles available, you can create any look you want — from simple traditional or contemporary styles — to highly decorative statements. Although it is possible to successfully mix metals in your kitchen, the finish should relate to other things in your home such as your light fixtures or other metals found in adjacent and visible rooms. In the first two photos below, these simple hardware styles complement the style of the cabinetry. The turquoise glass knob echos the color of the aqua glass inserts in the  cabinets, while the ornate tree shaped pulls work well with the elaborate leaf design carved into the wood.

With so many choices available, it can be overwhelming. But just choose one of the above five steps to get started. For most people, the kitchen is the heart of the home, so making it more appealing will give you a big payoff in enjoyment for yourself — or in speed of sale if your house is going on the market.

If you still aren’t sure which changes would be the best for your kitchen, I can help you decide your first step. Give me a call or email me today to set up an in-home visit or online consultation.

You may also like:

Painting Kitchen Cabinets: Which Color Would You Choose?

Home Staging Success: Portland Home Sold In One Day … See How

If you read Part 1 on Ambient Lighting and Part 2 on Task Lighting you may be thinking that once your kitchen is nice and bright and you can see what you’re doing, why would you need any other lights? But your kitchen can be taken to a level of beauty you hadn’t realized possible when adding accent lighting. These are lights which highlight features or also lights which may simply be beautiful in their own right. Sometimes people separate those into two categories of decorative and accent lighting – but I think of them in the same group. Their job is to add or highlight beauty. Chandeliers and pendant lights fall into this category doing double duty – adding beauty while also providing ambient or task lighting. But there are a couple others that shouldn’t be overlooked.

In the kitchen below, contemporary pendant lights are nice accents above the island, providing task light also. Spot lights above the fireplace wall highlight the unique texture, adding interest to the room.

source

Cabinet top lights - If you have cabinets that have space between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling, putting some light up here can give a beautiful glow that makes the ceiling feel higher. And if you also have room up there for some nice sized accessories, lighting them will add to the effect. The very same lights used as under cabinet lights will work here. You can also use rope lights if all you need is a soft glow. There are rarely electrical outlets up above the cabinets, so this improvement generally calls for an electrician to be involved. But it’s really worth it. It is also possible to add lights below your base cabinets to illuminate softly around the toe-kick area. I confess that to me, this feels like overkill and a great way to remind me how long it’s been since I swept. But if you get up for a lot of late night snacks & don’t want to turn on the overhead lights – perhaps this type of lighting could keep you from stubbing a toe.
Wall Sconces – Since wall sconces are generally mounted about 5 to 6 feet from the floor, they are very visible and can be a nice decorative touch. Not only can they be beautiful themselves, but they can wash light over a wall highlighting an interesting texture such as stone tile. You can also highlight art with a wall mounted spot light above the piece.
Candle Light - Don’t forget that candles can add a warm glow to your kitchen. Sometimes, when I’m in the mood, I light a  candle and pour myself a glass of wine to have while I’m cooking. Makes it more fun! This is an especially attractive type of light to include when entertaining as guests tend to gravitate to the kitchen. Just like all other accessories, choose candle holders that are sized in an appropriate scale for their place and in a style to complement the room.

The kitchen below has cabinet top lights to illuminate the high ceiling area and also lights in glass front cabinets.

source

Display Lighting - If you have open display shelves in the kitchen or glass front cabinets, it may be appropriate to add lighting here. Small hidden spot lights are generally called for in these types of places and hiding the electrical wires is essential so they don’t distract from the items being displayed.
Dimmer Switches – Whatever you do, don’t forget the dimmer switches! It’s great to have the lights on full blast when you are in full work mode. But if you are just relaxing with a cup of coffee it might be nicer to have softer light. And think about when you get up in the night for a drink or snack. Nicer to have soft lights then instead of being jarred awake with the full available wattage. Under cabinet lights take on the role of accent lighting when dimmed.

Read Part 1 On Ambient Lighting For Your Kitchen

Read Part 2 On Task Lighting For Your Kitchen

You May Also Like:

Modern & Minimal Kitchen Design

Soaring Ceilings and What To Do With Them

The kitchen is really the heart of the home in today’s culture. In our kitchens we prepare food, our kids do homework, we pay the bills, and even have home offices located here. With so many tasks going on here, it is important to add the second layer of light.

Task Lighting: This is the lighting that shines directly on your work space to help you see what you’re doing. If the only lighting you have in your kitchen is the overhead ambient light – even if that’s track lighting or you have several recessed can lights – it isn’t enough. Here are the best ways to provide great task lighting.

source

Under Cabinet Lights - You just don’t know what you’re missing until you have these in your kitchen. They are wonderful! I highly recommend you choose ones with halogen bulbs rather than  fluorescent. The light is much more attractive. Under cabinet lights come either in plug-in styles that you can install yourself, or in hard-wired styles that need to be installed by an electrician. If you are planning on upgrading your backsplash, this would be the perfect time to let an electrician run wiring for under cabinet lights that can then be hidden when you put your new backsplash in. If you don’t have that option, then buy the plug-in type. Attach the lights to the bottom of your cabinets close to the front so the light will be directly over your work area. Plug them in and then tack up the excess cord using U shaped tacks. Careful not to pound them in too tight or you risk damaging the cord. Choose lights that have a low and high setting. If you are having them hardwired, ask for a dimmer switch. If your cabinets are flat on the bottom with no recessed area, consider adding a 1-1/2″ molding that matches your cabinets around the bottom to hide the lights.

You can also create a design statement with your task lights, rather than hiding them. The ones in the photo above are on adjustable arms so you can aim the light right at your work area. They look pretty cool too!
Pendant Lights - Hanging pendant lights can put light right where you need it above a kitchen island or over a breakfast bar. Place them far enough in to the work area so that when your head is bent over the counter to work or eat, your head does not come between the pendant and the counter casting shadow onto the work space.
Plug In Lamps - Granted, it is a bit unusual to see a plug-in table lamp in the kitchen, but if you have a kitchen office area where you pay bills or clip coupons, consider placing a desk lamp or appropriately scaled table lamp there to illuminate the work space. Be sure to choose one in a style to complement the rest of your kitchen.

source

read part 1: The 3 Layers of Light Every Kitchen Needs – Ambient Lighting

read part 3: The 3 Layers of Light Every Kitchen Needs – Accent Lighting

One of my absolute favorite home improvement projects is updating kitchen lighting. I think that’s because most kitchens have such crummy lighting and once you make the necessary changes, the impact is so dramatic. You feel like you’ve really done something!

I’ve always lived in older homes because my husband and I are attracted to unique properties — no cookie cutter tract homes for us. And so far circumstances haven’t come together for us to build a custom home from scratch. That’s definitely on my bucket list! But until then, it means I’ve dealt with some pretty awful kitchens. My 1950′s Cliff May designed California ranch style home may have been a mid-century modern masterpiece – but the the kitchen had literally only ONE wall sconce for a kitchen light, ONE kitchen drawer and FIVE linear feet of counter space. Not kidding! Then there is my current home which is a very contemporary open plan tri-level custom home built in the 70′s. It had that horrible dropped-ceiling fluorescent light fixture in the kitchen. Talk about an awful glaring light. I hated it every time I had to turn it on.

So, without dredging up further painful kitchen memories – here are

The three layers of light every kitchen needs! - Part 1 – Ambient Lighting

via besthomelighting.com

Ambient Lighting: This is your general source of light. It’s usually provided by a ceiling fixture of some type. Of course, lighting coming from windows counts too. Most older kitchens have a single fixture on the ceiling, or if you’re lucky, you might have a second one over the sink. In many kitchens from the 70′s it’s going to be that big fluorescent light hidden behind white plastic. My best recommendations to improve the ambient lighting include:

• Track Lighting – These are easy to install and fit right over the old j-box. They range from inexpensive systems found at big box stores to very high end systems available in many finishes and with many styles of spot lights that can be attached to the track. Track lights allow placement of several spot lights along the length of the track. Check with an electrician to be sure how many spots you can add to the track so you don’t overload the circuit.You can extend a single line or create L shapes, U shapes, or a square track configuration. If you are replacing a single old light fixture this now gives you ambient light throughout your kitchen instead of a single source. Spots can be aimed at the floor or also at artwork on the walls or down on a kitchen table.
• Recessed Can Lights – preferably adjustable – These are easiest to place in a ceiling with an attic above, but there are types that can be retrofitted from below. This usually costs more than track lights, and installation is best left to an electrician. They are popular because they provide lots of light without giving your ceiling a cluttered look. They don’t have quite as much flexibility in angle adjustment as the spots on a track light, but they still will allow you to aim the lights where needed.
• Chandeliers - If you have a high ceiling in your kitchen it can be a real style statement to include a chandelier. Select one that is an appropriate scale to the room in general so that it will provide sufficient light.
• Monorail Lights - These function pretty much the same way as track lights, but they hang lower from the ceiling, so are best used in rooms with high ceilings. In fact, this is my fixture of choice for kitchens with exceptionally high ceilings because they can be extended several feet down from the ceiling putting the light where you need it and putting light bulbs within easy reach for changing. Unlike tracks which are always straight lines, the monorail can be curved in any shape. You can have fun creating a curved application that looks graceful and puts light anywhere you want it.
• Skylights, Windows & Solatubes®: These won’t help you at night, but a skylight or one of the tube style daylighting systems will brighten up your kitchen so much, you may be able to skip turning on the lights even on a cloudy day. And you may want to evaluate your windows too. Could you increase the size? Add one?

Part 2: Task Lighting

Part 3: Accent Lighting

You may also like:

Luxurious Bathroom Style – Chandeliers

Simplicity – Leonardo da Vinci – and Light Switches

Painting Kitchen Cabinets: What Color Would You Choose?

Imagine you are stepping into a deep and steaming scented bubble bath. Your glass of champagne is close at hand and you’ve put on your favorite relaxing music. As you sink into the water and lean your head back against a soft bath pillow, your gaze drifts upward to the bright and glaring fluorescent light above. Hmmm. What’s wrong with that picture? How about instead … your gaze drifts upward to the softly sparkling chandelier? That’s more like it!

Do you have a ceiling higher than the standard 8 feet in your bathroom? Then you have the perfect opportunity to add the luxurious design element of a chandelier.

The soft green and elegant traditional style bathroom below is designed by Nate Berkus.

Super sooooothing!

Source

My personal preference is a contemporary space. Choose a chandelier style that fits the style of the bathroom. The grid of pendants that creates this chandelier fits the zen feel. The softly curved shapes are a nice contrast to the highly textural stone wall.

Source

Select a chandelier that is an appropriate scale for the space too. Neither too large, nor too small. The white chandelier below is hanging in a very large bathroom. Although it is a pretty good sized fixture, the delicate wire tracery still feels light in the space.  I’m also pretty covetous of the fireplace in this bathroom. I need to put that on my list of must-haves for my dream bath!

source

This black chandelier is the perfect size for above the vanity and its lines echo the design on the wallpaper. I’ve actually become rather partial to black chandeliers. Such a sophisticated look.

source

Whatever style or size you choose, remember to put it on a dimmer switch. You’ll be glad you can turn it down low for that relaxing, self pampering bubble bath.

You may also like:

Industrial Style Bathroom Design: Perfect For Lofts