Prior to purchasing our home, I COULD NOT GET OVER the fact that we had fiberglass tubs with shower surrounds and acrylic sink tops in our bathrooms (especially because our former apartment in the city had tile, porcelain tubs, and granite). But over time, I guess I've realized that this is simply the reality for most people, and that eventually we can remodel the bathrooms to make them exactly what I want. In the mean time, I would like to do a makeover so that this space can look and feel well... designed. It was haphazardly put together from the beginning, and is totally not a reflection of the rest of our home. Currently, the bathroom is super blah and somehow felt even worse when I went to take photos of the space. 

I mean... it's not great.  There is no rhyme or reason to the color scheme. In the beginning I just found a shower curtain and matching rug in Target, hung up some extra cabinets for storage, and called it a day. It's bad. Don't @ me.  

Oh, and can we talk about the area above the shower curtain? I really love the technique of installing the shower curtain rod near the ceiling, and using ball chain as an extension. This design detail will add much-needed visual height to the standard 72" curtain. 

Back in 2017 I blogged about the humble vintage glassware collection that I began on a whim. Flash forward almost three years later, and a 12-piece glassware collection has turned into a collection of well over 100! 

Naturally as the collection grew and grew, I began to run out of space. I find that this often happens with everything that I start to collect (I'm looking at you, ginger jars and decanters). My old Vittsjo shelving unit was completely full, and I knew that I wasn't ready to stop collecting. So I decided to create more display space with the addition of two new shelving units.  

I know this sounds crazy, but when I removed all of the glassware so that I could build and install the new shelving, I could not believe how many glasses I actually had. For reference, our dining table is approximately 95" in length! This was the first time I was able to place them in rainbow order, and I must admit... it was stunning. 

The only color I have yet to collect is red, but overall I'm pretty happy with the collection. I'm still on the hunt for some beautiful ruby red depression glass, so maybe I'll get lucky one day.

Now, onto the new shelving units - the piece I selected is the Nathan James Theo 5-Shelf Ladder Bookcase with Brass Metal Frame in the White/Gold Finish. And I am going to be "100" with you - this is not the type of shelving unit that is suited for side-by-side install. The shelving and brackets don't line up exactly, so it can be a real pain to install them right next to one another. If I had about a foot between the two units, I doubt if it would actually be a problem, but I was working with very limited space. Initially I wanted the units touching for a seamless look, but because the shelves and brackets did not line up exactly, we opted for 1/2" between them to make the imperfections less noticeable. 

Now, this is the part where you examine the pictures up close to determine if I'm a crazy person. Don't worry, I'm not -  I promise. However the combination of the photos, the angled wall, the small space, and the wide angle lens makes a difference in how this solution is presented.  Overall I'd give the unit a 3/5 stars, but as my hubby reminded me after my pouts of perfectionism - this does not have to be your forever solution! Plus when I filled the shelving up, the glassware totally distracted from the imperfections of the shelving unit itself so I can live with it for now. Who knows? In a year or two I may want something completely different. But for now it's pretty, and I'm proud of it. 

After going through the process of collecting all of these beauties, I have a few tips that I want to pass on, just in case you're thinking of starting your own collection.

Tips for Collecting Vintage Glassware:

Define your criteria - Decide on what type of glassware you want. Are you looking for depression glass, jade glass, milk glass, specific colors, or just fun shapes and sizes? Do you have a specific price point for what you will spend and what you will pass over? Having an idea of what you are looking for will allow you to quickly scan a thrift or vintage store and make your hunt more efficient.

Check the color - If you're looking for colorful glassware, make sure that the color is embedded into the glass, versus applied on top. You can usually tell this by checking for scratches on the surface of the glass. In other words, if a glass is purple, but has a clear or white scratch, skip it. I made this mistake once, and when I took the glass home to clean and soak in mild dishwater, all of the color melted off and I was left with a clear glass. No bueno.

And because a designer's home is never done, below is a Photoshop mock-up of the next steps that I would like to take in this space. I would love to find some cool artwork to hang above the shelving units, then pull the gold hardware finish into a new entry light fixture. I haven't decided on what pieces or lighting yet, but I'll keep and eye out and continue to share the journey. 

Hi Everyone! It's been a while since the last time I created a blog post, and the whole world has changed drastically! I hope that all of you are safe, healthy, and taking things one day at a time. Truthfully the only thing that gets my mind off of the total disregard for Black human lives is to be creative. Now more than ever, we want our homes to be havens, a place where we feel safest in this world. 

With all of house-bound time that I've found on my hands, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the improvements I want to make to our home. Most recently I've been focusing on our bathrooms. Our home actually has 3-1/2 bathrooms (yeah we probably don't need four toilets between two people, but here we are) and only one of them is tolerable to me from a design stand point. 

Since we've moved into our place, I've gathered inspiration here and there, and let most spaces come together organically. However, now that I've lived with these spaces for some time (it was actually five years at the start of the quarantine) I now have a feel for what we need in order to make them function and look their best. Today I'm sharing the plans for our 1/2 bath. 

Reverie wallpaper / Behr Tanzanite Blue paint / Banana print

EFINEHOME vanity sconce / Mirror (similar) / Ragrund under sink storage 

GERZ matte black hooks / GIGRIN black toilet paper holder / Trump toilet paper / RKF faucet 

Vanligen vase / Smycka artificial bouquet /  Vintage Oushak Rugs

Truth time - I've had this mirror for about two years. It was a impulse buy that I discovered new-in-the-box at West Elm for only $50. After I secured the mirror, I searched FOREVER for a decent sconce. I knew I wanted at least two bulbs because there isn't an overhead light in this space, but I needed it to be taller than the current one to take advantage of the 9 foot ceiling. I like the idea of using something vintage in the space, and a small Kilim rug would do just the trick. Above are just a few options that coordinate with the wallpaper, but I haven't quite decided which one I want quite yet. Of course I would be remiss if I did not mention the toilet paper... I mean, it's funny, and I don't feel bad about it. Let's just say that it will definitely be a conversation starter with guests. 

Our half bath is tiny - barely 36" wide! As you can see, I had to use a wide-angle lens just to photograph it. 

Right now the powder room isn't bad, just not as great as is could be! Everything feels extremely temporary, and I'm beyond ready to get rid of the builder's-grade sconce, mirror, and faucet.  We also need upgraded storage in this area, which will replace the Kartell Componibili-style storage that we have currently. I'm considering some bamboo under-the-sink shelving from IKEA that I would paint black like the background of the wallpaper. 

Here's a quick little sketch of the sink wall elevation. Just switching out a few key elements would make such a big difference!

So I'm trying something new. Instead of keeping my thrift treasures relegated to Thursdays, I thought I would switch up this series and call it - Thanks, I thrifted it! It's what I say most often when people compliment me on my home, or my fashion. :)  Today I'm sharing how I added style and function to my nightstand with items that are second-hand.

I managed to come across all of these items on 3 different trips to the Goodwill. Whenever I'm Goodwill shopping, I do my best to keep a mental inventory of what items I already have that I can coordinate with future finds. Black, white, and gold are classic together, so I kept that in mind while looking for great pieces.

First I came across this hand. I liked that it could serve as a sculpture on its own, but it can also hold my wedding rings and various bracelets when I'm too lazy to put them away. This hand was only $1.99 at Goodwill and has some decent weight to it.

Next I came across this cute Kate Roebuck "Haha" cereal bowl from Anthropologie. It was super cute, and I knew right away I could give it a home. I like that it's deep enough to hold my chunkiest necklaces when I'm getting undressed. Apparently this was a special series for Anthro, because I found identical bowls selling for $24 on Ebay. This bowl was only $2.99 at Goodwill.

The last piece I came across was this cute ceramic and brass faux succulent planter. This really serves no function other than for aesthetics, but I couldn't pass it up. This piece was just $3.99 at Goodwill (which honestly I thought was a little pricey, but I really wanted it, and I know that it definitely retailed for more probably at Target or Home Goods.)

All together, these items coordinate beautifully, and I think it added much-needed style and function to my bedside table. Add a few books, an agate slice (also thrifted many years ago), and a glass of water and you've really got some beautiful, yet functional Goodwill style. 

So what do you think? Not bad for less than $10 with tax, right?

What should I thrift next?

Do you have an herb garden? If so, what kind of herbs are you and your family enjoying this time of year?