Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Upstairs Bathroom





This is my upstairs main family bathroom which I have just finished - well almost!! 




Not that I had too much to do as you can in this before photo from the estate agents brochure - the bones are all there, just some cosmetic finishes!  I loved the bath, fittings and tiles so it was really a matter of painting.  When it comes to colours in my home I love soft, muted tones.  The more faded and subtle the better, so the red had to go!  I only 'do' red at Christmas!



So, I just painted this room - Farrow & Ball Off White on the upper part of the wall and Farrow & Ball French Grey on the tongue and groove paneling on the bottom part. I ADORE Farrow & Ball paints, I have tried other paint brands but nothing compares to the matte finish of F&B!   I really wanted this room to be calm and serene - somewhere warm for indulging in a little pampering and taking long, hot, baths.  We also put up the shower rail although looking at it here I think it would look better in a dark brown/black metal like the table - I don't think I've ever seen one in that colour though - have you??  I suppose I could paint it . . . The roman blind is from Ikea.  The shower curtain with a linen -ey fabric layer is from B&Q.


The flowers are scented stock and are soooo heavily scented - divine . . .


You must be really tired of seeing this mirror, as I've mentioned before I have two of them - I love them.  Now, I have one in my office which you can see from the Living room and this is the other one which was in the downstairs bathroom but I just moved it to here as I put another mirror in it's place  Show you pics of the downstairs bathroom soon!  Anyway, this mirror is staying here as I think it suits the feel of the room and fits perfectly into the angle of the ceiling.  The upstairs of our house is in the eaves so we have a lot of slanted ceilings - which I love as they're cute and add much needed character into our new build house - though difficult for mirror and furniture placement!


The dressing gown and matching nightdress are 100% cotton perfect for Spring and Summer!  They were another find at Penney's (Primark).

Below some artwork to dress the walls . . .


I think these two framed floral botanicals are so sweet!  I found them in a charity shop in Edinburgh, Scotland when I visited for a weekend a few years ago.  They were only £1.50 each!













I found this print in a framemakers in Cork city, I went in to collect another print and while waiting spotted this piece.  I couldn't get over how similar the boy in the painting is to my eldest son Aran when he was that age and the woman looks a bit like me!  The resemblance is uncanny!  It's as if someone captured one of our strolls in the woods with their paintbrush.  I love how the light falls through the trees . . .






Below is a little something I put together for Valentine's Day for fun!  It's a portrait of Darcy (Colin Firth) that I scanned and printed from a magazine!  The frame is a very heavy iron piece that was actually a broken Christmas decoration that I found in a bargain bin in a department store - I knew it would come in handy!!  My fascination with Pride & Prejudice and Jane Austen will never abate - I'm a hopeless romantic . . .













The marble vanity unit is an antique given to us by our Aunty B!  We were talking to Aunty B at Christmas and she had heard that we were doing up the bathrooms in an old world/vintage style and she said to me, "I have one of those old fashioned marble vanity units for you but I don't know if you'd be interested in it . . . "   Interested??? Did the woman say marble? old?? of course I was interested!!! I told Aunty B I would take it before I'd even laid eyes on it and two weeks later it travelled from Dublin to Cork in the back of our car to come live with us.  I think it's happy here!   I love it - the beige marble is streaked with cream and the wood is a lovely warm dark brown.   It's not ideally placed in the bathroom, I'd prefer another two foot between it and the sink but I love it - so it's staying!!  I also love that it was a gift from our wonderful sweet aunt - Thank you Aunty B!!




The wooden box with the cute clasp was a presentation box of wine we received as a gift many years ago!  I use it as a jewelry box!







The heart shaped soap and the scented linen bag are all from Mathilde M a french soap company.











This is a scented (lavender) ceramic piece with a cherub detail and a cute little bow (from Mathilde M).







This room is very still, very quiet.  When the blind is down, the sunlight filters through washing the room with a soft glow . . . it's my little place to unwind and relax.   A rose scented candle, a few drops of lavender essential oil in the bath and a little glass of wine -  heaven!












24 comments:

Woodside Park said...

I've been waiting all weekend to see the big reveal! SO CHARMING, Sharon!!

Thank you for sourcing the paint colors for us all. I meant to ask last time. And, thank you for emailing me the information on your camera---really appreciate it.

Not only are you a great colorists and photographer, you're also a fab stylist :-) Each of your vignettes tell a lovely story---simple and pretty.

xoxo,
Loi

Woodside Park said...

BTW, love aunty's brown piece amongst all the chalky painted tones. A wonderful spot of warmth and contrast! Well done, you!
Cheers from DC,
Loi

Paula said...

OPEN UP YOUR SHOP - NOW!! I love it ALL!!! And to top it all, you've used my favourite ever Farrow & Ball colour - French Grey! I've used that colour in all of my houses, and it has looked so different yet still fabulous in each one. It looks much lighter (still amazing) in your bathroom which is interesting. Your attention to detail is incredible, I am dying to put the finishing touches into my own rooms, but alas - I haven't even started with the painting yet! Aunt B's marble top vanity unit is utter perfection, and made all the more so because it has been handed down by a family member - those are the best type of antiques - the ones with true meaning. Once again, i could gush on, but I fear I am taking up too much space and using too many exclamation marks. Suffice to say - I LOVE it ALL. Oh and one more thing - where do you get those gorgeous French metal tables? I notice that you have several of them around your house, and they are divine.
Paula xxx
p.s. I'm in love with Mr Darcy (Colin Firth) too - lol!

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Hey Loi, It's lovely to wake up to such lovely comments!! thank you, I'm so glad you like it. I didn't realise how many hats you have to wear as a blogger, photographer, stylist, writer, IT specialist - not to mention cleaner, florist!!! I love it all but I'm still learning so it's encouraging to get good feedback! You're welcome for camera info - like I said, I'm no expert but I think it's a great camera!!

Sharon
xxxx

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Hey Paula, thank you! I laughed when I saw your opening words! I miss my old shop so much lately, it's on my mind constantly - so your comment is like a SIGN!!!! At the moment I'm thinking about opening a new one but I'm a little hesitant! I've always used French Grey too and it never ceases to amaze me how different the colour can be from room to room, wall to wall! The metal side tables are from my old shop! They are from a company called Comptoir de Famille. They're very handy!! and I too use too many exclamation points!!!!!!!

Sharon
xxxx

designchic said...

Wow, Sharon, its fabulous. I almost felt like I was in a spa from these gorgeous images and oh, the French Gray...stunning!!

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Hey Designchic, thank you! thank you!! a home spa mmmmmm! maybe my next project :0

Sharon
xxxx

Dee Sewell said...

For the first time since painting my bathroom several years ago, am now contemplating repainting it in light colours... just lovely.

Karen said...

Sharon - it's beautiful, tranquil, and I can see why you love it. Now all you need is a glass of wine and soft music. Soak away.....

French Grey said...

Sharon,
Love, love your bathroom! And of course F&B "French Grey"! Exclamation point! I took the train from Dublin to Cork and back, it is a beautiful ride and it brought back great memories of my Auntie's! Thanks for a great post! I need to get to work!

Blessings,

Cindy

Leslie said...

Sharon,

I love your tub and tile! The colors you chose for your walls are perfect and I flowers a nice contrast. Your french soaps are so pretty and I'm sure they smell heavenly.

Sara Louise said...

Sharon! Your bathroom is beautiful, and your whole house magnificent! Every room seems more beautiful than the next - if that's even possible. When I finally buy a house, I want you to fly over and come shopping for deco with me :)
And Mr.Darcy... GENIUS!

Anonymous said...

OMG Sharon, you have my dream bathroom:) AND my dreamfloor haha.
Your house seems divine beauty.
Thank you for so sweet words again on my blog, it always makes me happy.
Have a awsome week.

LOVE Maria

Kifus said...

Ohhh so gorgeous!! Loved the tour and thanks for showing us all the little details! Love every single one and of course the whole thing put together!

Can't wait to see the rest of your home, Saron!

Kifus

Ps: have added you to my blog roll :)

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Thanks Dee! painting is such an easy thing to change if you don't like it anyway!!

Sharon
xxxx

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Thanks Cindy, knew you'd like this post!!

Sharon
xxxx

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

hey Leslie, thank you! and yes the soaps are heavenly . . .

Sharon
xxxx

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Thank you so much Sara Louise! I would love to go over to you in France and shop with you!!!!!! - but only if you promise that after shopping we drink champagne and dance on tables :)

Sharon
xxxx

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Thank you Maria! I had to smile when I saw your post on the check tiles!! that was a great post!

Sharon
xxxx

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Kifus, thank you so much for your lovely comment and for adding me to your blog roll! I really appreciate it - I am really enjoying your house tours - they're amazing! :)

Sharon
xxxx

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Hey Karen, thank you for lovely comment and for recommending that book - you'll have me quilting next!!!

Sharon
xxxx

Pura Vida said...

I love Darcy never thought of hanging his portrait love the idea. Love your blog. I am a new follower and look forward to browsing through it

LA VIE EN ROSE said...

Welcome Pura Vida! Thank you so much for your lovely comment and I'm delighted to have a new follower! Heading over now to your blog!

Sharon

A Life Un-Styled said...

That bath - is too perfect for words!

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