OH. Well, these look like nice places to get clean...

I've always had a design obsession with bathroom spaces. Don't make it weird, but I really love them. They are places to get clean and refresh yourself. Start anew. They are centered around water and light and can be your own personal sanctuary if you do it right (like these designers).

Everything in here is so ethereal/perfect. It's the perfect mix of femininity and rustic style with the antique chair, the glow of light from the one window, and the exposed wood beams of the ceiling. This bathroom screams, or whispers rather, relaxation. From Marie Claire Maison.

This would look so great in my bathroom in the house I just bought on Nantucket (I'm really over the Hamptons)! What I love about this precious but glam room is the round lantern! A glow of beauty hovering over the antique nickel plated tub. By Mabley Handler (I think this is actually in the Hamptons.)

From Living Etc, I love the green tub! The doors make me think there's a lovely natural overgrown terrace outside with a pool. And that I'm in the countryside of England.

The marble floor and mosaic tiles inside the shower make me think of somewhere exotic. I'd love to have that many towels at my disposal too. Yum. James Michael Howard.

This bathroom has a little more modern look to it--but BE SURE not to miss the gnome holding your towels! It's easy to miss because you're probably staring at the oval window. Swoon. By Irwin Weiner. Double swoon.

This round upholstered chair is absolutely gorgeous in this space. Can't you imagine yourself in a bathrobe putting your feet up on the tub to give yourself a pedicure? I can! From House Beautiful. Also, a butterfly framed on that adorable table!

This looks like the ultimate relaxing sanctuary. You can draw the light curtains to have a little bit of privacy in this moody bath nook. By Greg Lanza.

I didn't notice until I was finished, but all the images that I chose (except for the one shower) were all tubs separate from the room with either little claws or a more sleek modern look but they are all free standing! I think a bathroom is nice because it's centered around water, rejuvenation, and most importantly, cleanliness.

Alicia B.

My New Apartment: Project Bathroom Wicker Rack

Remember when my parents brought me this wicker rack that I used in my bathroom? Well, I did a project. My bathroom has this amazing grey tile in the shower so I wanted to add to the different tones of grey and black and white by painting this rack a darker grey. I took it off the wall (opened all my windows) and put it down on my painting tarp to prepare it for its transformation.

Ready?

I got this primer/paint that works on metal and wood at Janovic for only $8.

I sprayed it with two coats to make sure that I got all nooks in the wicker. Here is the pattern that it made on the tarp.

Here it is! Look how fresh and clean it looks with a new color on it.

Close up glamour shot. Now I need to figure out what to put in that cute Mason jar.

Next on my list for my bathroom is the shower curtain. The Hold Everything shower curtain that I've had for 3 years has faded and isn't fitting in the new bathroom. Here is what I have on order from Ballard Design!

Alicia B.

Bathroom Love

Ever since I told my friend that I loved the ultra feminine french spread from House Beautiful below and she pointed out that I liked french design, I've been very confused. Do I like fun mid century modern? Do I like English country? Regency? French? Wow. I mean I know I'm allowed to like everything but this has me really shaken up, design wise. Who am I? Whats my style? DEFINE ME! So, while I figure out who I am, here are some fun bathrooms I've found.

Domino Mag. Beautiful wallpaper and I love those plates arranged like that.

Kathy Abbott.

Saladino Group. A fire place??? How amazingly frivolous.

Scott Salvator. Wouldn't it be nice to have a Calder floating above your bathtub?

T. Keller Donovan. I wish I had enough room in my bathroom for a cute stool like that.

Bunny Williams

Joe Kremer. This is lovely but the stagnant water is a LITTTTLE creapy.

Joe Kremer.

Paul Siskin.

Which one is your favorite? I think mine is the T. Keller Donovan one. Blue and white is perfection there.

Alicia B.

Eco Furniture

"Going green," despite my initial fear of everything being made of hemp, is actually a lasting trend. There are a lot of "green" or "eco" products out there. A lot of it is cliche--made of driftwood or pebbles; but there is some that it pretty attractive (see below). It adds a natural look to your decor and makes you feel like you're doing something good for the environment! How could you go wrong?

Above is a Pottery Barn duvet and sheet set, organic.

mini concrete planters from www.vivaterra.com

Ship wood bench from Viva Terra. Recycled products!

Woven basket from Gumps. www.gumps.com

Cork bath mat from www.gaiam.com.  My roomate and I have been faux fighting over a new cork or teak bath mat for months. Perhaps this one will be "the one!" I just discovered Gaiam today and it's a really great source for eco products and yoga accessories!

Ha-dong Patchwork quilt from Gaiam

Linen Shower Curtain, gaiam.com

Also from Gaiam, I really like the sheets but could do without that pattern as a quilt.

Alicia B.

Silly Design

A friend forwarded me this image. This Men's Bathroom was designed by Edge Design, a design firm made up of all women.

Tasteless or humorous?

Alicia B.