While bathroom trends come and go, nothing is more timeless than marble. And NOTHING makes me happier than a job well done (is that the A-team or Oprah?) and this home is the EPITOME of that, courtesy of Alair Homes.

My clients, Lisa and Brian, were moving from Calgary, Alberta to build a custom home on our beautiful little island.  They wanted advice on products, finishes, layout, etc… as well as someone to answer the builder’s questions on-site when they were back home in Calgary – and I was the gal to do it.

Partnering up with Dan, the project manager, we made our way through this new build, bonding over Starbucks, sills, siding, and Schluter strips.

This is one of my favorite bathrooms of all time.

Why? 

I’m not a contemporary gal myself, but I can appreciate the simplicity, clean lines, and classic design that were all pulled together with the homeowner’s special touch with accent colour and decor. And while some of these elements could be changed as trends change, the BONES of this bathroom are pretty darn timeless.

Now, there are many amazing parts to this beautiful home (including a wine room UNDER the stairs), but today, I want to start with the primary bathroom (mostly because the amount of editing I still have to do is insane – I may be talented, cute, and modest, but a professional photographer I am not!)

THE BATHROOM LAYOUT

This bathroom boasts a walk-in/walk-out shower, freestanding tub, double vanity, and separate toilet room…

The countertop is Cambria Kirkstead, (it looks yellow on their site…it’s not), which is predominantly white with just weeee tiny speckles in it. It looks beautiful with the gray-painted floating vanity (which has lighting underneath, and I have ZERO photography skills to capture that effect).

Directly across from the double vanity is a wall with towel bars, which is also the back wall of the walk-in/walk-out shower.

To the left, you can see a wink of the freestanding tub. With the natural light shining in, getting a great shot of the tub area with its STUNNING crystal chandelier was challenging.

There, that’s all ya get!

With two shower heads and a rain shower, just TRY not to get wet in this one!

THE TILE CHOICES

We kept things simple by doing two tile styles throughout the entire bathroom. The main large tile is on the shower walls and bathroom floor/baseboards while the hexagon-shaped marble mosaic is in the alcoves, decorative panels behind the faucets, and on the shower floor.

Affordable Ways to Design With Marble

Notice how the hexagon tiles on the faucet wall are finished with a marble pencil edge to separate them from the main tile. They also stop about 12″ shy of the floor. This helps to define the wall/floor areas, so things don’t smoosh together (super technical term, look it up).

THE PAINT COLOR

We wanted a soft, gentle color on the walls, and ended up choosing Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist. This is a super soft, lovely, warm gray with vague purple undertones – perfect with Lisa’s teal accessories.

Here’s the view from the primary bedroom into the bathroom…

There’s MUCH more to come with this beautiful home, but I’m about two weeks and four bottles away from getting it all done, so stay tuned!

READ MORE

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NEED HELP?

Check out my E-Design and Online Colour Consulting packages! 

The post A STUNNING MARBLE BATHROOM – TIMELESS DESIGN appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I love marble. Along with navy blue, Doug my dog, Ryan Reynolds (or Gosling), and area rugs, marble is definitely one of my addictions – one that I have yet to explore in my own home but have had OODLES of fun exploring with my clients.

My client, Laura, was looking to build her dream bathroom…on a budget. Well, she came to the right gal, as when it comes to getting some bang for buck (not street-corner style), I know where to spend money and where to save it – EVEN when it comes to a luxury product like marble.

Laura’s bathroom had a great footprint. With approx 125 sq ft of space, we fit in the loo, double-vanity, walk-in shower, and a free-standing tub. After that, it was just a matter of choosing products that would be budget-friendly and high-impact.

MARBLE-LOOK COUNTERTOP

We chose Calacatta Marble 180FX by Formica, which is a laminate countertop. Not only does it LOOK like the real thing, it’s more durable and drastically more affordable!

Of course, no countertop is fool-proof, and laminate has pros and cons. However, it’s easier to maintain than real marble.

The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

HEXAGON MARBLE TILE BACKSPLASH

Oh, this backsplash. Love is not the word for it; I think infatuation makes more sense. And no, that’s not a puddle of shower water; that’s my drool…

Hexagon marble backsplash from City Tile

The backsplash, whether in a bathroom or kitchen, is a great way to add personality to your space without breaking the bank (if you shop smart). And while I would be cautious of a hexagon pattern, as it’s not timeless, it still has some good life (subway tile layout is much better).

4 Tips & Ideas to Jazz Up a Simple Subway Tile

FLOORING & SHOWER SURROUND

Coming in at under $3.50 sq ft, this 12×24 tile makes a great visual connection with the countertop and backsplash and keeps things budget-friendly. We also saved a CHUNK of change by doing a fiberglass shower floor, rather than a tile floor (it’s also WAY easier to clean.)

Of course, the most budget-friendly shower is ALL fiberglass, but when creating a home you love; one that’s beyond a spec home, a tile surround adds to the visual and actual value.

THE DARK GRAY VANITY & STORAGE/LINEN TOWERS

There is MORE than enough space in this bathroom for the 3 Big T’s (towels, TP, tampons), and we created a beautiful foundation by painting the vanity and storage towers in Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, a lovely grounded dark charcoal paint color.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray

Chelsea Gray isn’t the only gorgeous dark gray cabinet color – I’ve got a few more beauties here – The Best Gray, Greige, & Green Cabinet & Vanity Paint Colors.

THE LOOOOOO

That’s funny if you’re a Canucks fan from the mid-2000s. If not, you just think I’m a weirdo, and that’s okay too.

I was going to pose with this photo, but I thought it might be awkward as an ‘action’ shot…

The paint is Benjamin Moore Oxford White, a relatively ‘clean’ white with little undertone. Don’t you just love the gentle curve and texture of the braided metal pipe? Just joking; I’ve drank too much wine tonight; ignore me.

THE FREE-STANDING BATHTUB

While I’m PERSONALLY a fan of built-in bathtubs, many of you love the look of a free-wheeling, free-standing tub…

I am not a photographer, so this is the best shot I could get of the tub – damn that window!

I know I’m happy, and it’s all about me – right?  Okay, Laura is happy too, and that’s what really matters!

READ MORE

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Want help with your home? 

Check out my Online Consulting Services.

The post A Marble-Inspired Ensuite Bathroom appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to buying a home, I like to put my own stamp on things, and from the minute we bought this one, the bathroom was on the TOP of the chopping block (really though, what WASN’T on the chopping block).

However, because bathrooms can be total pork chops on the budget, I had to bide my time until we were ready to do it right. And even then, I was hesitant to get the ball rolling until Moen sent me an email and said ‘Heyyyy girl, you doing any renovating?  We’d love to supply you with some products!’ SAY NO MORE! The ball was OFFICIALLY rolling.

Now that doesn’t mean that I wanted to blow the bank – I still wanted it to be budget-friendly, so I decided on the following:

• I would keep the vanity. Because it’s built in between two walls, I couldn’t just go to a big box store and get a pre-fab unit that I could drop in – it HAD to be a custom size. So, I decided to get it painted and freshened up with new hardware.

• I would keep the footprint as everything is pretty functional where it is, other than the dead space behind the door (but I figured out something for that too).

• I would keep the tub. Our home is only 10 years old and because that shower rarely gets used, the fibreglass tub is in awesome shape.

• I would use and abuse subway tiles. This would keep the majority of my tile sq footage in line with my budget.

You ready Betty?

Let’s start in the hallway…like most hallways, it’s visually stimulating and an architectural wonder…

Well, it might still be a basic hallway, but NOW it has some personality via a wicked accent wall and is a great lead-up to the main bathroom!

The Best Hallway Paint Colours

I chose Benjamin Moore Gray for the accent wall, alongside Sherwin Williams Creamy on the main walls. We also installed new flooring (sue-prize, sue-prize). The original carpet was showing its age, so it was time for an update! (and no, the madness never ends)

NOW, on to the good stuff – WINE.  Just joking…the loo!

The Main Bathroom Area

Before, the maple vanity and dark surfaces made this bathroom feel heavy and moody (like me once a month) and didn’t make ANY sense with the shockingly white 4×4 tile in the shower.

And after…go GREIGE or go home! Maybe I’ll do both seeing as I now LOVE our bathroom…

I chose Benjamin Moore Classic Gray for the walls as I wanted a soft, subtle look that didn’t compete with any of the tilework or countertop. And notice it’s the SAME VANITY, just updated with a fresh coat of paint and hardware!

The Light Fixture, Countertop & Vanity

The old light fixture always made me think of those metal fish that you see on the back of cars that say ‘JESUS’ in the middle. Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. And y’all know how religious I am…

I chose Caesarstone Bianco Drift which is a quartz countertop with warm gray, greige, white and brown tones (you’ll see this same countertop HERE)…

And just LOOK at the shower reflected in the mirror!

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to make the wall behind the vanity into a feature of some sort. I tossed in between subway tile, wallpaper, a wine rack or jazzy accent tile. I went with subway tile because it was affordable and apparently wine racks in bathrooms are taboo (pshawww).

To save some money, I had Delea of Details Painting spray the maple vanity in Benjamin Moore Metropolis. Her work was SEAMless and saved me a whack load of money!

Laminate Countertops – High End Ideas, Low End Prices

The flooring is a gorgeous 12×24 porcelain tile from City Tile. It has a subtle texture and a mix of white, greige and beige tones. I also used it instead of traditional baseboard.

The Faucet

I knew that I wanted a two-handle widespread faucet, rather than a lever-style, so I chose the Glyde Collection from Moen. Because the vanity is six feet long, I feel like this style better suits the length and I like the graceful lines of it. From there, I coordinated the light fixture to have the same finish and the same smooth, slightly curved lines.

4 Subway Tile Ideas for your Kitchen and Backsplash

The Tub & Shower Area

The tub and shower…why would I EVER want to change it? The funny thing is, 4×4 white tile is coming back in style, however, I ain’t hoppin’ on THAT bandwagon. I either wanted a large 12×24 tile or some type of subway tile.

And the winner was subway tile! After exhausting all of the possibilities (you have NO idea how much I agonize over my own home – there is no wine bottle large enough to settle me), I landed on this awesome 4×10 tile from Lowe’s. MAAAAD love. It’s greige, soft, and subtle as I wanted the bathroom to feel fresh and clean, but not ‘stark’.

And seriously, the hexagon accent tile just about did me in when I first saw it, I started drooling on-site and almost biffed it in my own puddle. I’d looked HIGH and low for just the right accent tile and THIS was it!

I found it at Cornerstone Tile in Nanaimo. The warm greige tones were a nice break from the traditional white/gray/black marble that I usually work with in my Online Consulting.

I decided to make a 10″ high wall-to-wall niche for a simple look with some function. I didn’t want it to POP, but I did want it to be a classy statement.

Notice how the subway tile continues right to the end where it meets the alcove seamlessly.

I also chose the Glyde Collection for the tub/shower, for a coordinated look. I’m not really into the huge rain heads and like the simple, low-key look of the Glyde unit.

The Awkward Nook Behind the Door

As for the awkward area behind the door/shower area, I found this linen tower on clearance at Lowes and it filled up the space perfectly. Along with my Glyde robe/towel hooks, this area is now functional and pretty darned purdy!

And look at how soft and subtle Classic Gray looks. I darkened it by 25%, just to give it a weeee willy wink more depth and it still offers just the right gentle touch for this space.

And who gets MAD props on this project? Brett Edwards, that’s who! Brett of BE Tile did an awesome job from start to finish. He humoured me (as most people do) when I couldn’t make up my mind and went above and beyond to make sure that everything turned out JUST how I was hoping. The only negative was that he didn’t bring his baby Maxwell over enough so I could get my baby fix!

Want to know if painted maple cabinets lasted?

Our Maple Painted Cabinets – 2 Years Later

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Want some personalized ideas for your own home?  Check out my Online Color Consulting!

Originally written in 2017, awesomely updated in 2021 for you!

The post Our Bathroom Remodel – Greige, Subway Tile & More… appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

A DIY LAUNDRY ROOM TO COVET! 

It takes a lot of guts to commit to a colour that’s OUTSIDE of the norm. So, not only was my e-design client brave in embracing something fun and fab on her cabinets, she gets brownie points for being SUPER creative with a DIY accent wall!

And while she and I have been kickin’ it for a few years, making awesome colour connections, this one definitely takes the cake (I’m giving her virtual high-fives and pats on the back).

BEFORE: Take a good look at it this room, as you won’t recognize it in a few seconds…

AFTER: May I formally introduce you to a colour that will leave you freakin’ GREEN with envy – Benjamin Moore Caldwell Green!

Seriously, you don’t need to be Kermit to appreciate this green beauty in all her glory…

Let’s look at another before photo for sharts n’ giggles…

I mean, not that there was anything to laugh about, the room had great bones, it just didn’t have any PERSONALITY. And now it does…

Read more: The Best Green Paint Colours

Also, check out the wicked accent wall her n’ the hubs made with plain mouldings and Benjamin Moore White Dove…

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove

As an added BONUS, she ALSO happens to be an epic photographer. Interior photos are super challenging to take, so when photos like this show up in my inbox, they make me TEN KINDS OF HAPPY (happiness usually equals wine in hand)…

Let’s focus on the sink area for a minute in all of its sinkish glory…

The countertop is Roma quartz, a beautiful white quartz with soft gray veining. I also love how the black hardware and oil rubbed bronze faucet add CONTRAST and interest to the palette, giving the dark gray washer and dryer something to visually connect with.

And as you know, I’m NO STRANGER to loving green, as you can see in this gorgeous powder room where we chose Sherwin Williams Isle of Pines for a fun, but classic splash of colour…

See the WHOLE HOME HERE

What do you think, are you feeling BRAVE to embrace a little bit of colour in your laundry room or bathroom? LET’S DO IT!

NEED HELP!

Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING and E-DESIGN services! 

Chat soon,

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The post A GORGEOUS Green Laundry Room Makeover (Before and Afters) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Adding Personality to a Small Bathroom (Corner Shower)

This bathroom was one tough customer. With its corner shower and pedestal sink, it was less than functional and super fugly – unless you’re a fan of fluorescent pea soup green. And while I could definitely improve on the vanity and paint colour, there wasn’t a lot I could do about the corner shower.

Holy Hannah, I kind of forgot how ugly it was…

In the ideal world (and because there was AMPLE room for it), the shower would have run across the back wall, approx 3′ deep by 6′ long. HOWEVER, because the toilet was installed too far over (1/2″ clearance with shower door), we couldn’t extend the shower without having to move the loo. And seeing how this was all installed on concrete, I wasn’t about to haul out my jackhammer and wallet.

Really, they could have chosen to not even PUT in a shower and made it into a lovely little powder room, which would have also given me more closet space in the hallway. This is one reason why I LOVE to look at clients floorplans, so I can suggest alterations before the walls go up – preventing mistakes like this from happening.

I wanted the colours in the bathroom to jibe with the family room as they were related to each other in the floorplan

Another important factor in NOT re-doing the shower was that this bathroom was built for the family room, meaning it didn’t have a bedroom that needed it. So while I HAD relegated Tim to this bathroom, MOST people wouldn’t ever even USE the shower in here.

Soooo, I decided to save $4000 and left the shower as-is and just added a little KLC to the rest of the space!

You ready Betty?

It’s hard to believe its even the same bathroom!

Let’s do a quick refresher of those green walls again…

And now…

I wanted to add some personality to the room without killing my budget, so I decided to do a marble herringbone feature wall to add some SERIOUS visual value. Now when you walk in, its the pattern that grabs you, not the day-glo paint colour.

Read more: The Best Paint Colours to Coordinate with Marble Tile

And of course, the floor tile and feature wall were installed by Brett and his team of stud muffins from BE Tile. They also had to chisel up the old tile floor – poor buggers, but better them than me!

If it were me doing it, that big orange bucket would have been full of wine.

Read more: Bathroom Update Ideas: High-End Style for Low-End Prices

Lighter, brighter and DEFINITELY more clean and fresh looking.

Now, here’s a shot of the vanity area in the ‘in-between’ phase, where I slapped some paint on the walls just for the short-term. It definitely helped, but was kind of a ‘putting lipstick on a pig’ situation, ya know?

And now…

Much better! I got the vanity from Lowe’s for $399. I fell in love with the marble top, no fuss handle-free drawers and was excited to do a wood vanity, rather than white or gray. I’m not REALLY a gray gal, but it’s good for resale and the wood brought some warmth back to the room.

The paint colour I chose was Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray, one of my fave soft stormy grays. I had it lightened by 25%, just to freshen it up a stitch.

Read more: Colour Review Comparing Stonington Gray and Gray Owl

The light fixtures were a SUPER score from Canadian Tire at $49 apiece and with their rounded shade, were JUST what I was looking for. Because this room had no windows, the lighting situation wasn’t great. The old walls sconces with their lovely mint green shades cast a weird light on the walls and didn’t do anything for ma purdy lil’ face when I looked in the mirror.

And ABOUT that mirror! I couldn’t find what I wanted and it HAD to be round, courtesy of the awkwardly placed outlet (and yes, it needs to be updated to white, not janky yellow). I found this wood mirror at Home Sense for $39 and painted/distressed it to give it up some personality.

And just ONE more shot of that glorious green…

Project Cost

• Vanity – Lowes: $399
• Faucet – American Standard: $129
• Mirror – Home Sense: $39
• Light fixtures – Canadian Tire: $49
• Feature wall – Lowes: $275 (24 sq ft)
• Floor tile – City Tile: $250
• Paint – BM Stonington Gray: $45
• Tile installation – $1300

TOTAL COST: Approx $2500

So, what do you think, $2500 well spent? I think so!

Need help with your small bathroom?

Check out my affordable and FUN E-Design and Online Paint Colour packages!

Chat soon,

Read More:

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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN 2017, AWESOMELY UPDATED IN 2020

The post Small Bathroom – From Boring to Beautiful On a Budget! appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

A Farmhouse Style Bathroom Renovation

You know, sometimes colour work is a challenge (insert wine here) and I have to put my big girl panties and buckle down. But, there are the times when I’m handed a gem in the making – and this bathroom remodel was definitely one of those times.

Now, the interesting thing is that if you look at the BEFORE photo of my client’s bathroom, parts of it were totally workable…

• The flooring looked like some of today’s trendy vintage style tiles
• The vanity was SUPER paintable
• The countertop was neutral and easy to work around
• The wallpaper was…fugly. Definitely fugly

But regardless, my client wasn’t interested in a salvage project, she wanted a brand-spankin’ new bathroom and a new bathroom she GOT…and it’s friggin’ gorgeous.

The lighting is a bit subdued in the loo area, but you get the idea – she’s got some serious style.

Using the gorgeous Printmaker’s Double Washstand from Restoration Hardware vanity (the price is NOT for the faint of heart), gorgeous cement tile floors from The Tile Shop and Sherwin Williams Argos, my client’s bathroom went from homely to homey. Argos is a light-medium depth gray with a HEAVY green-blue undertone.

Read more: Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Argos

Read more: The Best Gray Paint Colours

Need help?

Check out my E-Design Packages! 

Chat soon,

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The post E-Design: A GORGEOUS Farmhouse Bathroom with SW Argos appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Colour Consultation:  A Fresh Face For an Almond/Bone Bathroom 

Partner Post:  The Best Paint Colours for an Almond Bathroom

When you think of the word almond, you might get the munchies. However, when I think of that word I get slightly nauseous. Why? Because when I think of almond, I think of bathrooms. And when I think of almond bathrooms, I get a little twitchy, as bathrooms with that particular colour of fixtures can be a real bugger to update!

But I like a challenge.  Anyone can rip out a bathroom and start from scratch, but it’s pretty darned satisfying to save money and work with what ya got!

So I was RELIEVED when I looked at my client’s photos, showing a space with almond/bone fixtures, a neutral beige floor (PRAISE THE LORD) and a countertop that was slightly warmer toned, but relatively easy to work with. Phew.

Now that doesn’t mean that everything was easy-peasy from there, but it does mean that our options were a bit more varied courtesy of the flooring and countertop. Had those items been ‘true to their era’ – blue, dusty rose or (heaven forbid) forest green, it would have been a different story (involving a funnel and lots of wine. Wait, it kind of involves that anyway…).

My client bought the ‘Create Your Own Bathroom‘ package and selected the following topics:

• Paint colour for the walls
• Paint colour for the trim
• Paint colour for the oak vanity

And BTW, thank you to my lover-ly client for sending along the after photos for me!

Before, it was a ‘work-in-progress’…

And here’s how it all turned out!

Based on the photos of the bathroom and her questionnaire answers, I came up with 3 options for the walls, along with vanity and trim options.  Of those, she chose SW Magnetic Gray for the walls, BM White Dove trim and SW Night Owl for the oak vanity.

As you can see, the neutral floor tile made life SO much easier and even the tile detail around the walk-in shower was easy enough to manage.

In this next photo, you can see the almond tub in its full nutty glory!

And after, MUCH more relaxing!

Notice the painted trim/door.  We went with White Dove to add a slightly more fresh vibe.  I worried that a more tan/beige tone would date the space too much, but didn’t want a white that was too stark/harsh.

Read more:  Ideas to Update an Almond Bathroom

In the future, I might use an almond colour caulk, rather than white. And thank you for asking, I DO have an embarrassing story involving caulk! When I worked at Home Depot, we had a painting seminar in which we learned about the finer virtues of ‘caulking’. And I let EVERYONE know how much I loved caulk. Yup. Good times. They subsequently let me know that it was called ‘caulking – always caulking’. Duly noted.

If they were to use the same knobs/finish on the cabinet pulls it would be the icing on the cake! However the fleur de lis knobs might be a personal/memory thing, so I totally get it if that’s the case!

And the crowning glory…get it?  The throne?  Even the LOO looks better!

Want 3 custom picked colours for your room? Check out my affordable E-design and Online Colour Consulting packages! 

Chat soon,

Read more

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The post E-Design: An Almond Bathroom Gets a Fresh Paint Colour appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.