SFGate

akcorcoran To complete the imagery, here is my tile - It's New Ravenna Mosaics Studio Line - Del Greco in Cloud Nine marble with a Julius border. And my countertop and tub deck marble (Breccia Oniciata). Thanks for your thoughts!

olldroo Nice light!!! I'm wondering how the long tube would look if you hung it vertically, I think that would change the whole look of it and you should get great light from it. The whole thing really comes down to how strong a globe you can put in the lights. If you had 4 lights each with 25w globes that gives you 100w, 4 lights with 60w gives you 240w - blinding!!! Also consider the colour of the shade. A white shade shouldn't make too much impact where a black shade will restrict your light to a lower beam from the bottom and an upwards one at the top. Choose the colour of your globe carefully too, especially for applying makeup, a cold/blue light will have you looking like a corpse, too warm a light will have you very ruddy. Another thing to consider too is the height you place a light, you don't want it where it will have the effect of blinding you so you can't see in the mirror.

Good luck, your tiles look lovely too. Hope we see the finished result.

akcorcoran Thanks so much - I guess I hadn't thought too much about the wattage. What happened with the other bathroom is that it was a linen shade and the light pretty much went up at an angle, and down at an angle, and NOT to our face in the mirror. It was tiresome - and they were hung at the proper height according to the light folks? But maybe it was the shade itself - or how wide it was apart (they were fairly wide apart - more than 30" b/c of the mirror?)

I do think the Tube could be a modern touch with a traditional bathroom - I thought it was supposed to upload vertically - let me try it again.

And I think the Suzanne Kasler is just stunning in that it's got something to look at from both directions, but it would definitely be less light?

Also considering these - Visual Comfort Chandler Single Sconce with the shade (actually comes in a two-tone) or with the hurricane glass (is that too much glare?) or this Lynde from Ballard Designs but the latter might be too short? I think the openwork long tube could be really simple and elegant - you'd almost not notice them?

Appreciate your thoughts so much - and welcome others! And I will post - tile going on the floor today so we're not long now... which is why I need to decide on the sconces! :-)

olldroo So much to think of isn't there, and sometime the obvious just gets lost. I'm renovating at the moment and can't believe the number of obvious things I've overlooked. I just felt the long one went with your Julius border theme.

You know my rule of thumb - think of putting mascara on (my big disaster area) and where would you be comfortable with light. All very well for rule of thumb heights, but a lot would depend on your height too. When we were first building our ensuite, hubby and builder - both over 6ft thought they did a great job hanging a wall unit and mirror. All 5'6" me could see was the top of my head!!!

All the lights you have chosen are lovely for different reasons. I would hesitate at the hurricane one too, as nice as it is and it looks like it is only a candle light, so maybe pretty useless, but the last one with what looks like a glass shade would probably diffuse the light better.

I know someone on here who has just put this type of lighting in her bathroom - she agonised for ages too - she is probably asleep by now but I will try to get her a message to come over.

akcorcoran Hubby and I are 6'2" and 5' 11" in bare feet, respectively, so we can come on over and look in your mirror.. :-) Seriously though, that's maybe why the "shaded" light was an issue for us in the bathroom?

On the Openwork VC, let's see if the Visual Comfort tube shows up vertical in this photo - I did find one example of a bathroom that used them that way. It was in Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, Winter 2012 issue - I attached it below.

The other reason, besides the tie in a bit with Julius that I thought it could work was that the mirrors are SO vertical on the sides that it might line up very well.

Then again, maybe that's too much vertical? (This is why I am not a designer! I'm an expert waffler!)

And, here is a bathroom that used the Suzanne Kasler's but they didn't put shades on them at all...

akcorcoran Not that it matters too much, but faucets by sink are Kohler Final Traditional in brushed nickel.

The faucet height is 6 1/4", so I'll likely do three rows of the Del Greco pattern tile (that's the narrow rectangular pieces) and then the Julius border so it peeks a little up over the faucet.

Can you tell I'm excited...? :-)

Just have to finalize these sconces so I can watch it take shape! :-)

olldroo Don't worry, the mirror was lowered very quickly. The hilarious part was that they couldn't understand why, looking down, they could see me perfectly but couldn't see myself. I had to make them both come down to my eye level!!! MEN!!

I'm only an expert waffler too, but I just love creating - and helping other people spend their money :)

Don't like Suzanne Kasler without the shade - looks like someone broke it and couldn't afford a new one - and the bare bulb would annoy me. That bathroom has a lot going on in it too, too much for me.

The visual comfort tube looks to me like it would go with anything. Do you really like it? I'm not so sure about it now seeing it in that photo, I don't dislike it, but I'm thinking that 3rd one you put up in the group of three, still gives you a diffused light and also has straight lines for your mirror, not that I think that is an issue, and I'm liking that best now. It looks pretty timeless too, the sort of thing you wouldn't get sick of. Of course it is hard just seeing photos.

Anyway, I sent the other lady a message, hope she gets a chance to see it when she wakes up.

olldroo We are crossing here, I've just finished renovating my ensuite and main bathroom so I know your excitement. Even more exciting is how easy they are to clean now - I actually enjoy cleaning. Luckily I didn't have to worry about lighting, things are much more simpler here - not that we have that much choice, it is very hard to buy things and anything out of the ordinary has mega $$$$$ price tags. I just installed a 3 way exhaust, light and heater in the ceiling - the most common way of doing things here. The single light is pretty good but if wanted more I can put the heating lights on and it is all the light I could need.

I could probably get something like your tapware at a specialist shop - again $$$$$.

The Del Greco tile is really nice, I like the pearly look to it and it goes perfectly with the Julius.

olldroo BTW - I assume you are installing clear glass in your shower recess. Did you know that you should thoroughly dry the glass each time you use it. Glass is actually porous and over time the water builds up in it and sends it cloudy and nothing removes it. I keep a small window squeegee in the shower, go over the screen once I've finished and dry off any remaining spots with a handtowel. It is amazing how much cleaner it keeps the glass too. I've even started doing the tiles too, takes two seconds but reduces cleaning way down.

akcorcoran It's 2:25 am here so I shouldn't be posting but that's Houzz for you?!

I am wavering on all fronts, including even the finish for the fixtures? I really prefer to see things in person before I buy them but none of these lights are available in my town. Hmmm... I can be more decisive on someone else's project, certainly more than my own!

I am a bargain hunter so I find the things I want and then watch for sales or price match opportunities. I don't work with a designer or ever use anyone that takes a middle fee - that's ridiculous to me, but then again about 90 percent if war we see on Houzz was done by designers, so that's the inspiration - or aspiration for me! It would make things easier but there is no budget!

The Kohler fixtures was a sad story of a bargain, actually. I went into the plumbing store sobbing because I had just found out that I had lost the one-of-a-kind remnant granite slab on which I had based my whole bathroom design (and we could only afford because it was a remnant.) Not the end of the world, I know, but a rude woman had just dumped it on me by phone. I walked in from the parking lot like a lost, crying puppy because the whole huge project was just overwhelming me at the time (we are renovating basically our entire house so I'm doing full kitchen and bath decisions at the same time.) A kind store rep took pity on me and gave us a wonderful deal on my favorite faucets to try to cheer me up. And it did!

Ok, I'm going to sleep on the decision and hope to hear more of what you and others think. Is there a way to do shades and get enough light - or do out think the glass tube options are better? I don't like the traditional shaped vanity lights as well for this space - so that's how I got to this bunch. And I think the future needs to be tall or relatively tall bc they are really tall mirrors.

PS. Agree on the Suzanne Kasler without the shade. That's a powder room I think too - all sorts of wacky stuff goes on with powder room design, don't you think?!

akcorcoran PS to your BTW, I am the squeegee queen! It drives my husband crazy. We renovated our guest bath first last year and have our first glass shower, and I love to squeegee the glass, even if it does sort of ruin the end of my shower! Hubby, not so much until I threaten him! I'm going to tell him you are giving the same cautionary advice as well - sometimes he thinks I make this stuff up! :-)

olldroo Mine tells me I "think" I know everything!!!! He has been banished to the main bathroom - he stuffs it up, he can replace it. I have actually gotten so used to it now, it doesn't bother me anymore, but I haven't had a winter in it yet - maybe I'll jump into my robe first. Depends also on how well the heating lamps work, I haven't had them before either.

trasgorshek Hi Roo! Thanks for hollering! Alcororan, my sconces are getting installed in a couple of hours. I will holler back about what I think after they go up. I have a very similar situation and agonized over it for weeks going through lights, looking at only certain wattage and #of arms to make sure I get enough light. I'm only doing two sconces on each adjoining wall because builder pushed the sinks so far to the sides, once I get my mirrors up there won't be room for one on each side of the mirror. The electrician was here yesterday and he said in a new build they would not do it this way. They would have 2-3 cans above on a separate switch for extra down lighting. The sconces will cast a shadow on the other side of the face. With what he explained, your project would be better off the one on each side of the mirror and not a center one. I would definitely choose the light you like best! And pay attention to how many lumens you can get from your bulb.

Personally, after what he said, I would do some cans in yours on a separate switch so you have them if you need them. I'm holding off on cans right now for multiple reasons, to long to explain, but if it gets to a point that I'm screaming while getting makeup on I will have some installed. My sconces are double armed so I'm hoping it should be sufficient. Also, keep in mind light bounces, your tile, mirrors and counters will help bounce it around some. I will holler back after mine go up, and let you know what I think.

olldroo Thanks Tras, I got a bit lost on exactly where you were at, but it looks like great timing.

trasgorshek Side note, couldn't agree more about lighting source! Circa, Hudson Valley, Visual Comfort and Troy absolutely had all the better lighting options! Loved so many of them!

olldroo Alcorcran - sorry your second last comment has only just come through - don't know what happens sometimes. Yep, I can relate to the 2.30am bit, time zones are my problem and I'm the odd one out. Love your sobbing puppy story, real women do that well and it always works. I love "male" territories like that, I go into what I call my "dumb broard" act and get the absolute best service.

I am doing a whole house reno too, so know that brain overload feeling. Fortunately, money prevents us rushing in too quickly, so I have broken the house down into 3 stages, and the kitchen will be the main part of stage 3 probably early next year.

Anyway it is past midnight again, I will leave you with Tras and get some shut-eye too.

akcorcoran Thanks, Tras! How exciting that it's going up today?! Pls do let me know how it goes and how you feel about the light (I guess most of all tonight since that's when it's dark!) :-D

I realized I have a slightly odd situation in that I have six inches on either side of my mirror and 12 in the middle. Unless I can slide the sinks over just a hair to the right in the 27" cabinet? If they could even go 2 inches towards the center (both of them), that would have me the ability to hang the mirrors then centered above and I'd have 8" on each side. Do you know if I can do that?

I know about wattage but just heard of lumens from my mom who's renovating her kitchen. It applies to my kitchen lighting I'm deciding on too, so maybe I'll post that in a separate post!

akcorcoran To your side note, sigh, those brands just seem more beautiful and the finishes are more authentic and there are more choices. But that price tag can be painful! The sconces from Visual Comfort - except the tube - are on sale so they aren't AS bad. And that third one in the follow up post is Ballard Designs, but I worry a little about the quality. I'm always impressed by Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware but I just haven't found something I think fits aesthetically. Hmmmm...

akcorcoran Oldroo, thanks for your advice!

My sobbing was so legit, I actually felt bad after she gave me the discount bc I looked like a crazy person climbing in tubs to test them, while sobbing. But I didn't feel that bad once I added up the total. :-)

We had 11 months to do every room but one in our 3-story colonial plus the two story addition. Stages would have been welcome! I can't even remember what I picked or where I ordered it from some days!!!

trasgorshek Ok, they are up and you are not going to like what I have to say. I would definitely add some cans on a separate switch. I love them and can see the final picture but they are going to have to add some cans later for me. I don't think a center light with fix the problem. My lights are double armed so I'm getting 120 watts out of each and it's not enough. However my cabinet is 90" long.

Had the same issue with pricing. Loved so many but the final one I had decided on got thrown out the window when I realized the shades were separate. It all adds up real quick! Check out www.bathkitchendecor.com before you order. Their pricing was impressive! Turn time might be a factor though. I would double check before ordering to see how fast they can ship. We ended up going with the Wilshire mirror and a wall bracket sconce from Progress lighting (because of price and finish). Hope it all helps. Have fun!!

akcorcoran Hmmm... That's what I was afraid of. I'm out now and low battery on phone but will reply more later. Do you have any pics? I love seeing REAL houses as opposed to the perfectly designed magazine rooms!

More later!

trasgorshek Search Thomas O'Brien and Hudson Valley on their site. They have the Chandler sconce you are looking at but do not have the Kasler, unfortunately.

trasgorshek Oh man, I would if it wasn't in the midst of getting done. I just took down the large builder grade mirror and Hollywood lights last night so there are holes,etc. that are in the midst of getting patched before I can paint. I will sand later today and paint that wall hopefully tomorrow. Mirrors are not in yet either, so if I took a pic it would look REALLY sad. :(

shelleyuk I am also having the wall light dilemma. Simply cannot decide and have persuaded the electrician to give me until Monday to make up my mind. I like the tube and I don't think it's too modern at all.

I'm struggling over whether these will look too much with this ceiling light fitting

akcorcoran Harcoums, I think that is a pretty combination! Have you seen those sconces lit? Do they let out even light bc sometimes a rippled or ribbed glass leaves shadows. What brand are they ? Very pretty and I do like the combo.

I am thinking I'm back to the tubes, either the two above or pottery barn or restoration hardware. My issue is the height. I can't have a stubby one with 43" mirrors or it will look off. It's too bad bc there is an Alexa Hampton one I really like. (Wonder if I could put a towel ring under it to help with the height?)

Design dilemma, for sure!

akcorcoran This one is pretty, I think

shelleyuk I like that one.

This is my sconce lit. It's a crystal effect.

shelleyuk I still like the visual comfort tube. I think it will give you better light and I think it's perfect for a modern/classic look.

Scott Design, Inc. akcorcoran-consider Hammerton Seriph collection wall sconce. The shade is available in several glass materials which will allow more light to reflect out. The sconce is available in several finishes and shapes.

akcorcoran Oh, that's gorgeous and would definitely wor pk with the feel of the bathroom. I'm searching now!

trasgorshek Don't mean to be a buzz killer but unless you move your sinks over, width could be an issue. The more narrow ones could work though. Looks like they will be on the pricey side.

If you are like me, you are banging your head on the desk about right now. I did this for weeks while waiting for the electrician to get back with me and set a date. I finally picked out three I could live with and let my husband have the final choice. The ones chosen where not my favorite but I do like them a lot...good choice for the money. I wanted more length out of them because our mirrors are tall also. Hopefully I will still like them when I get the mirrors up.

akcorcoran I hear you. I talked o my GC and we have room to slide them over an inch or two on each side and you won't know. We did it with my daughter's bathroom too. It actually creates more room under the sink in the cabinet bc the plumbing is over to one side more than centered. I'll attach pics - their lighting is fabulous -and they are 9 and 10 and don't even need it!

I'm looking at ones that have a narrow backplate.

I do love the Hammerton ones but I'm afraid if I can't get the price unless trade or through the rep. Eek!

Here's the girls' bathroom before it was totally finished.. Those are Robern medicine cabinets that are 19 1/2" wide by 36" tall. (It's hard to photograph with the lights on and show the light. You can kind of tell from the one focused on the countertop and sink - the lights are on then. Those are Pottery Barn Sussex Tube sconces (which awe on sale now. Tempted to use them again!)

olldroo Good morning, all, I'm so glad I have slept through half the anguish here. Isn't it rididulous how just the smallest things can cause such problems.

Harcoums, I love your sconce and it is perfect with your light.

I guess I'm lucky in a way that we do things so much simpler here. I think cleaning and practicality takes over too. Of course our bathrooms are so much smaller than yours, which doesn't leave a lot of room for fancy.

Alcorcoran, your girls' bathroom is lovely, love the colour of the vanity top, it is all really fresh and pretty. Those sconces would look good in your ensuite, they have that Roman flavour to match the Julius tiles. They are like that 3rd one I like, with the frosted glass to diffuse the light and I think that is the secret to getting the light you need.

I can understand you wanting something different, I would too, but I think in this case when you are so uncertain, I'd be thinking "better the devil you know than the devil you don't".

I love those niches in the wall too, I was hoping for them, but they just couldn't get them in without a lot of expensive work to stabilise the wall to allow for them.

trasgorshek Morning Roo! Completely agree about the frosted glass. My light comes in one similar with a frosted glass and it's designated for bathrooms but I didn't like it as much. Now that they are in, I know I should have gone that route regardless if I wasn't over the hill for them. That's okay, lesson learned. But, Akcorcoran, I think that's why you are getting so much light from the Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware ones. They are designed for bathroom application whereas regular wall sconces are more decorative. Not that that helps with decision making...sorry :) I know this is driving you crazy. I feel your pain. I'm now trying to decide on rugs and going through the same tossing and turning...ugghh

olldroo I think Tras, you are hitting the nail on the head, so often we fall into the trap of falling in love with an idea or a product and beating ourselves senseless trying to make it work when deep down we know it is wrong. We all do it, goodness knows how many times I have.

If going with the pretty sconces means putting in cans too, then you will end up with that many lights that will detract from each other, become visually confusing and not really achieve anything. If going with the PB or RH ones means you only have them, then it means they get to shine on their own with no distractions - if you get what I am saying.

C'mon, Tras, throw the rugs out to the ollds, you know that is what we do best.

trasgorshek :) I haven't narrowed down enough yet. You guys would kill me if I posted all of them! LOL Pricing AGAIN is an issue, as well as size. Of course the one I absolutely love is too much to justify, go figure!

trasgorshek Can I just add that I think "designed" homes are partial guilty as well. You see so many with marble counters in the kitchen and sconce lighting in bathrooms (with 0 cans overhead). You can't help but get ideas from them. But when you execute them and have to live in the space, it's completely different. I kick myself daily over the marble in the kitchen. The bathroom is no biggie, I can work with the lighting but just drives me crazy sometimes. Wish there were disclaimers on the pics. I'm learning by trial and error...but I am learning!! That's the good part.

olldroo Couldn't agree more Tras, and professional lighting in photographs that makes things look better than they probably do. Of course we all have champagne tastes on beer budgets too - actually mine doesn't even run to beer at the moment.

That rug doesn't do a thing for me - but of course I have no idea yet where you are putting it or what will go with it. Looking forward to more.

trasgorshek I'm sitting here laughing!! I always look so forward to chatting with you! I will show more when I get them narrowed down.

My budget isn't at beer level either! It's at rain water now...not even water fountain or water bottle. But, that makes it half the fun, right? HAHAHA Can you imagine if we had freedom to choose whatever we wanted for our spaces...

olldroo B-O-R-I-N-G!!!! Where would be the challenge in life and I wouldn't have all the wonderful friends I have here.

akcorcoran Sorry, gals! My battery died. Tras, I love that rug, actually -it would be great in my master bedroom! Where's it from? The BR is my neutral, soft palette which I'm sort of continuing into the bathroom. posted the fabric below!

I really appreciate your honest opinion, Tras. I think I'm going to focus on the bathroom sconces, not decorative sconces, and likely the tube type but with some sort of classic look. I've learned through my whole guest bathroom experience - I still don't like the lighting in there ad can't wait until we finish the new master suite so we can move in. I go up to the girls' room when I want to actually see my face to put on makeup!

I am hesitant to put in recessed abie the vanity because you really can't compensate for the shadows it created over your face. I can add a makeup mirror that's lit but I don't want to squint in the dark when I wash my face or brush my teeth!

Harcoums, are you going to go with those sconces? That set is beautiful together. Did you have the ceiling mini chandelier already? It's very unique looking - pretty.

Scott Design Inc., any idea the range of price of those sconces from Hammerton? I am not sure whether our local lighting stores will carry them. They are very pretty and I love the choices but do worry it will be above my budget. :-(

Oldroo, you make me laugh! You are reminding me that this isn't brain surgery - and it's supposed to be fun! And this website is supposed to help, not make me feel insecure about my decisions! I have a whole different post going on GardenWeb's home forums about how paranoid I am that I've picked a granite for the kitchen with strong color when EVERY KITCHEN in magazines and online are white, white. Or all neutral countertops - white, black. You can read here:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0316080426789.html

Ok, thanks, all!

(here are pics of the actual bathroom. You can see the light from the windows but we'll likely put shutters of the window for privacy. The big area with the double windows is where the tub deck and tub goes (to the right of it is the shower, to the left is the "water closet" as the architect calls it.) and then here's the master bedroom fabric and pillows

olldroo Hi Alcorcoran, wondered where you have been all day - at least Tras and I had a lovely little chat. Tras is in my daughters' age range but we get on so well, better than I do with my own.

Well, my present mantra is "this is f-u-n...... ooooohm" It is the only way I keep it together while I pull my hair out. You obviously haven't looked at too many kitchens here - I didn't think anything but granite was used in the US but sorry to say, it is all too much for me. Your granite is certainly gorgeous though, so much colour and life in it and I particularly love that little border tile, it matches exactly, but as much as I can admire it in other people's homes, I just couldn't live with it. It is interesting that 90% of kitchens in Australia are white. We don't do timber like you guys do, mostly laminates. Makes me cry when all everyone over there wants to do is paint their timber. I'm sure in another 20 years everyone will be asking here how to remove the paint from timber. I think the most popular material for bench tops is Caesarstone at the moment, although I'm not that keen on it, I like my tops plain, plain, plain. Probably why I love your girls' bathroom so much, that vanity top is gorgeous. What is it?

As for your bedroom - WOW what can I say, just gorgeous. That blue will be so restful. Are the reds proper reds or more a coral? Can't wait to see it finished.

Attached two photos of my ensuite, not big enough to get into properly to photo but gives you an idea of how much simpler we keep things. The vanity was my old vanity, had seen better days but I just love the Corian top and it was in perfect conditon and I couldn't find anything practical in my price range so I got some special laminate undercoat and painted it to match the walls. Really happy with how it came out.

shelleyuk Hi guys, just waking up in England.

You are so lucky if you're able to use any lighting in bathrooms. Over here we are so restricted since we are only allowed to use special bathroom lights in wet or steamy areas. Plus there isn't a great deal of choice, particularly when you spend most of your free time on Houzz and have been brainwashed by beautiful American properties!

I really like the lighting in the girls' bathroom and would be tempted to use it again if it works. I think the style will go nicely too. I love the cabinets too. I had a look to see if we can get them here but it doesn't seem like we can.

I think I am going for the sconces. I've already bought the chandelier. I have an additional problem in that in this bathroom there is no storage. I have been toying with the idea of a cabinet with lights built in but am concerned it will look too modern so the sconces are the other option with an oval mirror cabinet (again we are very limited on choice). I prefer the sconces so if you guys don't think they will be too much I think I will go with them (and not tell my husband how much they are!). The bathroom guys will be pleased when they arrive this morning that I might actually be able to give them some guidance as to what they're doing!!

olldroo Harcoums, if you are happy you are going to get sufficient light from the sconces, then I don't have a problem with them at all. As you say too, when you are so limited, as we are, compared to the US market, it is nice to go for any treat you can.

As far as storage goes, can you get a plain mirrored shaving cabinet similar to mine? It is so plain and basic it would really go with anything. Mine is 4 ft (1200mm) long with 3 mirror doors and it is amazing how much it holds. I also had the power plug installed at one end of the bottom shelf so it can be shut away and not seen.

trasgorshek Roo, love you!! Akcorcoran, the rug is from Home Decorators, which is usually pretty economical...just not this one. I set a tight budget for accessories in the bathroom since I know I will change them out frequently, another lesson learned!! Lol. Love the colors for your master, very similar to my daughter bedroom. Serene and pretty! I also like the lights you used in your daughters bathroom, as well as the openwork long tube (I think this one will give you the length and lighting you are looking for to match the Jacquline mirror).

Harcoums, love the sconce selection to go with the chandelier! I like the oval mirror to go with it, oval gives the touch of feminine to go with the hard chrome. Love the mix of the glass with the chrome, both feminine and masculine. If you are worried things might be too modern together, you could always soften with accessories. Very pretty!

trasgorshek Roo, I love your shower!! I wish we were redoing ours!...Well, kind of. seeing as i would be the one doing the work, I guess Im kind of glad we aren't. All I'm doing is adding a little jewelry to our bathroom, no real major changes. We debated about it but just don't have the money nor do we think we would get it back at resale. Maybe next time...

I'm still doing cartwheels about getting the can lights downstairs and the sconces up in the bathroom! Felt like Christmas for mom!

akcorcoran Harcoums, I think your bathroom will be very pretty. I love the chandelier - its pretty and delicate while still a flush mount, so it's different that all the chandeliers hanging in bathrooms in pictures. And I think the oval is pretty as are the glass sconces. It's a sparkly, beautiful bath!

Tras, I'll check on Home Decorators - I think I know the page in the catalog though - they are definitely not the inexpensive ones! You sound like you've modest choices in other aspects though. I try to find a rug I like and watch for the brand on Joss & Main or One Kings Lane. I still really want to see your new lights! That is like Christmas!

Roo, I really like the clean and crisp aspect of your bathroom, particularly the all glass shower. And the sink top is lovely. I do love those one piece sinks for how crisp the look is and for cleaning. They are actually really expensive here - more than granite and/or marble in some cases! And, you'll laugh but the girls' vanity countertop is Ceasarstone - Crema Limestone is the name of the color. It was discontinued in the US (replaced by a similar color but not as pretty to me,) so I found a remnant just but enough for their sink and saved a lot there. Good thing because those Robern medicine cabinets are spendey!!! Their vanity is only 60" though and I was determined to fit in a double sink in there to save me bickering over the years! So I needed that exact size mirror to fit the three lights. And they needed the storage - so that was the most expensive thing in their bathroom. :-( So pleased in the end though with how it came out.

Anyway, nice chatting with you this a.m. - I'm going to try to narrow down choices today. We are actually away on vacation (on holiday, as some of you gals would say?!) so I'm trying to finalize everything I can. I have a post going about my kitchen lighting on Houzz too - need all the advice I can get!

shelleyuk Well after a morning of work the bath is in! The surround will go in after the tiling is done. Shower has been ripped out and new shower tray is going in tomorrow. We are making progress!!

I am ordering the sconces and the oval mirror, I can dither no longer!

akcorcoran Yay, it's going to be beautiful! I love progress! Order away - it will feel so good to watch it come to life!

trasgorshek I'm so excited for! So much fun! It always feels like watching a piece of art come to life, each piece to come in is a stroke of the brush!

I grabbed some pics with the pad real quick. Very bad quality, sorry...but gives the idea. Here are the lights in place. Still need to finish the mirror wall and get mirrors up. They will hopefully be in this week. The water closet is done and illustrates the shadow box molding I'm doing in the main bath. I only have the chair rail up and painted so far in main bath. Still need to do the inside boxes. I will be changing out faucets and knobs.

akcorcoran Oh, Tras! It's going to be stunning! So sophisticated yet simple - and I haven't seen those choices on Houzz! Kim can see what you mean about the lighting, but also why you chose it. It's going to be beautiful when you finish! Wow!

trasgorshek Thank you Adcorcoran!! It fit in more with the master plan and with $. The first pic was the one I originally wanted but decided against due to $'s, hubby's choice and how it tied in the master bedroom. We have the lucia light in the bedroom and really needed something that fit with it since the bathroom is viewable from all angles. Plus this sconce has a great semi-flush in it's lineup that will work great in the closet (when I get to it). :) The double shade didn't help at all with lighting but didn't even consider it when we made the final decision. I was so fried out on choices that it didn't matter anymore. We will end up adding some mini cans later, more then likely. It's all good. Lesson learned.

akcorcoran All pretty! We almost went with the Lucia for our bedroom but I have a crystal cut in the Guest Bed so I wanted to mix it up a little for our bedroom. I went with this Steven and Chris by Artcraft - they call it a chandelier but it's only because it's open at the bottom. I thought that would be a bit more light and it was a touch of modern in a classic room. And then we have bedside lamps (or we will - I only have the shades now because they were a gift from my mother for Christmas!)

I'm so excited to see yours coming together! It's a really soothing palette and pretty together.

We have the picture frame panel molding throughout our first floor dining room and then up the the 3-story staircase. I love it in the bathroom through - and with your color paint, so elegant!

trasgorshek Ohhhhh so pretty! Love love! Where did your mom find those shades? They are gorgeous! Will look beautiful with your fabric! Stunning!

akcorcoran Horchow (or Neiman Marcus) - they are on sale now but I haven't told her! :-) It is paired with two other that are bleh over the top to me which is so strange!
http://www.horchow.com/p/Linens-and-Lace-Ivory-Roses-Metal-Roses-Lamp-Shades/cprod86860001/

akcorcoran Ok, back to my lighting dilemma, I think if I want to avoid the recessed lights above the vanity, I've narrowed it to these - yes? Any other tall, traditional bath lighting you like (regular glass shade over a light, not a tube?) I added one - the Astor. It's open work at the bottom but not the top. (ignore the finishes - haven't decided on that yet.)

Still like the Chandler Visual Comfort up there - can you not out a glass shade (from somewhere else - they sell them at the hardware or lighting stores here) on a regular sconce? There is not direct moisture here?

shelleyuk 1 or 3 look like they'd give good light. But I like all four. That's not very helpful is it!

akcorcoran Do you think I could use this in the bathroom? On a dimmer?

olldroo Good morning ladies - just dropped by to see where you are up to.

Firstly, shelley, I must have serious words with you - you will note by my name I'm Olld, therefore I'm forgetful and easily confused. Please don't change your name in the middle of a conversation, for a while there I really thought I had lost it.

Thanks for the compliments on my ensuite, it really makes me feel good. I wanted something really easy clean and senior friendly and time is proving I have made the right choices. My vanity top is Corian and I have a vitreous enamel bowel, it is not all in one piece but is no problem to clean. They are available here but funnily enough are dirt cheap. It is all done with a poly type product and just does not wear. Many years ago these were all the rage and hotels and motels were installing them like crazy but you only had to drop a lid or a tube of lipstick into the bowl and they scratched like mad and how often does that happen. I was suprised to see them back and it seem they still haven't improved on them at all. I wonder if yours are any better if they are so expensive.

The only reason I'm not keen on Ceasarstone is because everyone here is using it. I just like to be different (sometimes pronounced difficult). I'm also not keen on any pattern in the top so if it is plain or close to it, then that meets my approval. That's me. My Aussie joey's first home had a kitchen bench in black, grey and glittery silver - nearly drove me insane, the glittery bits looked like crumbs and I was forever trying to wipe them off. I know people who have had their's crumble too, it can be fixed but was still a bit off-putting.

Shelley - is your bathroom not waterproofed? I am really surprised, that wouldn't be allowed here.

Gosh Tras, the photo certainly shows up the uplighting in your sconces. What a shame. Wonder how they would look upside down - at least the lighting would be great :) You are very brave with that dark grey but it looks so great.

Alcorcoran - your bedroom lights are gorgeous, especially those shades, can't wait to see your room done. Love the ivory roses shade too but I must think "dust".

SO back to the real dilemma - at least we are down to practical - half the battle. No. 4 is the same one as in the girls' bathroom? Right? Am I right in assuming the girls' light is bronze where you would be looking at silver for your ensuite? That in itself will make them a bit different and not look like you have just bulk bought everything. I'm over the first one now, so it comes down to 2, 3 or 4 and I vote for 4 on the grounds that you know it and you know it will work for you - and I think Julius will like the style of it too.

I hope you are getting some fun time in here - not my idea of a vacation but maybe it is good to move away from the scene to clear your head.

I must move on here - just discovered in all the upheaval, I have lost all my shoes. I have one pair of walkers and my ugghs and don't even know where to start to look.

olldroo Akcor - in a word - No. I really worry a bare bulb is going to become too glary and in your eyes. It is light you want, so I really don't see the point of a dimmer - am I missing something??

trasgorshek Good morning everyone. Akcorcoran, I still like number one. It has the length you were looking for plus carries some ornate features to go with the Jacqueline mirror. The ornate features soften the modernness of the tube. Also like the finish. The Jacqueline has a silver leaf finish overlaid so the undercoat shows through. It's not a true brass or gold, so it looks different in different photos. Do a google search so you can see different pics of it and enlarge the mirror so you can see the finish up close. To help you decide, have you put the lights side by side with mirror? To help me, I cut and pasted the photos of the mirror and each light into a word document . Put each light side by side with the mirror and tried to scale them appropriately. Hope this helps, I know you're pulling your hair out. All of your choices are beautiful, so you won't go wrong with any that you choose.

olldroo Hi, Tras, we need to get our act together with us both liking different things, I'm sure we aren't helping. I don't mind #1, I just like others better, but the main thing I am trying to achieve is to get the right amount of light.

Anyway, I'm off to bed, leave you two youngsters to it.

akcorcoran Hi Tras and olldroo, I am heading back today from our vacation so I am going to call the lighting stores to see if they have any of them in stock. There are only two lighting stores in town so I'm guessing not likely. If they did, I could have brought the mirror to see them together. If not, Tras, I love your idea. A designer did that when I posted for my kitchen and it was SO helpful! I'll try to do that and post so you all can see!

I am feeling good though about the LIGHT that they will let in. I don't want to dread going into our new, and hopefully beautiful, bathroom b/c of poor light!

akcorcoran OK - we have to check out so I only had time to do the open work but here they are - they may be a TAD shorter than this but you get the idea. I actually think the proportion is really nice but I'll do the others later today! :) Thanks for the idea, Tras - what do y'all think?

akcorcoran I should remind you that there's a cabinet to the right and left of the outside - and then there is an arch over the whole set. :)

Editing to add - kind of love it!

trasgorshek Now I curious what number 3 will look like. If the stores don't have your lights, look on line. You might save a few $'s also. I really like onestoplighting. Most of the time they offer $ back if they don't get them to you by a certain time plus no shipping or tax...really adds up!

Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. When I design bathrooms - I always, Always put in overhead general lighting in pots, then add wall sconces or bathroom vanity fixtures and then sometimes will add dangly small pendants hanging over the sink as well -

As a rule of thumb, each room in your home needs three different types of lighting - stick with this rule and you'll never be without the perfect lighting.

trasgorshek Hi Akcor, when you went through Circa, what did you think of these? They are designated for bathroom also. Just thought I would throw out even more options to make your life harder... sorry.

shelleyuk Sorry Olldroo, I didn't think about the confusion on threads, I just got fed up of typing an awkward username!

Not sure what you mean by bathrooms having to be waterproofed? We certainly don't have to do anything special to a bathroom, it can literally be a bedroom that you put pipes into and then it becomes a bathroom (in fact that is what a lot of bathrooms in older properties are). It doesn't then have to be boarded out in a special way or anything like that. As a result however we are only allowed to have special electrical fittings in bathrooms and we are not allowed normal plug sockets anywhere near water so that means for example that you couldn't use a hairdryer in a bathroom over here. Electric razors and electric toothbrushes have a different low voltage plug on them.

Bizarrely it's fine to have normal plugs in kitchens so presumably it's to do with steam.

Back to the lights I really like the mock up with the tubes. I'm still voting for the original tubes.

More progress today with our bathroom. We have ply in the floor, a shower tray installed (although slightly higher than I thought it would be) and the first tiles on the wall. Sconces are being collected tomorrow and I think I've found the only oval mirror cabinet left in the whole of England so fingers crossed I will be able to get that ordered tomorrow. Will be posting later with fabric options for the blinds to see what you ladies think.

trasgorshek Shelley, it's looking great! Are you thrilled with the progress so far?

shelleyuk I'm pleased its finally coming together but I am a bit worried that I was too conservative with the tiles. This is a bathroom on a very tight budget though and so I was limited in my choices.

Have to come in under budget so that I can persuade my husband that I need to do our bathroom too!!

shelleyuk Any views on these fabrics for a roman blind. I'm about to accidentally step on the pretend wooden slat blind that was up before.

shelleyuk I will also do a separate thread so as not to hijack this one!

trasgorshek I accidentally step on lots of stuff! Funny how that happens. I'm about ready to accidentally step on my horrible camera so my husband will leave his at home. ;)

Love one and four! I think either will look great with your crystal lighting choices. I would pick whichever one gives the most complement to your tiles. Hard to tell the tile color from the pic. Don't worry about cutting corners on the tile, its a very smart choice. Tile can really add up. Just the difference of a couple dollars per square foot makes a huge difference on the end budget. Your lighting will be the focus anyways. Throw some really nice accessories in there and you will never know it. Just my two cents...

shelleyuk I think one and four are my favourites too. This was my inspiration picture and four is pretty close.

trasgorshek Ohhhh, yes! Very pretty. Ugghh, sorry I meant two and four. Don't have a clue why I mixed that up. Sorry. Either two or four would work. Two looks like a linen, do you know what four is? I love them both.

shelleyuk Four is linen, two is a cotton polyester blend. Four is slightly cheaper but there's not much in it.

Husband just said he hates number one so that one is out!

trasgorshek I agree. Not too hip on flowers, but that's just me. My final vote is four, I love linen. Not sure how it will do in a bathroom with steam, etc. but love linen for drapery.

olldroo Afternoon ladies. Had to starve for a blood test this morning, now I have a stinker of a headache. Tried to sleep it off but the gardener came next door to mow the lawns!! Some days you just aren't meant to win.

So to catch up again - that is all I seem to do here - Alcor that mock up is great. Love it. It looks so much better than the bathroom you posted for some reason. Honestly, those mirrors and lights look like they were designed to go together.

Tras - go away with your options, we don't need anymore. I must admit though I do like the first one, you know me plain and simple, but I actually think it would be too plain and just be a "light" not some thing that relates to the mirror too.

I forgive you Shelley, anything for ease - that's how Tras got her name and I'm generally roo.

Here we have laws relating to the building of bathrooms, the walls have to be of a waterproof material - we use a product called Villaboard, that is basically fibro without asbestos, and then the floor, the joins and wall joins have to be painted with 2 coats of a waterproofing "gunk" (for want of a better word) to totally seal the area and prevent the water going anywhere and rotting the construction timber in the walls. Even bricks are porous and would absorb any water. My bathrooms were done before this became compulsory and is why we had to gut and redo everything as the showers had leaked and rotted floorboards, studs, joists, you name it, lucky the house was still standing.

Don't apologise for your tiles at all, look how plain my tiles are (I used the same ones in the main bathroom too) and I just love looking at them because they are so clean and fresh looking. Your's look lovely and you won't get sick of them because you can change out other things like towels and accessories, to give the room a different look. I minimalised on tiling more to keep the labour costs down, so the actual tile costs didn't make too much difference, but I still kept it as low possible while still getting a good tile. I had to be sneaky about getting the ensuite done and one of the reasons I painted the vanity and reused it, that saved me thousands.

Blind - love #1 but it is too bedroomy, #3 too flowery so I'm with #2 or #4. Just not sure which one will work with your tiles. I feel I would go for #4 being a lighter colour but I would need to see it with the tiles to decide. The colour in the inspiration photo seems to look better. I'm not sure, but you used to be able to get a surface - sort of like a laminate, but it didn't look plasticy - put on fabrics for bathrooms and kitchens so they weren't affected by steam and could also be easily wiped clean.

Isn't it amazing how many sneaky big footed women are around these days.

shelleyuk My wall lights have arrived. What do you think? They're very sparkley.

olldroo Shelley, I think they will act like prisms and throw off some great light and look great themselves. Can't wait to see them up.

trasgorshek Ohhh, very pretty!! Just look at the shadows they create on the table. They will be beautiful lit up!

Akcor, did you make it back from your vacation? What have you decided? So sorry to throw more options out there. :) After getting yelled at by Roo, I thought I should apologize. LOL I'm still a fan of the Openwork tube. I think it will be fabulous together.

olldroo Keeping kids under control is a full time job!!!

shelleyuk Any update akcorcoran?

My tiles are up and waiting to be grouted. Cabinet has arrived and is going up tomorrow. Shower, bathsurround and radiators etc should go in at the weekend

olldroo Nice. Looks like it has made your room look a lot larger?? This is getting to the exciting part now.

akcorcoran Hi all! I didn't abandon you - I just had to go back to work after returning from vacation, which leaves me NO time to do HOUZZ (or my real house) work. :-)

I haven't decided yet but need to asap. Had a few kinks on the tile because the polished version I wanted for my floor isn't available until mid-April - as opposed to this Saturday when it's supposed to go down on the floor. I can go with the honed version but it's a porcelain that's designed to look like stone and the polished looks SO much richer and more realistic. So, that's a bummer. I should have picked it earlier so I didn't run into this.

shellyuk, your bathroom is coming along so beautifully! I'm so glad to see it too because I am using the 12 x 24s in my shower and that made me so nervous but they look wonderful in your bath! Those tiles are very similar to the ones we put in our guest bathroom in a 12x12 - we did that bath last summer. Pics attached of a stripped to the studs BEFORE and then the AFTER!

I'll live vicariously through you until mine gets moving again. And, I just need to DECIDE on the lights. ARGH! Being decisive is NOT my strong suit. :-)

olldroo Alcor, love that feature panel, I wanted to try to do something like that but Mr. Plain and Simple (with emphasis on the simple) wouldn't go for it. Really like all your colours, it looks great.

Pity about your floor tiles - is there no way you can wait if the builder has other work to do?? The only positive is that if the floor is really polished it could also be very slippery and that could be a downer - in more ways than one.

I hope you feel rested after you vacation. Go anywhere exciting?

akcorcoran Oh, and here's a view with the original window. And, the scones that I went through 30 rounds to pick (because the others had shades - these have glass but they are still not bright enough b/c it's tinted.)

akcorcoran I did go somewhere fun - the USVI (St. Thomas) and it was SOOO relaxing, except when I was stressing about lights at night! But, it was a much needed break from work and the chaos here at the house as it's being remodeled.

We're making progress! Upper cabinets for the new kitchen and our butler's pantry went in today (don't ask why only upper - long story having to do with the contractors not laying the hardwood floor while we were gone on vacation...grrr...) Laundry room tile is down and they put in the grout today. They painted all the trim in the new space. I met with the paint lady (a free resource from our paint store) who picked about 12 colors for old and new space. And, among other things, I bought a Miele dishwasher tonight with my kids in tow. So that's all exciting!

I still need to pick the lights on ALL fronts. Stress. Too many choices!

olldroo I can see to how the light would have all gone to the ceiling. Pity they look really nice. It is a shame we can't really test lights before we buy, unless they actually have the light installed in the store.

akcorcoran I actually could see the light before and return it if it didn't work but I was so weary by that point. And, I think it's only after you've lived with it for a while that you realize you aren't crazy about the light. I have to put my makeup on so I'm always raising the dimmer to full light. My husband seems to like it dim. I should have put in two different switches for different lights in the master!

olldroo Wow, St. Thomas would have been so nice and a nice break from winter too. Typical of builders not do do flooring while no one is in the house - makes too much sense!!!! Great getting the paint lady free, it is nice to have someone work with you and validate your choices. Miele is very popular here for appliances, so sounds like you have chosen well there too.

Silly that lights are such a small item in one sense but a large issue in the overall picture. When we first built on the opposite side of Sydney to where I used to live a guy had just opened up a new lighting shop (which was a pretty new thing in those days) near where we lived but was happy to come right across town to help me with my lights. Of course there wasn't the choice then either, but it was nice just having him sit with me and make suggestions and he enjoyed selling a house full of lights.

akcorcoran I would love someone to come to the house to help with lights. I'm surprised that the stores here don't offer that service (when the paint store does!) There are also only three light stores really in Baltimore (other than hardware stores) so it would be a distinguishing feature. I really have been hit or miss on the lights. I feel like I choose for aesthetics but then the lighting isn't great. That's why I'm so obsessed with getting our master bath right, you know?

P.S. Here's a sneak peek at our butler's pantry cabinets and the backsplash that's going with it. Too excited to keep it in! Then, this is the fridge/pantry wall in our new kitchen - the kitchen cabinets are the same doors as the dark wood ones but painted in macademia with a bronze glaze (very subtle.) Sorry the pictures are so blurry - just snapped them on my phone.

olldroo You are so spoilt with a butler's pantry!!! That has to be the ultimate to me. OK I'm jealous, although probably would be a waste with me now. Backsplash tile is really pretty, no wonder you are so excited. Like the macadamia colour - is the bronze glaze on it now or still to go on. Hard to tell when I don't know what to expect.

I'm just amazed at all the beautiful moulding you guys do, it so finishes a room and looks really expensive. Here it would cost a bomb. We mostly have laminate cupboards, timber is very expensive, and even most of what looks like timber is only a laminate or veneer and if the cupboards are given a built in look it is generally only with a gyprock cornice. My existing timber cupboards just have an edging piece of timber at the ceiling to finish them off. Everything is so much simpler, but then it is less to worry about and agonise over.

akcorcoran I know - we are spoiled! The funny thing is that we're actually just returning the house to its roots - it's a 1917 Colonial so it had a butler's pantry originally ... for butlers! But someone along the way ripped it out and added this ugly dead area of space between a counter and cabinet area - it was totally useless so we just brought back the space to its original usage, plus a few modern conveniences going in!

The wood here is standard and that molding will finish off the cabinets in my kitchen too - but believe me, when it comes from the cabinet company, we pay for it! I did it more because of the fact that I hate to clean and if I left that gap that you see in the unfinished kitchen open, it would be the home of many a dust bunny (or bear!)

olldroo Definitely the days of gaps at the top of cupboards are gone - along with housemaids.

I am hoping to do something different with my pantry that I got the idea for on Houzz. Just hope I can afford it although I think it will be worth every penny for the overall space and working of the kitchen. The fact it has to be specially built is what will drive the price up but if I can find a good carpenter at a reasonable price I'm sure it will be doable. My kitchen is only small, I actually made it smaller by putting in a walk in pantry, beside it a full length cupboard for china and glass and behind that cupboard and beside the door to the kitchen a broom cupboard and storage. I now want to take all that out and combine it into one pantry and have like a U-shaped bench top running right around at bench height, put extra power points in and just have all my small appliances sitting there ready to go. I think I will save massive space in my other cupboards and as I won't have a lot of bench space, it will be a bonus too. I will probably still have space for a lot of general storage as we don't tend to keep a lot of food in the house. It just isn't worth cooking cakes and biscuits any more, especially when they aren't expensive to buy as necessary and we seem to eat a lot simpler now as well.

[houzz=
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akcorcoran I love that idea! We actually considered turning the butler's pantry space into more of a storage space in your photo but it made more sense for flow of the house to have it open (it opens to the dining room on one side, the new kitchen on the other.) I'll tell you what though, yours will probably have more storage! And you don't have to buy fancy cabinets for people to see and backsplash and all that stuff. It's just storage, storage, storage!

akcorcoran OK, focusing back on the lights for my bathroom, here's the mockup using the Lynde vanity lights - I don't know, they seem sort of small in scale to me?

akcorcoran Here's the Astor sconces (open at only the end) - I had to put in a background color and there is no picture of these straight on so it's a bit weird. I think the size is better but it only comes in brushed nickel or polished nickel? Even though the mirror has silverleaf, I'm not sure that the brushed nickel really works?

olldroo No, no, no, back to the original. In fact in doing that you have only proved to me how great the first ones are. They need the detail top and bottom so they don't get lost with the mirror.

akcorcoran This is Tras's later suggestion from Circa - Calliope by Thomas O'Brien (for Visual Comfort) - I think it's a similar idea to the Open Work set above. BUT these are $500 retail - so even if I find them discounted, I'm not sure they are that much better to spend that much extra $? Yikes!

akcorcoran Hmmm - I do think those are pretty. Still the detail at the ends to your point, roo, but a little less heavy. Ugh - maybe I can find them on sale somewhere...?

What do you think, Roo, compared to the first ones (Open Work)?

olldroo I love the idea of being able to just close the doors on everything although when it comes to cupboards and drawers, I am an anal neat freak. The kitchen will be a little weird shape, but it does work for me, I have the entrance and on the left the pantry will take up the whole space to the end wall. To the right will be two fridges in what will appear like a little passageway, then the bench space will start with drawers underneath and I have a hatch to the dining room at the back, I will put a lazy susan into the corner cupboard and that wall opposite the door will be all bench with windows in the midde and a sink under the windows. I hope to have more drawers under there and practical storage under the sink for all the washing up bits and maybe recycling stuff and then the dishwasher. I will put another lazy suzan into the corner and on that small wall going up to the pantry, which is only half height and opens to the family room I will have my hot plates and a wall oven beside them. I will also have room for top cupboards along the wall over the fridges and around the corner over the sink. I currently have open shelving there, may just leave the bottom shelf open. The only space I haven't found room for is the microwave. I'm hearing about drawer microwaves which sound really good but I don't think we have them here yet. Everything is pretty much as it is now, just going for drawers where possible as my knees don't like the floor anymore.

I like the way the butler's pantries open to both the kitchen and dining room. Great spot for having everything laid out ready to go. I think you made a good decision there.

olldroo Oops we are crossing here, is that $500 for the 3 or each???? That is insane. Well at first I liked Tras's ones because I like simple but didn't feel they would do much in your space. Now you put them up like that, me seriously likey. They really are neat and let the mirrors sing without getting lost themselves. Do me a favour and put the two photos side by side. How much cheaper are the others??

akcorcoran uh, for EACH. This IS insane. It's about $150 less for each of the open work (original) ones, so they still are sort of a budget buster!

Sigh, I do like the way the Calliope (second ones) look though - a bit more delicate, mirrors really are the star. and, I spent a ton on the backsplash border tile that will be below it (the Julius) so I want to see that too.

Oh dear. :(

akcorcoran The ONLY thing I'll say - I sort of worry about the actual light in the Calliope (second one)? It's showing up sort of weird in two bands - maybe that's just the photo but it's not all over light. I'd really want to see it...?

shelleyuk I like both but this is where you put on your sensible head and think about budget. I always think about what else I can do with the saved money. Go with the cheaper ones and think about the others no longer.

shelleyuk Glad you think our tile looks ok. It was the cheapest in the shop at only £7.00 per square metre (although its because its discontinued) and I've been worrying about it. But needs must, Im thinking of giving up work but have a large house to renovate. The two aren't particularly compatible!

olldroo TRAS!!!! You caused this!!!! Get over here. Now I'm feeling guilty, this is all my fault - teehee.

That is seriously ridiculous, how can they justify that, I doubt they would sell out here - maybe to a very small market. See what you mean about the bands, it is off-putting isn't it and at that price it would not be unreasonable to see them. The other one seems to have darker shading in the midde but it isn't as obvious as the stripes and probably more expected.

While Calliope (love that name, used to work with a girl named that) doesn't interfere with the mirrors, I think the open work rather adds to the mirrors because it is all in the same theme which also goes so well with Julius. Just sitting here looking, looking .................. nup the open ones will be fine, I think they actually strengthen the mirrors. You will have all three things making a statement - the same statement so they will strengthen each other and they look like a very bold and confident choice, where Calliope looks like you couldn't find anything to match or were too scared to. ????

olldroo Shelley, isn't it crazy how prices vary so much country to country. My tiles were $33 for the floor and $35 for the walls after I had haggled and that was at the lower end of average price. For 7 quid, you did damn good.

trasgorshek Sorry! :). I was just looking at ideas to work with mirror but not pull the eye from them. I love both and agree the banding on the open work works beautifully with the mirror...but will share the focus, which is okay. The $ ticket would win in our house but you are still getting a very beautiful light. I would install the open work then if years later you want a change then you could switch out. The wires are more then likely around the same spot so you wouldn't have to worry about your junction box placement.

Shelly, your bathroom is coming along beautifully! And Akcor so excited about all of your transformations! Too bad they didn't get flooring in! That would have made life easier.

olldroo We know you were being helpful Tras, just a pity about the price tags. I thought of changing them out down the track, but the others are pretty pricey too, be different if they were super cheap to have as an infill.

The more I sit and look at them, the happier I am with the open work ones.

akcorcoran OK, gals. I think I should go with the Open Work and then call it for good. There are also 15" cabinets (his and hers - we don't like to mix our stuff!) beside those lights on the outer sides so maybe the Open Work would hold their own more against those better than the ones with really no outer metal. Listen to us all trying to get away from the reality that those are $500 each. :-)

Wow - I'm going to tell my hubby who hassled me to no end about our tile pricing. That tile in our guest bath is actual limestone and was $7 / square foot. I can't imagine how hard it is to find options when your selections start at those prices! The only thing up there like oldroo's prices for me was the border in the Master Bath (the Julius.)

So, ignore me when I complain about budget in the future!

Shelly, anything new today?! They put in the tile in our powder room yesterday and I'm very pleased with it. No grout yet but I'm very pleased. It's still the traditional hexagon tile that is in colonial homes here in the states but updated to be with natural stone (some of which is polished and some is honed.) My vanity for the powder room is a vintage piece of furniture that is open at the bottom (pictured below,) not a cabinet, so you'll get to see all the tile. Wahoo!

Lex

(Oldroo, I can imagine you now saying it's so busy compared to your style! Hee, Hee - I already know you too well!)

shelleyuk No update today I'm afraid. It's chucking it down with snow and so the bathroom guys wimped out of trying to get to out to our home deep in the woods.

I'm constantly shocked at how cheap things are in the US. My tile at £7 was an absolute bargain. Generally even basic
plain white tiles are about £5 per square metre. For limestone here you'd be looking at in the region of £50.

Good decision on the lights. I think they're the best.

shelleyuk Really like the combination of colours in the hexagonal tile. And I love your vanity. I hunted high and low for a vanity here but all that is really on offer is ultra modern wall hung boxes ikea style.

akcorcoran Thanks, shelly - on all fronts! That's too bad about the snow (love that you say "chucking it down" - I'm going to use that here! :-) No progress is so NOT fun when you've been making progress!

I'm very pleased with the powder room things (although I still don't have a mirror for there.) I have lights that my mother gave me as a gift in 1997(!!!!) that were hard wired so I never had them installed in any of our different apartments or condos. They are iron with a blue-gray rust finish so I think it will come together nicely.

I also looked high and low for the furniture vanity - and in the end, I found the vanity on a sale website here called One Kings Lane. I could never of afforded it in real life but it was a shockingly low $499 down from an original price of $1699 so I snapped it up! Had to pay shipping, of course, and it's still not here but I'm so excited because it looks like a statement piece to me! Don't know yet if the bottom doors open - I hope they do, but I won't care if they don't b/c I think it looks so nice. :-)

OK, time to buckle down and buy the lights. Ugh - wish I could find them here somewhere so I could pay some in cash and my hubby wouldn't know! The tricks I play!

trasgorshek Ohhhh, Akcor, we all have our tricks! Too funny! Shelley, we've been getting snow also. My sons speech teacher just told me were expected to get 7" tomorrow. Just crazy! I thought it was spring time! Ugghh. Akcor, we are on spring break also, unfortunately we didn't have much fun thanks to the weather! :( Love the vanity for powder room! Beautiful! Did you try onestoplighting for the lights? They might be a little cheaper plus they have the $ back if they don't get to you in the time frame they say.

trasgorshek Hi Roo! I've been missing our chats! Little one has me going in circles while on spring break.

trasgorshek $359 for the Openwork. Not much savings but a little on each one, if you haven't ordered yet.

http://www.bathkitchendecor.com/Visual-Comfort-Studio-Openwork-Long-Sconce-in-Hand-Rubbed-Antique-Brass-with-Frosted-Glass-SS2014HAB-FG_p_217531.html

Scott Design, Inc. Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. Yes, the wall sconces I suggested are over your budget. At some point in this discussion the use of a glass clip-on shade was suggested. There is such a ribbed frosted glass shade available from http://lampglass.nu/clip-on-shades.html . It could possibly work with the Visual Comfort French Deco Horn. It's a much lighter approach in style compared to the long openwork sconce. You should call Visual Comfort directly and ask them for their opinion on the size and style of the shade and what they would recommend. If you go online and look under French sconces, you should find less costly sconces that could possibly work with this shade. Please note that even a frosted glass shade will reduce the lumens from the bulb but certainly not as much as paper or cloth.

olldroo Thanks Scott Design - you realise we have been agonising over this for a week :) At least we have had a lot of fun going off on otherthings too.

Alcor - don't get me wrong, I like plain and simple for me in my home as it is. My home is just a basic contemporary home which just doesn't go with anything else. However for your colonial, your choices are great and the sort of things that would be used in colonials here too. I have always loved that hexagon tile - I might add here, I am 70 years old so I actually remember all this. When we were building our home, the colonial style for new homes was raging, so this was what everyone was using. Because it was so "trendy" at the time, we avoided it not realising of course it would trend, go and retrend over and over. Even the old colonial homes were initially modernised but they are all going back to roots now. The vanity is perfect and it looks a beautiful quality............. what a price!!!! This is the vanity I chose for my main bathroom after months of looking, everything was so impractical. I eventually found this place online who had basic units but I could modify to suit my needs. Still not wonderful, very little in storage, but it was on special for $1,350. Anywhere else I would have paid over $2,600.

shelleyuk Oh for goodness sake, more snow! No plumbers today to fit the shower. This is the view of the garden

shelleyuk Kids are enjoying it though!

olldroo How beautiful - provided you don't have to go out in it. I just couldn't handle driving.

Dare I say, we are having a little out of season weather too. Been up around 30 deg C. Bit of storm activity this afternoon that came to nothing except increase the humidity to an uncomfortable level.

trasgorshek Your kids are darling! Ugghhh the snow looks like us this afternoon. I'll be working to get everything done by noon before it starts. Roo, love the cabinet! Very clean, love clean lines.

Railroadware To answer the question about wall sconces with shades. "Good light " is a relative term. Most wall sconces are uplights designed to wash the wall and illuminate the ceiling. They are usually located at eye level or above so there is no glare. The lighting levels can be adjusted with a dimmer. My point is location and bulb visibility is important in selecting a sconce. I hope that helps. Come see our lights at www.railroadware.com

olldroo Thanks Tras, I'm just disappointed that it isn't as practical as it could be but short of having someone do a special build there is just no choice these days. The drawers look nice and deep but that is only the front of them, the sides are only half the height - at least mine do have sides, many, even in more expensive ranges, only have a bar across half way up so everything in draws has to be in containers to keep it in the drawer. Lord knows what idiot came up with this idea. It is nowhere near as deep as vanities used to be either and although it gives me more floor space in the bathroom and makes the bathroom look bigger, I still need storage. So glad I revamped my old vanity in the ensuite now.

olldroo Railroadware, love your insulator pendants.

Railroadware Thanks, looks like you have plenty of advice. Hopefully you can use some of these suggestions and comments.

The light source and quality of light is important especially in a master bathroom. However a guest bathroom or powder room may just need ambient light. and low lighting levels and you can concentrate on style and perhaps select a theme in your lighting choice not just the quality of the light.

Attached photo shows a low warm lighting level using a single insulator light pendant (no sconce) as the lighting source and Railroadware hardware toilet paper dispenser.

olldroo That toilet paper dispenser is pretty quirky too.

Railroadware This is a little bit off topic for sconce lighting but very appropriate for bathroom sensibility and style...
Quirky is not really the word I would use to describe RailroadWare products. Most folks settle for the traditional and conventional what is expected especially when it comes to the bathroom.

Why not surprise your guests with something they have never seen before that is simple elegant and works like a charm especially with "Charmin." lol

olldroo Just finished both my bathrooms, pity we don't have much creative like yours, if we do they cost a bomb. Most of our stuff is plain, simple, practical, modern.

trasgorshek Love your towel bar, railroadware! Just went through your site. Pretty cool!

Railroadware Thanks, here is the RRWare Towel Bar for the kitchen or bath.

shelleyuk Hi guys we made it back from our night away despite the foot and a half of snow. Bathroom fitters are parking on the roadside and walking the half mile in to the house tomorrow!! I feel a bit mean but I need progress!!

olldroo shelley I saw on TV the massive snow dump in then north-east I think they said??? Cars were completely buried on freeways, it was eerie. Maybe you need to install a tow rope and skis for the workers.

shelleyuk We have some progress at last with the snow having thawed a bit (although more predicted for the weekend). Tiles are grouted, cabinet is on the wall and the coving (crown moulding??) is up.

Any more lighting decisions akcor?

shelleyuk Look, look, look!! Lights and cabinet are up!

What do you think?

olldroo Hey, Shelley, happy Easter, looks like a really exciting one for you. Love your ceiling light - pure indulgence for a bathroom. Did you say that mirror was a cupboard? It is a lovely mirror, I love the bevelled edges. The sconces really intrigue me now, they don't look like I expected - don't get me wrong, they are still great- I was just expecting the glass to throw the light around a bit more, although they could be different in real life. I'm looking at them in relation to alcor's expensive ones with the bands she wasn't keen on and yours are doing the same thing. Do you have two globes in them or one, if one, what is causing the banding??

Is your home new or old?? I love the tiles, but I'm really liking how you have laid them. Amazing the difference, my tiles are the same size but I have stood mine on end and not staggered them.

Just realised alcor has gone quiet, I almost feel like we have taken over her thread, but that is part of the fun things that happen on Houzz. Must be busy. Hope she hasn't had any dramas.

How much more do you have to do with the bathroom?

My daughter just sent a parcel out with a friend of hers and included in it was a fabulous bathmat she got in Costco. It is double sided cotton with none of that rubber backing and is so thick and soft, I feel like I am stepping on a cloud. Makes me feel really pampered.

shelleyuk Hi Olldroo, Happy Easter!

It's all gaining momentum now. The plumber should be arriving in an hour or so to fit the sink toilet, radiator, towel rail and shower. Then I will post more pictures.

Yes the mirror is a cabinet. I'm really pleased with it since it was only £59. We've put the electrical socket inside the cupboard too so that its out of the way.

I have yet to see how the wall lights look in the dark and whether they give out much light. The banding isn't as obvious in real life as it is in the photos but yes it is there due to the fact that the two light bulbs which came with the lights are quite small. I shall have to investigate whether long bulbs reduce the banding at all.

I think the other issue is that the wall lights are obviously set back from the mirror (with the mirror being a cabinet). Had we had the budget we would have sunk the cabinet section into the wall but it was a big hassle.

Our house is late 1950s. It's a project which we are taking our time over because the house is at the top of the market in terms of price and we don't want to do anything that looks too cheap (but at the same time we don't have a massive budget for doing it up)!!

Problem is I spend hours on Houzz looking at beautiful pictures and get ideas way above my budget!!

trasgorshek Shelley, beautiful home! Love how the bathroom is taking shape! Looks fabulous, the ceiling light is just stunning and what a steal for the cabinet! Tiling is gorgeous but I'm a sucker for tile (tile and molding...love, love, love).

Akcor...where are you?? How are things going? I'm still waiting patiently for the mirrors to show up. Other then that, the walls are done and just need faucets, knobs, accessories stuff. Just waiting...tick, tock. Last they said was April 1st, so hopefully Monday! Yea!

olldroo Wow, your house is beautiful, lucky girl, but I don't envy you the cleaning - haha, I have a one track mind. It looks so lovely and clean and fresh looking, I want to keep looking at it. Looks like you have a lovely lot of land for the kids to play too. Is it Good Friday there? You have a plumber working on a holiday??

That is a great price for the cabinet. I put the power point in mine too, looks so much better than looking like a pimple on the wall and the door still closes easily when I am using my hair dryer.

I was curious about the age of the house as I felt that tile pattern suited an older house. Don't know how prices are over there but while it is nice to modernise it all, you do have to watch you don't overcapitalise too, although if you are there for the long haul, that isn't quite as important. Here we have quite a bit of leeway, it can be worth spending $100 or $200K on renovations, you can get your money back and more. Is your hubby handy for DIY projects? Mine is about as useless as a dead cat, but he tries............and tries my patience. Taking your time doing it lets you really look out for great bargains too so you can get an expensive look on a budget, plus it is nice to take a breather and get the house back in order between work. I quite enjoy looking at the photos on Houzz and then working out ways I can get the same look on my budget. Just furniture layouts make a whole different look to the house, that is what I like, getting different perspectives on rooms as well as accessories and the way they can be placed. Like you, we are restricted for choice a lot too, so that helps keep me under control.

When I was first introduced to this site, just as we had decided to blow the budget and totally renovate the house - our last Hurrah, so to speak - the hours and early mornings I spent browsing, it had to add up to absolute months. I also started checking out homes for sale in my immediate area and went to open houses to see the state of the homes, what people had done to them and the price they were asking. The agents can be so pushy, so I was pretty upfront with them and told them I was "researching". I actually got a good response from that and they have become very friendly and very interested in how I am going with it all. Of course I'm sure they are seeing $$$ from a potential sale no matter what I say.

When I got basic things happening I then discovered the comments on the weekly ideabooks and got drawn into them and found a whole new world of friends that I chat to pretty much daily and we swap ideas and critique each other's projects. That is how I got to know Tras so well.

Knowing you have two globes in each light puts a whole different perspective on them, I think it might diffuse the light better. Just wondering now if we will confuse Alcor again, especially when the "banded" ones were so expensive.

olldroo Hi Tras, hope your Easter is enjoyable too. Do you not have a holiday on Monday? We must be spoilt, Easter is a 4 day break for us and the kids get Tuesday off school as well, unless it falls in school holidays.

Sort of taking a backward step with my things at the moment, BH leaves for LA on Wednesday so am finding every little job I can for him to do before he leaves and then I have peace and quiet to push one with the things I want to do when I want to do them. At the moment, the minute I start something, he pokes his head in with "do you have a minute". Giving the kitchen a huge deep clean today - climb up to the top cupboards to empty them - do you have a minute - put the vacuum on - do you have a minute - stick my hands in a sink of soapy water - do you have a minute - arrrgggghhhhhhhh!!! Had a pretty good purge though, finally was able to let go of so much of my mother's stuff, actually didn't realise just how much of her's I still had, and then got into trouble for filling all the bins up.

trasgorshek Hi Roo! No, unfortunately we do not get extended days for Easter. Some government positions still get Good Friday off but majority of people still work...stores open,etc. Monday everything will be back to normal business...sad really! But that's a whole other soapbox for me to get on.

Hubby actually made it home today! He leaves again Sunday but we do get a real date tonight, if you can believe it! We are going to dinner and a movie...finally! And guess what!? We got the call today that the mirrors are in. So we will picking up this evening while we are out! Yea!! Christmas all over again! Date with my hubby and another step closer to finishing my current project! Yahoo!

olldroo Wow, I can't believe a day of such religious significance doesn't get recognition. Definitely would be a soapbox issue.

How lovely Hubby home, hope you have a great weekend and everything goes well.

I'm off for a day at the beach for GS birthday.

shelleyuk We get Easter off over here. We are off work Good Friday and Easter Monday. We have a school holiday over Easter too and so the kids are off for almost three weeks!!

Plumbers are busy upstairs (struggling with the incredibly heavy thick glass shower door). Hope to have more pictures later!!

shelleyuk Update - we are so nearly there!!

Radiator needs to go back on as does the heated towel rail. We then need to paint the cornicing and the window frame. Wall lights have been dismantled by my husband which is the clutter you can see on the sink and whilst the shower looks lovely, it needs a new pump (fortunately in the airing cupboard behind it). But we are so very nearly there and I had a celebratory bath in the new and very deep bath last night.

Thoughts? In particular what do you think of the bathmat. I haven't yet decided on the fabric for the blinds and whilst I love the bathmat I'm a bit worried it might be too busy with two patterns in there. Would a big white fluffy one be better?

olldroo Hi, Shelley, bet you feel like a queen already. All looks great, so lovely and clean and it will be easy to keep that way. When I first looked at the photos and before I read your comment, I thought you had used a patterned tile on the floor and then realised you hadn't said anything about that.

While I do like the mat very much, I am definitely a fluffy mat sort of person, just feels more luxurious to me. Unless you went for a spot or a stripe in your blind, I don't think I would like it with the other patterns you have chosen. Definitely I would accessorise the mat to your blind.

Do you plan on putting any shelving on the walls near the bath? I feel I would need something there to stand things on. I used just plain glass shelving in my shower with a narrow chrome bar across the front to stop things getting knocked off. Very minimalist and you hardly see it. I like your coral but am thinking once you get your blind in, you won't be able to keep it on the window sill and it would be nice to have it somewhere.

My daughter just sent me out a fabulous mat she got in Costco. It is double sided like a chenille cotton and is so thick, it feels amazing. She was able to get it in the perfect off white to go with my tiles and she has another one to send in the blue accent I have used. It is their own Kirkland brand and I think it was quite cheap but it looks really good and doesn't have the rubber on the back that usually perishes after a while. You have Costco there don't you? Check it out.