Thursday, July 29, 2010
nerdyness
Got to love a bit of nerdyness in addition to the macabre. Currently on the hunt for house numbers, though I'll leave that for a separate post, but couldn't not link to this awesome welcome mat - it says welcome in binary!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
bathroom: the design
So after the fun and dreamy stage of bathroom design I eventually had to face reality and actually CHOOSE my products.
Tiles:
A trip to the tile showrooms was somewhat disappointing - large format tiles are all the rage here right now and that is one thing I knew I did not want. So as far as subway tiles go I have had four options - 100x200 mm in while, ivory or black, or very VERY expensive "options" in imperial sizes and colours (think fireplace tiles) or in glass which (though I never had quoted) were also a smaller format and size - I could never quite commit to the glass tile option - though I spent hours pouring over the "Bricks" range from Southern Cross Ceramics, their sizes were 50x100 or 50x150 mm - not quite right.
I still really think that the subway tile is the way to go in order to bridge the vintage/modern divide. My house was built in the 30s, so deco is go. I have therefore chosen glossy black subway/butcher/brick tiles in 100x200 mm size for the walls. Below is a quick and dirty iPhone photo taken in a showroom. I am tiling to 2 m high - it's going to look amazing in my small bathroom.
For the floor I could not get anyone excited about black and white check so I have abandoned it, though I know I will lust over it again later. The main issue was that it would have been 200x200 mm tiles (I think 150x150 would be sweet but they don't really make that size) and in order not to be slippery they would need to be somewhat matt. As most floor tiles also have a slight bevel at the edge it was just going to look CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP and that is not what I wanted. Also for 200x200 tiles on the floor they like to use 3mm grout lines - so they wouldn't match up with the wall tiles either at 200 mm long but with 1 mm grout lines.
For the floor I have therefore gone with 400x400 mm black wood-look tiles, to tie in with the jarrah floors that will be polished to perfection throughout the rest of the house. The tiles have grip but also a slight sparkle where some gloss makes it through the woodgrain. Unfortunately I could not get a good snap of the sample in the bathroom reno showroom.
Vanity:
I am in _love_ with this white-flecked black stone I have chosen for the vanity counter top. The 'vanity' is fully customised built along one wall and will have bench, the basin and then cut back to a narrower depth to run along behind the concealed cistern toilet.
The cupboard doors and wall behind the loo will be the dark wood laminate shown with the stone in the pic below. Matching to the jarrah was too likely to look fake as I'm not sure how the colour will turn out exactly. This instead is a nice contrast to the shiny walls and fixtures and compliments the wood grain floor tile and the wood in the rest of the house.
Drawer pulls and door handle will be thin rectangular shiny chrome.
Basin:
The semi-above-semi-below bench Caroma 'cube' basin will give enough hint of white without being too high (I dislike feeling like I'm reaching up and over into a basin). I was close to getting an underbench but eye liner pencils have a tendency to roll into underbench basins (it's a serious concern - they get wet AND broken!) and also the white showing above bench will help to balance the heavy black.
Toilet:
Going with the Caroma cube loo too - divine!
Taps:
Shiny modern chrome! With a touch of medical in the design. Sticking with the cube/square/rectangular angle. They are also called cube - well, 'Cuba'. Bath set for over the basin (coming out of the wall, not from the bench - less cleaning issues yay). The shower set are identical. Taps are required because I have instant hot water (flick mixers don't put hot on full which decreases life of your instant hot water system) and also I don't really care for flick mixers! I don't have a pic of the shower head but it's a rail type system (as my Nana called it a 'telephone' shower).
The taps have arrived and I'm getting excited..
Rails:
The fabulous designer at my bathroom reno company selected these fantastic towel rails etc. Pretty happy with them, the base matches the taps and the curve matches the basin. Looking them up they are by Milli and the product line is 'Flow'.
Lighting:
And of course last but not least - the lighting! Above the vanity I will have a mirror (of course) and delightfully my bathroom people have found me some HOLLYWOOD LIGHTS! Five raw globes along a silver base. Similar to below. I had these in my childhood bathroom and they were fantastic and so cute! The downlights in the roof will be square, metal frame, recessed halogens.
Tiles:
A trip to the tile showrooms was somewhat disappointing - large format tiles are all the rage here right now and that is one thing I knew I did not want. So as far as subway tiles go I have had four options - 100x200 mm in while, ivory or black, or very VERY expensive "options" in imperial sizes and colours (think fireplace tiles) or in glass which (though I never had quoted) were also a smaller format and size - I could never quite commit to the glass tile option - though I spent hours pouring over the "Bricks" range from Southern Cross Ceramics, their sizes were 50x100 or 50x150 mm - not quite right.
I still really think that the subway tile is the way to go in order to bridge the vintage/modern divide. My house was built in the 30s, so deco is go. I have therefore chosen glossy black subway/butcher/brick tiles in 100x200 mm size for the walls. Below is a quick and dirty iPhone photo taken in a showroom. I am tiling to 2 m high - it's going to look amazing in my small bathroom.
For the floor I could not get anyone excited about black and white check so I have abandoned it, though I know I will lust over it again later. The main issue was that it would have been 200x200 mm tiles (I think 150x150 would be sweet but they don't really make that size) and in order not to be slippery they would need to be somewhat matt. As most floor tiles also have a slight bevel at the edge it was just going to look CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP and that is not what I wanted. Also for 200x200 tiles on the floor they like to use 3mm grout lines - so they wouldn't match up with the wall tiles either at 200 mm long but with 1 mm grout lines.
For the floor I have therefore gone with 400x400 mm black wood-look tiles, to tie in with the jarrah floors that will be polished to perfection throughout the rest of the house. The tiles have grip but also a slight sparkle where some gloss makes it through the woodgrain. Unfortunately I could not get a good snap of the sample in the bathroom reno showroom.
Vanity:
I am in _love_ with this white-flecked black stone I have chosen for the vanity counter top. The 'vanity' is fully customised built along one wall and will have bench, the basin and then cut back to a narrower depth to run along behind the concealed cistern toilet.
The cupboard doors and wall behind the loo will be the dark wood laminate shown with the stone in the pic below. Matching to the jarrah was too likely to look fake as I'm not sure how the colour will turn out exactly. This instead is a nice contrast to the shiny walls and fixtures and compliments the wood grain floor tile and the wood in the rest of the house.
Drawer pulls and door handle will be thin rectangular shiny chrome.
Basin:
The semi-above-semi-below bench Caroma 'cube' basin will give enough hint of white without being too high (I dislike feeling like I'm reaching up and over into a basin). I was close to getting an underbench but eye liner pencils have a tendency to roll into underbench basins (it's a serious concern - they get wet AND broken!) and also the white showing above bench will help to balance the heavy black.
 |
| Caroma cube 320 inset vanity basin [http://www.caroma.com.au/product-ranges/basins/cube/cube-320-inset-vanity-basin[ |
Going with the Caroma cube loo too - divine!
 |
| Caroma Wall Faced Invisi Series II Suite [http://www.caroma.com.au/product-ranges/toilet-suites/invisi--series-ii/cube-wall-faced-invisi--series-ii-suite] |
Shiny modern chrome! With a touch of medical in the design. Sticking with the cube/square/rectangular angle. They are also called cube - well, 'Cuba'. Bath set for over the basin (coming out of the wall, not from the bench - less cleaning issues yay). The shower set are identical. Taps are required because I have instant hot water (flick mixers don't put hot on full which decreases life of your instant hot water system) and also I don't really care for flick mixers! I don't have a pic of the shower head but it's a rail type system (as my Nana called it a 'telephone' shower).
The taps have arrived and I'm getting excited..
The fabulous designer at my bathroom reno company selected these fantastic towel rails etc. Pretty happy with them, the base matches the taps and the curve matches the basin. Looking them up they are by Milli and the product line is 'Flow'.
Lighting:
And of course last but not least - the lighting! Above the vanity I will have a mirror (of course) and delightfully my bathroom people have found me some HOLLYWOOD LIGHTS! Five raw globes along a silver base. Similar to below. I had these in my childhood bathroom and they were fantastic and so cute! The downlights in the roof will be square, metal frame, recessed halogens.
update
Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything but the reno is going strong, but going slow. Silly work just gets in the way unfortunately, as had the cold weather to some extent - when I _can_ get away from work at a decent hour it is a little too cold at night to do much patching or painting, as I have no heating in the place yet and the house is holding the cold rather well. But don't worry, I have plans for a superb gas fireplace and lots of insulation batts to keep things toasty next winter and hopefully cool this coming summer. My timeline is currently also limited by the bathroom renovation - I've signed on with a local company to do the whole job but they too are busy and while it's only been three working days since the draftsman came out to measure up properly I would like for it to kick start quick now please. Four(-and-a-halfish) weeks from start to finish they have said, and hopefully that start will be within two weeks!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
rooms: more wall decals
Interesting post on Apartment Therapy about designers being ripped off by copy artists, especially an issue on Etsy. Designed or Deceived? AT
I think that provided you aren't trying to make money off copying someone, then I don't have a problem with copying (or attempting to copy, recreate, etc) a design you have seen for use in your own home. I often find inspiration and, while I am a little bit creative, I don't have time to create truly original works of art at this time (though I'd love to in the future). That said, I personally never copy anything outright, I usually work some designs or ideas into my own thing. Where the line is drawn as far as inspiration vs copying, well, it depends on the project. Personally, I don't have the ability to copy wall decals in my home (apart from with paint!!) so it's usually that I would adopt a design and re-draw or re-paint it in a new way. Some things worth copying aren't available for sale (eg a design on the wall in a club, for instance) - but why shouldn't I appropriate it into my own home for my pleasure if I wish? Saying you shouldn't is being silly as far as I am concerned. Art is out there - bring it into your life and be better for it.
OK a little ranty there, but designers - if I love your stuff and it suits I'd love to buy it. If I have the money I will, but I won't always have the money!! If it even can be purchased of course! I will never attempt to profit by copying the designs of others though - phoar, the very idea leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Of course the whole who is copying who debate ended up working in some designer's favour as I stumbled across some more cute wall decorations NOT being sold on Etsy (YET - hah jks, buy from the originals!).
These are from ferm Living in the USA. I love the tree wallpaper and the periodic table wall decals! That paper is hot... wondering where I can use it in my home.
I think that provided you aren't trying to make money off copying someone, then I don't have a problem with copying (or attempting to copy, recreate, etc) a design you have seen for use in your own home. I often find inspiration and, while I am a little bit creative, I don't have time to create truly original works of art at this time (though I'd love to in the future). That said, I personally never copy anything outright, I usually work some designs or ideas into my own thing. Where the line is drawn as far as inspiration vs copying, well, it depends on the project. Personally, I don't have the ability to copy wall decals in my home (apart from with paint!!) so it's usually that I would adopt a design and re-draw or re-paint it in a new way. Some things worth copying aren't available for sale (eg a design on the wall in a club, for instance) - but why shouldn't I appropriate it into my own home for my pleasure if I wish? Saying you shouldn't is being silly as far as I am concerned. Art is out there - bring it into your life and be better for it.
OK a little ranty there, but designers - if I love your stuff and it suits I'd love to buy it. If I have the money I will, but I won't always have the money!! If it even can be purchased of course! I will never attempt to profit by copying the designs of others though - phoar, the very idea leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Of course the whole who is copying who debate ended up working in some designer's favour as I stumbled across some more cute wall decorations NOT being sold on Etsy (YET - hah jks, buy from the originals!).
These are from ferm Living in the USA. I love the tree wallpaper and the periodic table wall decals! That paper is hot... wondering where I can use it in my home.
[http://www.fermlivingshop.us/stickers/periodic-system.html]
[http://www.thewallstickercompany.com.au/content/product.php?itemid=214&page=4]
And the website featured in the AT post is The Wall Sticker Company - an Aussie outfit it seems. I love their stuff, especially the Baroque removable wallpaper available in any colour combo you wish - amazing!!
[http://www.thewallstickercompany.com.au/content/product.php?itemid=214&page=4]
Thursday, June 10, 2010
toilet: oooh blackness delux
Ohh I was all set on the Caroma Cube toilet until I discovered this little beauty from Rogerseller:
divine!
For comparsion, le Cube:
divine!
For comparsion, le Cube:
I still do like those sharp cubey edges though.
Monday, June 7, 2010
blackboard wall
A neat idea I had was to temporarily paint a wall in blackboard paint and use it as a rough reference for the renovation work. It has turned out really nicely and is a lot of fun. Who knows - I may choose to keep it!
[blackboard wall just after painting - used tape to mask the edges]
[plenty of tasks to get started on!]
On a side note though, it's not easy to write neatly, let alone nicely, on a blackboard! I do like my own handwriting (and other nice handwriting in general) but I'll have to practice my bb writing style. for shizzle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)