Kim's temporary bathroom redo

I mentionned here on DTI a while ago that I was working on another home project but I didn't give away too many details. I FINALLY finished and now it's time to share.

I had grown VERY tired of the ugliness of my main bathroom. One day I hope to gut the space and completely redo every piece of it but in the meantime the ugliness was getting on my last nerve. And I needed a project because I just wasn't busy enough. (HA). So here are a couple photos of the bathroom before I tackled it - and this is how it had been since I bought the home more than two years ago.

  

Trust me, it was even worse in person. The linoleum floor was scratched to sh*t, and so dirty and stained it was impossible to clean. The main light fixture, medicine cabinet, towel bar, light switch plate, outlet plate, toilet paper holder were ALL made of nasty wood. SO GROSS. I'm pretty sure the cabinet over the toilet was hung upside down. The faucet was probably the cheapest one you could buy and was missing a piece on the front to cover the screw. The walls were white and BORING. There's a small window to the left of the toilet that had bright green plastic blinds hanging. There's a second light fixture on the wall opposite the sink that had a nasty 80s vibe. The whole space was just awful. Until I can gut the room, I decided to do a cheap makeover. Some leftover paint, new inexpensive faucet and lighting, addition of a chair rail, cheap lino peel and stick tiles, some items brought in from other spaces around my house to decorate and VOILA, a temporary fix to keep me from losing my mind.

Many more photos to follow..... 

Click to read more ...

Villa + Villa encore

It's amazing what a really good photographer can do to an already wonderful space. We've shared this beach house at MacMasters Beach on the NSW North Coast with you last year. The Villa & Villa design duo (Maria and Eduardo Villa) are the architects and interior designers. Publicist Jacqui Lewis emailed to share the latest pictures of it by photographer Anson Smart. Wow! Fabulous. I loved this house before and now I love it even more. Not only different views but Anson has injected such personality into the space all through his lens. A perfect house just became even more enticing!

  

  

  

Click to read more ...

Reader's home

Remember this? Roeschel's living room was part of our DIY+ e-design consultation with interior designer Jason Martin, recently named one of House Beautiful's Next Wave 20 interior designers.  Roeschel has finally finished and emailed us with the results. It's an amazing transformation! A job well down Roeschel. Such a beautiful and calm space. Casually elegant and very liveable it's certainly no cookie cutter room with vintage finds and lots of Roeschel's personality shining through. Follow renovation adventures on her blog DIY Showoff especially the before and afters of her own home, a charming 1927 farmhouse. I particularly love her barn!

  

Click to read more ...

Monday's pets on furniture - part 2

If you'd like to send us photos to include in next week's "pets on furniture" post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture...and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it's dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com and PLEASE don't send me closeups of your pet!)

"This is my dog Roxie and her friend Canopener posing for photos for my dog product line, Roxiedoggie. They look super regal in these chairs."
- Maya

"Arthur is the little guy in the house. He likes to sit and watch my husband and I run around between the kitchen and living room. He's such a sweetheart :) Can't imagine our place without him. Wish he'd stay still for more photos!"
- Ashley

"This is my cat Pixie perched on top of the coffee table - a consignment store find that I painted my favorite color of green."
- Heylee

"My pug, Raoul, enjoying the cafe at the design store Merci in Paris."
- Donna

"This is our Newfoundland puppy Douglas at 8 weeks old, 18 lbs on the day we brought him home. He ran around like a wild man for about half an hour and promptly zonked out under this chair for the rest of the day. Now Douglas is 1 year old, bigger than this chair and still sleeps on his back."
- Lauren H.

Click to read more ...

Monday's pets on furniture - part 1

If you'd like to send us photos to include in next week's "pets on furniture" post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture...and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it's dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com and PLEASE don't send me closeups of your pet!)

"Rubey and Eloise enjoy the sun in their New York apartment."
- Caroline

"These are my doggies, Peanut and Don Julio...helping model my latest piece of "re-loved" furniture! They are so patient with their crazy momma!"
- Jasmine

"Raymond & Stretch again, waiting for the clock to turn, the night before their human’s big birthday bash last Thursday - Happy Birthday, Loni!"
- Julia

"Arne Jacobsen was a genius.... But we also like to sit on the floor cushions. - Love Daisy and Jasmine (Maltese)"
- Melody

"this is minga. this is why sometimes i have a hard time getting work done..."
- Lauren Z.

Click to read more ...