There are many titles I could have given this blog post: Decorating with Color, Cheerfully Charming, or Artist's Loft. For many years, I've been working toward creating a look that I call Artist's Loft in Amelia's room, which consists of these principle things:
an open airy room-- preferably with white walls/floors (I may have to wait on that one), floods of natural light, oil paintings--preferably florals, artist's supplies on display, vintage furniture & finds, a few industrial touches and quirky handmade items.
{See my Artist's Loft blog posts and Artist's Loft pinboard on Pinterest for more visual inspiration.}
I recently purchased the book, Homespun Style, by stylist Selina Lake, which helped me to better understand the look I'm trying to achieve.
I was so inspired by the colorful and charming homes in Homespun Style that I decided to try my hand at homespun style in Amelia's (our guest) bathroom.
inspiration board for guest bath
(This painting is hanging in the room but is not visible from this angle. I will share it in a future post.)
a charming vintage white sheet with yellow roses serves as a shower curtain and adds softness and charm to the room. A line of vintage black and white dominos tucked between the window and the bead board offer playful, unexpected interest
To offer more color to the room, I needed a new shower curtain, and then I remembered that I had a vintage flat sheet that was sweet grandmother's, handed down to my mom, and then given to me. I love it's cheerfulness and the sentimentality it adds.
Here are a few detail-oriented close ups:
vintage book titled The Language of Flowers--a sweet addition to the room
For this "photoshoot" I purchased a handful of simple Fuschia chrysanthemums for $4.00, which was not my flower of choice, definitely not appropriate for the season, but fit the color scheme well.
Unfortunately, all of my flowering plants are between blooming stages and I don't live near a flower market...
vintage millinery violets tucked into a handmade cone made by my Felicia, my sister-in-law
I love the shades of purple in this bundle of vintage millinery violets, and, of course, I like how it is reminiscent of vintage fashion.
lavender hand cream resting on a vintage alluminum soap container
While scavenging our home for shades of purple and yellow, I found this tube of lavender handcream--beautiful and funcitional.
view of bathroom upon entry-Notice the three sunny paper lanterns hanging in the window
Since the guest bath is small, it is basically impossible to share with you its design without including the commode in the frame...I know, probably a major faux pas in the blog world and in photographing home décor...
Three years ago, my sweet husband repainted this bathroom for me (It was a shade of pale blue---My tastes had changed and I wanted something neutral to work with.)
And for three years, I've struggled with this room. I've tried a Marie Antoinette look, a simple gray, black, white, and pale pink look...all of them just never came together.
Finally, I like the way this room looks, and I like how it welcomes both adults and children.
The best thing about this decorating redo is that it only cost me $4.00 (for the fresh flowers).
Everything in this room was already in my possession, and many of the decorative items had been tucked away in a closet or cabinet.
This room is by no means complete. This is not one of those after shots; it's really just the beginning.
Here is the same image with a few design notations of things I still would like to add.
My design concept "to do" list
This is just one view of our "homespun" guest bathroom.
There's still the sink, the mirror, the main wall, the shower, and the door....
As soon as I complete more of the design, I will be sure to share.
2nd image via SelinaLake; all other images by à la parisienne
I am in no way affiliated with the book Homespun Style; I just wish to share how the book has inspired me.
