Hey friends!
So , the enneagram 8 (if you wanna know what yours is you ca take the test here) in me just won’t let me settle on this as a plan but the realist in me tells me that in the VERY near future I am going to have to make some solid decisions on what is soon to become a real life project in our home. Ah! Okay, I’m just a little excited because this is the first “large-scale” project we are tackling in this place and I could not wait to sit down and start planning it all out.
I gathered myself a couple of nights ago to set some financial plans, look over the architect’s design and hash it all out via a fresh spreadsheet.
DISCLAIMER: I’ve totally been thinking about this for months and even made this visual 3-4 months ago before we even had approval or the structural design but in my mind, I knew what I wanted so I had to get it all down to get a good look at how it all flowed together. Verdict? I’m in love.
Another disclaimer? Our budget for this build isn’t teeny by any stretch but it’s also not limitless so I’ll be working with a couple of brands to roll this one out but also ensure it’s still a very much approachable design.
WHERE I BEGIN + HOW I GET INSPIRED
I typically kick off any creative process by thinking about ME. What is my personal design style? How do I want the space to feel? What is the function of the space? I know that I will want to mix materials, evoke a sense of collected and found but also keep things clean and classic (our home is a 1940’s cottage so I’d like to stay in keeping with that in some ways). I start flipping through magazines and hop to Pinterest to get the creative juices flowing a bit. This is not a time that I think about budget or that I restrict or limit myself in any way. You could think of this as your typical brainstorming process. This is a time, however, to be inspired but not look at images for the sake of replicating them. In this stage, I am allowing the images to “speak” to me. I am picking apart the things that I love and those that won’t make sense for me and collecting them to form something that will translate well in MY home.
THE (actual-ish) PLAN.
I then narrow down from the original brainstorming to something a little more practical. During this stage I am considering the realities of our finances, collabs, timelines, realistic sources and the functionality of the space. This is also where I will begin to get things down in black and white. At this point, we’ve got all the approvals and permits, locked in the contractor/subs and I have a bit more freedom to begin solidifying what I have envisioned for months.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT:
Neutrals with a hint of moody hue.
Incorporation of found and antique items. May even repurpose an old piece or two in the space cause, duh.
Natural textures and textiles to add a bit of movement and personal style.
WHAT I DON’T LOVE ABOUT IT:
Too much brass. Too trendy.
The hexagonal tile inspo. Too much contrast between that and the Zellige. Will end up most definitely going with a more neutral tile.
Have left nothing to the imagination or for wonder. This is something I feel necessary in every room. Every room (even the bathroom) should leave you feeling inspired IMO.
SOURCE | ALL SORTS OF
THE NEXT STEP:
So, what is the next step, you ask? Well, I am glad you did. I will take the inspiration and some of the pros and cons and find some ways to eliminate what I like the least in order to make the bathroom more of my own. Since this build is for our two teens (and possibly guests/renters in the future) I’ll also get a bit of their input so that they can “own” a bit of the space as well.
After that, I’ll make a final plan. There are some details here that I am certain I’ll be executing: the Riad Zellige tile and the ‘knods"‘ to vintage and found. A must. Everything else is negotiable.
That’s it for now. I cannot wait to share more with you all.
For now, be sure to follow along on my Instagram stories for plenty of behind the scenes and inspiration for just aboutt every room by following me on Pinterest.
SOURCE | KATE MARKER INTERIORS
Cheers,
Kennesha
