I’ve been unplugged for a few days.  I surprised our kiddos with a trip to DC to visit my sister this past weekend.  I purposefully didn’t pack my laptop.  I really needed some one-on-one time with my boys and we had a great time!  Handy Hubby stayed behind to work…at work and on the Underdog.  Upon our return home, Everett came down with an awful stomach bug. {Probably from the germ-infested Metro!} So, not only have I been thinking nonstop about bathrooms…I’ve been spending a lot of time in them with Everett as well.  I’m about bathroom-ed out!  But not enough to keep me from coming up with a quick preliminary plan for our future master bath.

Take a look…

1 – To keep things cohesive, I’d like to use the same galvanized sconce that I mentioned in the kid/guest bathroom mood board {seen here if you missed it or forget}.  Plus, I just can’t get enough of the industrial feel it provides.

2 – In searching for tile options for the shower surround, I came across this uniquely textured ceramic wall tile.  The shiny textured surface reflects light like glitter.  With natural light pouring in from the window right inside our shower, this wall tile would really keep the small room light and airy while providing a little glitz too.  It’s light reflecting power is difficult to see from the online image, so I made sure to snap a picture of it in our local store.

Isn’t it purty?  I think I’d install it horizontally in a brick pattern.  At 10″ x 19.75″, this tile is large so there wouldn’t be a ton of grout lines.

3 – For the floor, HH and I both fell for these moss penny round tiles.  I like smaller tiles for the floor in petite bathrooms. They add texture and pattern not to mention an anti-slip safety feature.  Again, the online image isn’t exactly true to reality. Here’s my phone pic for better reference…

The round tiles have a subtle gray-blue-green color going on and I love it.  Notice how the dark brown edges provide definition and contrast.  Oh, and that wood floor sample next to the tile sample is what we think will be going in as flooring for most of the rest of the house…if that makes any sense.  {More on that later!} I brought the floor sample along with me to The Tile Shop to make sure whatever tile I chose would look okay alongside the wood floor since they’ll meet at the entrance to the master bathroom.

4 – Even though HH and I love the idea of a large walk-in shower with dual shower heads, we decided against it.  Subtracting a tub from the bathroom would technically make it a ¾ bathroom instead of a full bathroom.  While we intend to stay in the house for 10+ years, we’d really hate to lose the freedom to market our house as ‘2 full baths’ whenever/if ever we decide to sell.  Plus, HH wasn’t keen on a lower shower threshold thinking it might splatter water everywhere outside the shower. {I told him NO to glass shower doors.  I’m the one that would clean them and I detest cleaning glass shower doors.  So, our walk-in shower would have simply had a shower curtain.}

We’ve actually already purchased this Kohler bathtub.  We liked the simple lines, it had good reviews, it would fit in our teeny bathroom, the price wasn’t awful {$440} and it was in stock at our local Home Depot.  It’s joined the chaos of other ‘waiting to be installed’ stuff in the Underdog’s garage.

5 – I really like white textured shower curtains.  What else can I say?

6 – To tone down all the straight lines that are inevitable in a small rectangular bathroom, I’d love to incorporate a round mirror above the sink.  The bathroom sink/vanity will be visible from the master bedroom, so using a mirror that doesn’t scream ‘bathroom!’ would be nice.  The antique zebrano finish on this one makes it feel less utilitarian.

7 – If it can be done, I want {Handy Hubby} to DIY a chunky floating wood vanity/shelf to house this simple IKEA sink.  Of course, the wood would need to be sealed to avoid moisture penetration. Don’t worry!  We don’t plan on using plywood/OSB as a finishing material in the bathroom or anywhere else in the house.  The vanity I shared last week was simply an inspiration to me.  Before I decide on a major design element, I gather a bunch of inspiration images and then think about how I can tweak them to fit my style and aesthetic.  I do think that DIY OSB vanity was clever and could look great in the right setting. But it’s not going in our home.

8 – Since under sink storage {open or closed} will be minimal due to the floating vanity, we’ll need other storage options in the bathroom.  I found this stainless steel medicine cabinet just today and think 2 or 3 of them would work and look great. Must show to HH tonight!

9 – West Elm has the best hand towels.  This honeycomb one in slate is my pick for the master bath.

10 – If I can squeeze it in somewhere {under the sink?  next to the shower?}, this woven ottoman {or a cheaper, similar alternative} would provide a landing spot for {taking off or putting on} clothes, a book or magazine, or maybe even a glass of water or wine.  I like to add at least one natural, woven element to each room – even bathrooms.

So, there it is.  What may be our future master bathroom.  Do you like?  Not like?  By far, my favorite element is that glittery white shower wall tile.  I couldn’t stop running my hand across the sample at the store.  Thankfully, HH liked it too.  I can’t wait to see what it looks like installed.

Now, it’s back to the ugly apartment bathroom with Everett.  Poor guy.  I hope he feels better soon.

images:  1) Polyvore collage by Dana Miller linked within  2 & 3) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

Handy Hubby was busy laboring over the Labor Day weekend.  Busy gutting this bathroom over at the Underdog…

The black mold we discovered behind the original 50’s shower tile surround prompted the tear out.

{kitchen side of the bathroom wall}

While we got rid of the mold’s appearance by treating it with chlorine, we soon discovered {thanks to some very smart readers and good ol’ research} that the mold wasn’t really gone.

Even though we couldn’t see any mold with our naked eyes anymore, the spores were still there. Since we’ve already found a knowledgable and reliable plumber who has been working to update our Underdog’s plumbing AND since one wall of the bathroom was already opened up from behind because of the kitchen renovation, we bit the bullet and decided to go ahead and tackle the bathroom renovation before moving in.

HH talked to our plumber and he said he could work on the bathroom’s plumbing but we really need to choose fixtures soon to get the process going.  Picture me wide-eyed.  I’d been holding off on dreaming up a bathroom makeover since I figured it wouldn’t happen for a while.  Plus, I tend to get a little scatter-brained if I’m thinking about too much at once.  You know…kitchen, living room, mudroom/dining room, etc.  Well, bring on the scatter-braininess.

To focus, I set to work coming up with a general feel for the bathroom.  This particular bathroom {one of two full baths in the Underdog…no, we haven’t even investigated the other one yet} will function as our kids’ and guests’ bathroom.  It’s located right off the hallway to the bedrooms, near the great room.

As I revealed last week, I’m leaning towards a more masculine feel for this house.  That’s not to say I want it to look like a bachelor pad, but I’m really drawn to light-dark contrast, neutrals, and textural accents versus colorful ones.  Taking that into consideration, I put together a very elementary mood board.  Elementary as in I’m not sure that each item I’ve shown is available or within our budget but I like the overall feel.  Creating a mood board always helps me nail down a mood and feel that I can tweak as I go.

Primarily, this bathroom will function as our kids’ bathroom.  When we have guests, they will use this bathroom too.  I absolutely don’t want a kid theme going on.  I want it to be relevant now and in 10 years when our boys are teenagers.

1 – I’d love to add an industrial, rustic touch with a barn light like this one.

2 – Ever since Victoria painted her bedroom in Benjamin Moore’s gravel gray, I’ve been itching to try it somewhere.  Maybe on the outside of a claw foot tub or above white subway tile for contrast in the bathroom?

3 – I’d love to DIY a white subway tile floor-to-ceiling shower/tub surround and then continue the subway tile halfway up the walls in the rest of the bathroom.  It’d really keep the small bathroom feeling light and airy.

4 – For the floor, I want to keep it light but add some texture and pattern with smaller tiles…possibly marble hexagons?

5 – A long, textured shower curtain encloses the tub.  Nothing too frilly for the kids.

6 – A hand towel decked in broad gray and white stripes goes along well with the masculine feel.

7 – A simple round mirror above the vanity softens all the hard lines and surfaces of the utilitarian room.

8 – I’ve got a thing for vanities that are open below the sink.  I think it gives them more of a furniture {versus cabinet} feel and takes up less visual space.  I like the fact that this one has a drawer at the bottom for storage.  I found this vanity in stock at our local Home Depot a few weeks ago.

9 – Back in the spring I visited a reclaimed housewares outlet in Cincy and so began my claw foot tub obsession.  If at all possible, I want to squeeze a claw foot tub into the bathroom.  I had one as a little kid and remember it fondly.  It felt like I was in a big boat.  For practicality, I’d add a shower fixture/sprayer attachment so guests and our grown kiddos {later…not now} could take showers if they wanted.  And as I suggested above, the tub could provide a strong contrast to all that white if I painted the exterior in BM gravel gray.  HINT: We’re off to check out a craigslisted claw foot tub tonight!

10 – Obviously, this bullrush basket is way outta my league.  $375!!!  I think I should be able to find something similar {and cheaper!} in texture to act as a catchall for kids’ dirty clothes and towels.

I’m diggin’ the overall look and feel of the mood board.  Here’s hoping we can tweak it a bit and bring it to life!

images:  1-3) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking  4) Polyvore collage by Dana Miller…images linked to above