THIS OR THAT: WHICH MIRRORED BATH!

Is a bathroom sink cabinet the place to add a little design flair to a home? I say why not.


Here are two bath sink cabinets...both have mirrored sink cabinets. One is more classic, the other modern. When taking a design risk...do you try for a traditional interpretation or more contemporary?


Take a look at these two bathroom sinks and you decide in today's THIS OR THAT!

So which of these two bathroom sinks do you prefer and why? Or do you dislike both? I'm thinking I like the second one best. I want to know what you think!

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Had fun drinks last night with HW at The Churchill, a newer restaurant, here in Los Angeles. It was so fun to catch up.

P.P.S. So I dropped my phone the other day and the screen cracked. When I called to get a new one...I learned that I had been paying monthly phone insurance of $6.99/mo for the last year that covered a damaged phone. I thought "Score!...My phone is covered". Well I later found out that the "phone insurance" requires a deductible of $199! Oy vey. Needless to say, I'll be walking around with a cracked Blackberry until the end of May when I'm allowed to get a new one! Yoohooo...since when does phone insurance cost more than the phone itself! My luck.

P.P.P.S. Remember way back when, when I was looking for an assistant...well am still looking...so please send resumes to Nbaynadamas@Nbaynadamas.com. I can send you a job description if you are interested! Assistant must live in Los Angeles. Am also looking for a few interns too.

P.P.P.P.S. Have a great Tuesday!

Photos: David Kleinberg; John Minshaw

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AN bath and bathroom, BATH WEEK, sink, THIS OR THAT, traditional bath

DESIGNER JENNY WOLF'S INSPIRING SPACES AND PLACES!

A New York apartment with floor to ceiling black trimmed windows features an eclectic design with a mix of patterns and  just the right colors. (above)

It is starting...you know the whole "to inspire" part of my New Year's resolution. As you might of read a few days ago, this year I'm trying to inspire my Nbaynadamas friends to dream big.  The added benefit is that hearing stories of how Nbaynadamas readers are inspired by something here on the blog or by my stories of running my less than year old textiles and home furnishings company, is truly inspiring to me.  I didn't realize though that this circle of inspiration would have so much of an immediate return...

Okay...here's the scoop...

On January 1st (just a few days ago), the day after I wrote my New Year's resolution post, I got a sweet email from a Nbaynadamas reader...here's what it said:

"Hi Coco!

I read your blog every week and just LOVE what you are doing!!! I just started my own interior design business and plan on launching my new website in the New Year. I am also attempting a blog and was really inspired reading your post on your triumphs for 2011 and resolutions for 2012. It actually helped to give me a boost on putting myself out there! Anyway, I do not usually do this, but I wanted you to say thank you for the inspirational words!....

All my best and Happy New Year!

Jenny Wolf"

The subject line for the email was "Thank you" and it came from New York interior designer Jenny Wolf of her eponymous Jenny Wolf Interiors firm.

Of course, I had to look at Jenny's portfolio and to my delight her work is absolutely lovely.  I emailed Jenny and asked her for a few hi-res photos and here we are...tah dah...

So I guess Jenny is at the beginning of starting her interior design business and she has a few wonderful spaces to show off.  These images come from two different New York city apartments.  Both, feature an eclectic mix of furnishings but all pieces work so nicely together.  Jenny manages to work extremely well with architecture in each space...whether it be floor to ceiling paned windows or exposed brick throughout a loft...I like what she's done with these two spaces.

A 1400 square foot 2 bed loft space in an old warehouse has been restored for a family. The space features great architectural details including 11 foot ceilings and exposed brick.  In an industrial eclectic style mixing traditional and modern, Jenny successful weaves in antique rugs and Gustavian furniture along with the newer pieces. (above)

Love this bath with its vintage cast iron tub, Perrin & Rowe fixtures and reclaimed white oak floors. (above)

Well I am so thrilled that Jenny is making her dreams of running her own interior design business come true!  To inspire and to be inspired is working...wow...that is quick turn around!

Keep up the fantastic work Jenny.  It will take some doing to build but my biggest piece advice is to just hang in there and as my sister always tells me, "just keep doing what you are doing"...you are on the right track!

What do you think of Jenny's work?  Which of these spaces do you like best?  Find anything inspiring here?

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

Photos: Emily Gilbert Photography

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AN apartment, bath and bathroom, bath floors, BATH WEEK, exposed brick, floor to ceiling windows, New York, NYC apartment, tub

SMART DESIGN: A BATH TUB INSIDE A MARBLE SHOWER - OH WHAT A VERY WET ROOM!

These photos were sent to my by San Francisco Bay Area interior designer Kriste Michelini. Such an interesting bathroom concept and I think I can say I have honestly never seen this design arrangement before!

A tub inside of a shower! Whoa! A tub inside a marble shower! Whoa again! A big freestanding tub inside a glass enclosed marble shower! Wow!

Smart idea to save space and to kill to bathing birds with one stone. Why get the whole bathroom wet and soggy when in bath mode...confine it all to one area...a glass enclosed wet room inside of a regular bathroom! Huh...so very very interesting!

This bathroom is actually beautiful with all of the white veiny Carrara marble (subway tiles and mosaic tiles) covering the walls and floors, the grand skylight inside the combo tub shower area, the wonderful modern wood vanity washstand with its marble top, the boxy almost Craftsman looking sconces, and all of the chrome fixtures, faucets and fittings - the luxe simplicity of it all works.



Hey Kriste, thank you for sharing these photos with me and Nbaynadamas readers...a truly fun delight!

Readers, what do you think of this innovative shower and tub combination? Have you seen something like this before...or is it just me who is this is new to?

Happy Tuesday! Off to work as usual without a clue about what I will wear (again)...need a stylist to shop for me and arrange all of my outfits on a weekly basis! Wouldn't that be nice? Or I just need to be like all normal people and just figure out what I'm wearing without bringing it to a public forum...right? Hmmmm.....

xo
Coco

P.S. RSS Feed Update #2 - Just found out that feed will in fact be going to a full format today. So sign up now. For those of you who have asked, and as mentioined yesterday, I will now have full posts with all color pictures on the Nbaynadamas RSS FEED! Just click here to subscribe or click on the feed subscription button on the right hand column of this page. Full posts, full color pictures, full feed...finally! The only time the feed will be in summary mode will be early-mid morning Pacific Standard Time each day I post...otherwise it will a full feed. Sorry for the confusion!

Photos: Kriste Michelini

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AN bath and bathroom, BATH WEEK, marble, mirrors, mosaic, Nbaynadamas, sink, SMART DESIGN, tile, TILE FILE, tub

BATH WEEK: READER SUBMISSIONS - BATHROOM MAKEOVERS, BEFORE & AFTERS AND MORE!

Photo submitted by of Kevin Walsh of Bear Hill Interiors
BATH WEEK continues! I promised 5-7 days of baths and now I am on day 5...we'll see if I can come up with anything over the weekend!

Today I am thrilled to show off some fabulous Nbaynadamas reader submissions. These are baths proud readers happily submitted for today's post! Thank you readers for your submissions!

I've included a quote from each email that was sent to me - emails describe the bathrooms in readers' own words. Hope you enjoy!


BLACK & WHITE BARGAIN MAKEOVER
Photos submitted by Charmaine from My Best Friend Craig Blog

Before, bargain makeover - yikes! (above)
"I am so happy with the outcome. I got the mirror from goodwill :) and the wallpaper is from Sherwin-Williams easychange (the book is ink black, white, neutral easychange or page 179)." Charmaine, My Best Friend Craig blog


After, bargain makeover. Yay! (above)


DESIGNER'S OWN STYLISH BUDGET BATH BEFORE & AFTER
Photos submitted by Debbie Bassnet of Vintage Scout Interiors

Before, green outdated tiles in designer Debbie's own home. (above and below)


"I was on a serious budget, so I created an oversized basketweave pattern by cutting faux marble porcelain squares in half and using black granite tiles cut to size as well. Added some much needed built in storage as well by using some space from a hall closet." Debbie Basnett, Vintage Scout Interiors


After, the bath with the gigantic basketweave mosaic looks fantastic. (above and below)




SMALL APARTMENT BATH'S SPA REMODEL
Photos submitted by Elizabeth Meyerson of Gambi Design

Before, this apartment's pink bath was a cluttered mess.(above)
"I would love to submit photos of my client’s bathroom remodel. Designing this tiny bathroom in a small Manhattan apartment was challenging. Opting for a pedestal sink provided an open feeling. A soaking tub, which is deep, but smaller than a standard tub, was a space saving solution. The monochromatic floor to ceiling tiles are classic beige and cover the walls and floor giving a spacious feel to the room while white fixtures and towels add brightness. I chose a detailed mosaic trim along the perimeter of the floor to add interest and character. A glass shelf and a tiled windowsill help provide space for extras" Elizabeth Meyerson, Gambi Design


After, TAH DAH! A small New York City bathroom is cleaned up and freshened up! (above)

MASTER BATH WITH BLACK
Photos submitted by Meryl Weis from Northbrook, IL

"I just finished a master bath addition that I think came out amazing. I became obsessed with the idea of using black on the walls, but equally terrified. I kept trying to talk myself out of it, but I just had to do it. It was a risk that payed off. I used Graham and Brown "Enchant" in black. All the cabinetry and moldings are in Benjamin Moore Acadia White. The floors and countertops are Carrara. The paint in the shower and toilet area is Trout Grey.

The room was designed to have a free standing tub under the windows at the end, but since neither my husband nor I are bathers, we opted for a chaise lounge which we use and love." Meryl Weis







MOVE-IN-READY BEACH CONDO BATH
Photo courtesy Keely Stahl


"Hope you like our bathroom a little -- we do! Best part is that we didn't have to do any work, as we inherited it as is from previous owner of our new beach condo." Keely Stahl.

***
Hope you enjoyed these reader submissions! I did! Thank you, thank you, thank you readers for your submissions!

Have a great Friday.

xo
Coco

P.S. The Nbaynadamas OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE giveaway begins Monday. Make sure you follow the page so you can enter to possibly win!

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AN bath and bathroom, BATH WEEK, Nbaynadamas, tile, TILE FILE

BATH WEEK: MAGNIFICENT GLASS MOSAIC TILES - HIGH STYLE INSPIRATION FOR THE BATHROOM FROM BISAZZA!

All photos in this post by Coco of Nbaynadamas

A blue and white glass mosaic wall in a picture I took of the Bisazza catalog. (above)
BATH WEEK continues! Tomorrow I will post some wonderful reader submissions...please send in pictures of your bath if you love it OR if you recently remodeled a bathroom and love it too, please send in those pictures as well. Designers...decorators...architects...regular people...men...women...young...old...dogs...cats...anyone (maybe not the dogs and cats)...send your photos!

I stopped by the Bisazza showroom here in Los Angeles on Melrose the other day in order take photos for BATH WEEK. Had actually never been in this magnificent showroom. Bisazza, an Italian company, only sells mosaic glass tiles...a gorgeous array of mosaic glass tiles. The design selection and possibilities are endless. These glass mosaic tiles range in price from about $50 per square foot and go all the way up to a whopping $500 or more per square foot - just in case you ever wondered, "How much do Bisazza mosaic tiles cost?"!

The $500/sq. ft mosaics include some of the metallic tiles that actually have 24 karat yellow gold and white gold inside the tiles! (I did feel like a bit of country bumpkin because when I heard about this gold tile business my eyes about popped out and I asked the Bisazza sales associate, "Did you say real gold? Like real gold gold?". She responded dryly, "Yes, real gold". I then thought to myself and may have said out loud (may have), "Gaaw-aawl-ly. Them sure is purdy. Them thar gold tiles suuurrrre is purdy.")

Anyhoooooo...here are some views of the Bisazza showroom and from the catalogue...these mosaics could be used anywhere in a bathroom design...on the floor, on a feature wall, inside a shower stall or as cool design surrounding a wonderful spa tub...take a look...


The Bisazza Los Angeles flagship showroom features a spectacular black and white pattern designed to resemble the woven pattern of a cane back chair. (above)


This stylish mosaic is made up of durable 1/2 inch glass tiles that can withstand high traffic. (above)

The standard glass mosaics come in an array of designs and colors including a zebra and giraffe pattern! (above and below)




Floral mosaics....


Flowers, flowers and more flowers! A beautiful turquoise and white abstract floral pattern would make a great feature wall in any bath...another photo of the catalogue. (above)










Metallic glass and gold mosaics...


Metallic tiles come in a variety of patterns and are made up glass and 24 karat gold (gaaaaw-aawl-ly)! (above and below)




White gold and yellow gold mosaic tiles come in different sizes and textures. (above and below)











The best part about it is that if you have the resources (money), Bisazza will custom make any design for you...there is a minimum order involved but that means the design dreaming is limitless. For those on a budget, try going to your local tile shop...find a graphic pattern you like and ask if they can have something custom made. Usually they can!

Hope you enjoy and get some great ideas! Where might be the best place to use these tiles? Hmmm...so many possibilities. Let me know which you like best!

xo
Coco

All photos in this post by Coco of Nbaynadamas

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AN bath and bathroom, BATH WEEK, Nbaynadamas, tile, TILE FILE

BATH WEEK: PLUCKY POWDER ROOMS!

Photo courtesy of Woodson & Rummerfield
A mirrored chest of drawers has been transformed into a vanity with sink in this home's powder room...the gilt mirror, shaded sconces and the pink "fan" wallpaper all create a feeling of decadent luxe. (above)
Day 3 of BATH WEEK on Nbaynadamas! Thank you for your reader submissions. Will be doing a whole post on those...so if you have more remodel or great bath photos, please send in...designers and non-designers alike.

Now onto today's BATH WEEK post...

Webster's definition of the word "plucky" is "marked by courage", "spirited", "brave".

These small powder rooms fit the design definition of "plucky" to the tee. All are quite courageous with design, they are certainly spirited and lively in feel, and the designers were brave in making well edited but bold decor statements.

Think if one is going to get plucky in their decorating...a small powder room is the place to do it! Hope you enjoy!


Photo: Kristen Buckingham
Classic country - a skirted sink and decorative plates on the walls say cozy country in this small bathroom. (above)

Photo courtesy of Palmer Weiss
A sunburst mirror and bold gold and bronze floral wallpaper add playful glimmer and glam to a small washroom.(above)

Photo courtesy of Massucco Warner Miller
Not your average zebra print - Gold hardware and accents shine on as a herd of Zebras gallops across the walls of a small powder room. (above)

Photo courtesy of Elle Decor
Bold black and white is the order of the day in a powder room in the Los Angeles home of fashion designer Monique Lhuillier. (above)
Which of these baths is your favorite? How plucky would you get with powder room design?

Have a great Wednesday!

xo,
Coco

P.S. Still accepting resumes for e-interns. Please email me if you are interested in finding out more - Nbaynadamas@gmail.com.

P.P.S. So close to the Nbaynadamas FACEBOOK PAGE giveaway...! Check back...could start as early as tomorrow (or even today). Reminder that this giveaway is for Facebook fans only (so sign up and suggest the page to friends if you haven't already)!

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AN bath and bathroom, BATH WEEK, Nbaynadamas, powder room, wallpaper, walls

BATH WEEK: THE WALLS DO THE TALKING IN STYLISH WHITE BATHS!

Photo courtesy of Christina Murphy Interiors
A stunning bathroom with carrara marble tub and shower features brown and white scroll work walls. (above)
It is BATH WEEK. Hope you enjoy it!

Well today it's about white baths. As mentioned, I love simple, no frills, white bathrooms. Some might call my vision boring. What you see here though is that white baths do not have to be boring at all. Here are a few where the walls do all of the stylish talking.


Photo courtesy of Velvet Linen
Farrow & Ball's Rosslyn wallpaper graces the walls of this lovely traditional powder room. The onyx countertop on the ebony vanity sink picks up the subtle golden hues in the room. (above)


Photo courtesy Katie Leede & Co.
Marble, marble and more marble. Large marble field tiles on the wall and square floor tiles arranged in a demure harlequin pattern on the floor make for a sophisticated and rich looking white bath. (above)


Photo: Thom Filicia
Love this little powder room with this interesting paneled wall. (above)

Photo courtesy of Amanda Nisbet
A neutral brocade wallpaper softens the lines of the modern sink and bath accents. (above)


Photo courtesy of Chris Barrett Design
A picture window opens this bath onto the master suite. Floor to ceiling subway tiles create a classic and chic look. (above)

Photo courtesy of Christina Murphy Interiors
Dramatic forest patterned white and grey wallpaper steals the show in this small bathroom. (above)

Photo courtesy of Christina Murphy Interiors
Chic silver metallic wallpaper and a lotus pendant light are all that's needed to give this bath an aura of modern elegance. (above)

Photo: Lonny Magazine
Which of these baths is your favorite?

xo
Coco

P.S. Go to the Nbaynadamas FACEBOOK page to see pictures of a bath sent in by Nbaynadamas reader Debbie B. from Centerville, Ohio. Love the gigantic basketweave pattern on the floor she designed! Take a look.

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AN bath and bathroom, BATH WEEK, Nbaynadamas, tile, wallpaper, walls