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Well I’m quite excited today because this is the first post on my blog completely dedicated to our house build!! If you didn’t know, we are building our dream house. To give you an idea – it’s out in the country on some acreage. We have cows as neighbors! (yes, I’m excited about it and we can’t smell them – I find cows less annoying than leaf blowers, sirens, car alarms, and neighbor’s barking dogs).
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We met with our architect recently and saw our first draft of our floor plan. What I am going to talk about today is what we’re struggling with in the design: the master suite… and mainly, the master bathroom.
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Here’s the deal with our master bathroom. We aren’t going to have a bathtub because frankly, we *never* take a bath and it seems like a waste of space and money. AND if I were to pick out a bathtub, it would have to be a freestanding beautiful one that will cost $10k. Not something I want to spend money on when it will never be used. And for those of you who are shocked by the no-tub thing, there will be another tub in a guest suite that will be very nice to accommodate children and bath-takers.
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| sorry, no expensive beautiful tub for me. source |
Other things about the design… we are going to have double vanities. We are thinking a pair of eitherthis oneorthis onefrom Restoration Hardware. The question is, how do we arrange the bathroom??
Other things we are wanting for the bathroom – large walk in shower with double shower heads, bench. Toilet in a separate toilet room. A place for a linen closet. And also a place for a towel warmer.
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A few shower inspiration photos. I am thinking marble shower using 12×12 tiles on the wall.
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I think this one below may be my favorite…
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Or maybe this one, ha! They’re all so pretty.
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Instead of a bathtub, I’m going to have a pretty vanity/makeup table. I think that’s how we can add drama back into the bathroom as it seems that the bathtub is usually the focal point. Hmm, guess I’ll have to go shopping for a fabulous antique French vanity table to put in front of the window….
When you look at these pictures, instead of a bathtub I want you to picture a fabulous make-up table vanity there instead. That’s how I’m seeing it.
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These photos all have different styles. What I’m focusing on is the bathroom layout. I really like the symmetry of the vanities across from each other. Imagine the pretty dressing table where the tub is in the above picture. In the picture below, again I notice I’m drawn to the symmetry. I think its pleasing to the eye and therefore relaxing.
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A different type of layout from the two above. Hmmm…
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| source: my own picture |
Again, love the two vanities, perhaps the makeup table could go in between the vanities under the window. Now though, how is the rest of this bathroom arranged? Where would the shower go? These are questions I’m thinking when looking at the pictures.
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Now, this is pretty. Again, the symmetry is nice on the left. A pretty vanity where the tub is. Is the toilet room the door on the left? I think I’d make it that. I think the photographer is standing in the shower. This is nice. Oh, and I totally love all the decor in the bathroom too.
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Smaller vanities next to each other, we could do this. How cute are the Monsieur and Madame tiles??
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These vanities below are laid out close to each other but I still like it. How is the shower placed though??
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This is nice too. The style is contemporary but we aren’t looking at that. Maybe instead of a fireplace, a French armoire to be used as a linen closet? Yes, I think so.
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In this layout below, we could just remove the tub from the center. Perhaps the shower is on the left and the toilet on the right.
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Here is a bathroom I really love! I do like the built-in cabinets as they look like furniture. I think this bathroom has a really nice lay out. Now, how do I incorporate this into my house plan overall, hmm…
Traditional Bathroom by El Dorado Hills General Contractors Lee Construction
Traditional Bathroom by El Dorado Hills General Contractors Lee Construction
Now, here are some actual sketches of bathroom floor plans that caught my eye. In the one below, I do like how the closets buffer noise from the bathroom. I would remove the linen closet and put symmetrical double vanities there. Also remove the door back from the bathroom to the WIC entrance. Tub turns into a table.
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Now, this is nice. Again I like how the closets buffer the noise. Although, the shower is too small for us, we’d have to bump it out.
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In the large floor plan below, I’m just focusing on the master suite and bathroom. Has a nice flow to it. Although I don’t need double toilets.
Now on to the overall feel of the bathroom. I am wanting it to feel not so much like a bathroom. I want it to feel like a bit of a spa/retreat. I want some furniture in the bathroom. Instead of a traditional linen closet that’s built in, why not use an antique French armoire?? It adds drama and style. I would like a chair or a bench too, so you can put your robe down or sit!
The bathroom below I am in love with. It doesn’t feel like a bathroom, does it? It feels like a spa! French armoire as a linen closet! table in the middle! Oh, an Aubusson rug! J’adore! I think this picture is the overall “feel” I’m going for.
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| *love* this bathroom source |
Instead of an antique armoire, the person below used an antique secretary as a linen closet! I think it is *so* interesting. I love it.
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This scene below has such a nice vignette, if you put your hand over the bottom half of the picture, you wouldn’t think you’re in a bathroom!
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Don’t you think these bathrooms with real furniture in them are really cool?
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Want to know another bonus of using nontraditional furniture in the bathroom – pieces can be picked up cheaper than built-in cabinets! Go to estate sales, antique stores, flea markets. We can find pieces for cheaper and that are made of solid wood! Built-ins, especially custom built-ins, are a pretty penny!
Look at how someone made this French cabinet into a double vanity! So clever and so totally cute.
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One last inspiration picture…
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So, that’s what I’m thinking for the master bathroom. Writing a post about it helped me organize my thoughts!
What do you think about using non-traditional furniture (like an armoire, table, secretary) in the bathroom?? Leave me a comment!
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