Guide your bathroom remodel with these elegant themes
You probably don’t think about it as such, but your bathroom is a fantastic space to show off your design skills. Sooner or later every guest visits your restroom. Follow these handy guidelines to make sure that they’re impressed every time they walk in. One major thing to remember is that your designs don’t have to be 100 percent period authentic. Even subtle inspirations or contemporary fusions can have a powerful effect.
Adding a Japanese flair
The Japanese possess a unique aesthetic that’s serene and contemplative. They take inspiration from the natural world, seeking harmony with, both within and outside of the home. It doesn’t take a great deal of change to add a Japanese influence to your bathroom.
If you’ve spent time in a Japanese garden, you’ve likely seen a small fountain that features a length of bamboo on a lever. It fills with water periodically, which tips it forward and creates a “clack” sound. You probably wondered what this was. It’s called a shishi-odoshi, and the purpose is actually to scare away deer that would eat the plants in the garden. The first way to create a distinctly Japanese impression in your bathroom is to replace your sink with a freestanding sink designed to look like a shishi-odoshi.
After this you can set up other elements, including a small stone garden feature. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging, where practitioners construct artistic pieces that highlight the natural beauty of the flowers while also making the designer’s touch evident. You don’t have to be a master of ikebana yourself; you can find inspiration for each arrangement online. A fun aspect of this is that you can change up your arrangement every week or so, keeping things fresh for you and your guests.
As far as wall decoration goes, consider putting up prints from famed ukiyo-e, or woodblock and painting, artists. A popular choice, and the picture that you’ve probably seen, even if you don’t know its name, is The Wave by Hokusai. This piece features the power and natural beauty of the ocean, without the influence of humanity. Other beautiful designs include pictures of geisha and courtesans. For your floors you can lay down bamboo bath mats.
These are the simple, one-day fixes. If you want to go further, a remodel is the best option. Talk to your local design firm about adding new counter tops, window arrangements, plumbing fixtures and door hardware, all inspired by classical or contemporary Japanese styles. Applying these themes to your bathroom turns it into a place of true serenity and refreshment.
Going for “The Gatsby”
No generation of mankind lived in greater luxury than the flappers of the Roaring Twenties. And no real or fictional person better embodied this aesthetic than F. Scott Fitzgerald’s character Jay Gatsby. If your tastes run towards the extravagant, a Gatsby renovation is definitely for you.
Before committing to a full remodel, you can try out little additions to see if this style suits your personal vision. The various art deco styles truly came into their own in the 1920s. Hang up prints from some of your favorite artists. A good idea is old posters for fairs and events, or photos of the “it girls” of the silent film era. Popular choices include Lilian Gish, Clara Bow, Mary Pickford, Anna May Wong or Louise Brooks. Each of these stars cultivated an aura of beauty and mystery that led to their becoming enduring icons of their age.
Once you’re ready to take the plunge, a 1920s-inspired makeover requires total commitment, but the results are worth it. You should work from the bottom up. Start with tile floors. Black and white hexagonal patterns, or mosaics are perfect for expressing the unique, forward-thinking look of that age. From there, your next step is perhaps the most iconic element of 1920s bathroom decor, the claw foot tub. You can replace your sink and bulky countertop with a freestanding porcelain fountain model. This frees up a lot of space and imparts a more classic feel.
Call in the professionals for your luxury bathroom remodel
Whether you have your final design firmly in mind or if you’re struggling to find a cohesive theme, a professional designer is your best bet for seeing your vision through to completion. Metke is the best firm for luxury bathroom remodels in Portland and the surrounding areas. We’ve been in the business for decades, and in that time we developed a reputation for dependability, fast results and designs that hold up the test of time.
All you have to do to get your project going is give us a call or fill out the contact form on our site. We schedule a consultation at a time that works for you. When we sit down together, you can outline where you already are in the process, and what you need from us. Whether it’s everything from ideas to implementation or just the finishing touches, Metke Remodeling and Luxury Homes works at the scale you need to complete your tasks. We can negotiate within your budget to make sure that you’re able to see your vision through to the final steps.