Wow Home Idea

Trevor Tondro The beach is right outside this house in Marina del Rey, California, but you'd never have known it from the dark and cramped master bath. Designer Daleet Spector reconfigured the space and added large windows to let in more light. "The clients don't like a lot of color, so we worked with different textures instead," she says. Plain shiplap on the walls, painted pure white, reinforces the casual cottage theme. And there's something almost Japanese about the vanities, which manage to be rustic and sophisticated at the same time. They're made of cast concrete, in two smooth blocks that seem to float over the oak cabinets. "Concrete can be a very sensuous material, almost soft to the touch," Spector says. "And the surface has a beautiful irregularity that feels organic."  Trevor Tondro Wall-mounted faucets free up space on the countertops and leave the lines uninterrupted. "The forms are very simple, and that helps make th...

Sometimes an all-white bathroom is a great thing. Clean lines, soft light, and unfussy fixtures certainly make for a relaxing space. But Jen Pinkston, the blogger behind The Effortless Chic, didn't have that kind of white bathroom. Hers was more of the dingy, dated variety — a bathroom species that we'd actually love to see go extinct someday. See for yourself: The Effortless Chic Still, the space did have good bones. The room was already super spacious, and Jen liked the layout, so a major expansion or plumbing project wasn't necessary. Plus, she already had her heart set on a large hexagon tile pattern to anchor the room and add a pop of (muted) color.  Once the navy flooring was installed, Jen thought it looked pretty good next to the room's bare drywall, which was subdued greenish hue. So for the walls, she chose a gray paint that was lighter (so the space would still feel bright), but still had gre...

Lucas Allen Between the morning battles to get out of the door and the nighttime hustle to put everyone to bed, your bathroom likely never feels like a place to relax. (Seriously, have those toothbrushes multiplied since last night?) But beneath the hair dryers and beauty products and that soggy pile of towels lies a calming escape — we promise! We've enlisted two experts — interior designer Kirk Nix, and founder of Dollar Shave Club, Michael Dubin — to help you find it. 1. Carve out your own space.  "You should have your own stuff, so it doesn't always feel like you're stealing products intended for your wife, husband, girlfriend, or boyfriend. Stake out your own drawer, or shelf in the medicine cabinet. It doesn't have to be a ton of space, just enough to hold your essentials." -  Michael Dubin 2. Don't underestimate the power of a dimmer. "Invest in a dimmer for the lights; adjustable lighting is paramount." - K...

Courtesy of Cintas Outhouses are officially back. At least according to Cintas' annual America's Best Restroom Awards. The company, which provides specialized services to business across the country, holds an annual competition to honor innovation and creativity in restrooms — public restrooms — and this year's winner is an outhouse located in Minturn, Colorado, a small ski town near Vail. According to Curbed, the winning restroom was designed with curved lines to resemble the entrance to a mine — a reference to the town's history as a mining hub — and features turquoise walls and copper accents inside. Courtesy of Cintas Minturn was able to clinch the victory after rallying locals together to vote for the town's remarkable restrooms. Courtesy of Cintas Every year, Cintas opens up the awards to restrooms around the country — the only requirement being that they be accessible to the publi...

Tidying up doesn't have to be about yet another plastic bin. Courtesy of Eighteen 25 A Cake Stand Forget your favorite dessert. This stylish cake stand elevates pretty canisters off of the bathroom counter to keep the space from feeling cluttered. Get the tutorial at Eighteen 25 » Courtesy of Kristi Murphy Color-Coded Loops These add-ons will stop you from confusing your towel with another family member's (again). Get the tutorial at Kristi Murphy » Katie Friedman An Extra Shower Rod No shelves? No problem. Use a few S-hooks to hang your loofa and shampoo caddy from a bonus shower rod. Courtesy of The Chic Site A Dinosaur We'd say that this cheeky toilet paper holder is great for your kids' bathroom, but let's be real: We want one, too. Bonus points if you can steal the plastic, long neck dino from the playroom without getting caught. Get the tutorial at The Chic Site » Courtesy of A Beautiful Mess Copper Cups These nifty makeup bins marry organization wi...

David Tsay When imagining the elements of your dream home, you might mentally design a roomy closet, a chef-caliber kitchen, or an expansive pool. But the ultimate luxury just may be a well-appointed bathroom made for relaxation. Take a look inside this incredible bath, and you too will start fantasizing about sunken tubs and cozy fireplaces. "Imagine lying in the bath with the flames flickering and the sun setting over the Pacific," says Ohara Davies-Gaetano, who decorated this house in Dana Point, California. "What could be more relaxing?" The arched window and the view were so magnificent that she didn't want to put a big white porcelain tub in front of it. Instead, she designed a sunken bath made from slabs of Crema Marfil marble. "It practically disappears, and that makes the room feel more open." David Tsay Everything from the chalky plaster walls to the mosaic of travertine and white marble chips on the floor is pale and creamy, with sea-gree...

Here, a master suite takes what is typically a no-fail color scheme — blue and white — and commits in a big, big way. Maybe too big. Originally appearing in an 1979 issue, the room is full of the era's trends (faux plants, plush rugs, mirrors galore), and its a far cry from today's popular spa-like baths. Frank Kolleogy Enter quietly, and shut the door behind you. Relax in an environment devoted to your total comfort and personal revitalization. Soak in an extra-large tub. Take a nap, read a book, or listen to Mozart on a platform bed equipped with built-in lighting, stereo and television. Unwind in the adjoining sitting room. New York designer Charlotte Finn combined two bedrooms and two baths to create this ultimate master suite with all sorts of sybaritic touches. Frank Kolleogy TELL US: Could you relax in this bathroom? By G. Jason Kontos

Courtesy of Prizma When it comes to design trends, we're happy to be hip. We are stoked about she sheds, beholden with brass, and pony up for pineapples. But when the Wall Street Journal recently reported that transparent glass tubs were the next big thing in bath decor, we paused. We're just not entirely sold on the idea. Sure, you can't argue with their minimal elegance, or their architectural achievement. And they're certainly a conversation piece — when architect David Stern debuted a custom clear bath for one client, he got more than 100 inquiries about it.  Still, let's talk about this. To bath in a glass tub is to be completely on display — and under the magnification of water, no less. And the fish tank-esque aesthetic just feels more exposed than a transparent shower door. Frankly, it reminds us of a science lab or an aquarium more than a spa. And what about fingerprints? Or, dare we mention, smudges from other body parts...

Getty Images America was obsessed with pink bathrooms in the 1950s. Of the 20 million new homes built between 1946 and 1966, approximately 5 million had at least one Pepto-hued lavatory, according to Pam Kueber of Retro Renovation and Save the Pink Bathrooms.  The country was already in love with cheerful shades like seafoam green, chartreuse and candy apple red — colors that fell in line with the nation's post-war optimism and often showed up on kitchen appliances — when pink-mania hit. After Eisenhower became president in 1953, the First Lady redecorated the White House's private quarters in the feminine hue and the public took notice. (Mamie Eisenhower loved pink so much she even remodeled the lavatory of a New Jersey farmhouse where she and Dwight frequently stayed in that color.) Brands capitalized on the trend; one paint company even sold a shade...

Bless'er House Southern blogger Lauren of Bless'er House remodeled a bathroom in her home that's normally reserved for her daughter, Olivia, but since guests often use it, she wanted to give it a clean, neutral look.  Here's her bathroom before the renovation.  Not wanting to "girlify it up too much," Lauren decided to mix feminine and masculine pieces in the bathroom to create a nice balance. Her goal? Incorporate delicate textures with rough rustic textures.      Here are some smart design tips we picked up from Lauren's stunning bathroom makeover:  1. Stain wood naturally to add subtle rustic accents. Lauren achieved this charming, rustic towel rack by using scrap wood pieces she had left over from a previous project. Using a natural and cheap way of staining wood, she turned it a deep amber color. After many variations of experimentation with steel wool and vinegar, Lauren found that...