A Kiss Of Fall In The Commode

Earlier this year, we updated our hall bathroom. It was long overdue, but I stalled and stalled, because I just couldn't let go of all that red.

I loved the paint. Balmoral Red by Ralph Lauren.

It was so dramatic and powerful, it made my heart stir every time I walked by or into the room.

It's hard to fight that kind of emotion. And attachment.

However, when the paint started to chip and the tub became too annoying to clean, I knew it was time. And I braced myself for a change. A very big change.

As most of you know by now, we painted the room white. Whoa. Very out of character for this crimson obsessed girl. And honestly, it took a while to get used to. In fact, I'm still playing around with the decor...to get it to feel more...well, like me.

During the summer, I played up the light, airy feel of my new room with a lace trimmed white shower curtain from Laura Ashley. However, when fall showed up, in a very dramatic way, I felt the need for a little color.


Not too much, but something to make the room feel a little warmer. I searched high and low online for one that complimented the floor and my romantic cottage style vanity with no luck. Then, as it often happens, when I wasn't looking for it, I stumbled upon this one in a discount store for $9.99.

It had a tiny of kiss of color, just enough to add a cozy air to the space.

Once I swapped out the shower curtain, I decided the rest of the room could use a little festive fall flair, starting with a gorgeous watercolor printable.

And then the bathroom sat like that for weeks.

Until one evening, I said to my husband, Enough is enough, I need to finish this room, let's go.


And off we skipped to HomeGoods. I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for and I wasn't confident I would find my elusive je ne sais quoi...but lo and behold the universe heard my cry and I was barely in the front door when I stumbled onto this pretty.

I couldn't believe it. If you recall, when I mocked up my plan for the bathroom wall, I included a few oval frames. I wasn't sure if this one would be big enough or too big, but when we got it home, it was just right.


It did have a rope around the top, but it was a bit too nautical for my taste, so I used my handy 6-in-1 screwdriver and removed it. Much better.

The only thing missing now, was the towel hook. For years, I'd had a simple wrought iron shabby hanger in the room. I was all set to put it back, when I saw this neat hook in a shop in the Hamptons.


I was smitten, but it was $30. Yikes. No way. I knew I could make it for less. So I did.





I'd seen those rosette square and rectangular moulding pieces in the store, so that's where we started and boom. Right where I knew they'd be. I grabbed one and then headed off to get a hook. I wanted something non-traditional and went with a drawer pull.

Adorable. But it needed paint.


I gave it a few coats with a cream colored acrylic craft paint and a bristle brush...strokes going in the direction of the wood.


When it dried it was way too white, so I decided it would look great with a bit of that brown antiquing gel my friend Susan from Homeroad gave me for my bathroom mirror this summer.


I wiped it on and off, and voila! How fabulous. Just like the Hamptons. I can barely tell the difference between the two. Except mine only cost $5.00. Much better.


Mr. Handy Dandy used his drill to make hole for the knob and I was in business. I'm not thrilled with the electrical outlet on the wall, but there are some things you just can't do without.

I mean, it's kind of important to have lights when you're showering or doing your makeup. Although, trust me, if there was a way around it, I'd do it...you know...for the sake of design.

Maybe someday...


In the meantime, I need to find a few tea towels to hang on my custom hook. Or more likely, whip up a few.

I already have ideas.

And keep your eyes peeled for a new shower curtain coming soon. While I was shopping for this one, I found the most darling plaid one from UGG for a song.

But that's a Christmas tale...and I'm still thinking about turkeys.

Well, at least until Thursday.

Gobble, gobble!

Do you decorate your bathrooms for the holidays?