Beach Cottage: Post Blue Bathroom

Quick update:  We had an amazing amount of interest from last week's Open House.  It resulted in multiple offers and we're now under contact (yea!!!).  So I finally have a moment to catch up and share the rest of the before and after photos.

We all got a big chuckle out of this blue-blue bathroom.  And because of the overwhelming amount of blue, I decided that it should be very neutral for the next owners!  I wanted a cream and white color scheme.

The floor is a marble from Turkey that I love.  I used a color enhancer to bring out the coloration, before sealing the floors. And at long last, we got to install the George Jetson toilet and matching sink (aka Toto).  It really does have a wow factor!

The shower stall was done it a simple white subway tile, with a band of the marble used on the floor.

And we took advantage of a little niche in the wall to create this built in.

This was the very last room we finished - but we're so happy with how it came out!


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Beach Cottage - The Hall Bath

I'd like to call this a 'Before & After' post, but since there wasn't a bathroom on the 2nd floor when we started the project, that doesn't seem quite right!  But this bath is one of my favorite rooms in the house, so I wanted to share some pics with you.

For starters, we wanted this room to be a bit distinctive.  I started with the tile mosaic floor.  It took some time to install - but I'm really pleased with it.  The outer edge is a travertine marble called 'Cafe au Lait'.  The ovals are a blend of 3 different marbles and the center is a grecian white marble.  What do you think?

And I echoed the banding in the floor with this accent marble stripe around the tub surround.  And since we have a cathedral ceiling in here, I took the tub surround up extra high!

We used a half wall at the end of the tub.  I've done this in several houses (including one of our own) because 1) it keeps the bathroom open and bright and 2) you can use a shower curtain at the end of the shower, but in reality, very little water makes it that far (and the wall cap is made of PVC, so no worries about moisture).






To add a little more light, we included the Restoration Hardware pendant.  I love that it is glass on the top and bottom, adding more light into the room.






I've already talked about our very cool reclaimed wood vanity - but if you missed it, here's the link.  I paired it with this dramatic mirror and a gunmetal finish on the light fixture.

But my favorite accent?  These numbered towel hooks.  Instead of the typical towel bar, we thought something special would be more appropriate.  And these are fun!

What do you think?

Sources:
Marble - Paul G White in Portland -  Cafe au Lait, dalTile.  Ovals, SoHo Tile
Vanity Base - Pottery Barn
Toilet - Toto
Shower Sign - Pottery Barn
Towel Hooks - Amazon
Mirror - Roth & Allen

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Beach Cottage: Master Bedroom Before and After

At long last, I have a few minutes to share some of the 'before and afters' upstairs.  That's certainly the area with the most dramatic change in the house - thanks to the addition of the all new 2nd floor.  And the master bedroom is the centerpiece of that change!

But it wasn't easy.  We started with this awkward space.  No headroom (yes, I am tall.  But seriously, that's a low ceiling!!).  Tiny windows.  No bathroom on the 2nd floor.  And it was really, really dark - thanks to lots of pine paneling and a couple of wimpy lights.

Plus, there was this awkward dormer area,over the staircase where you had to twist and turn to climb into it.

Once we ripped off the existing 2nd floor, we were able to install a new rafter system and dormers that created the large new space with fabulous high ceilings.  Wow, what a change!









And with the addition of 7 (really, all in one room!) windows, this is a bright open space.  The main space currently has a queen sized bed, but there is plenty of room for a king size as well.

Since the ceiling is so high, we needed a really tall headboard, so I made the velvet tufted headboard - see here for instructions.


The sitting area has room for a cozy chair or a desk space.

I'd love to show you the 'before' master closet - but of course there wasn't one.  Now we have lots of room for hanging clothes as well as these custom built ins for shoes, sweaters, etc.

And the piece de resistance?  The master bathroom.  Starting with the marble mosaic on the floor, the bath has beautiful finishes.




The shower sports a seating area, marble compass rose and glass doors.  There's also a laundry closet, ready for stackable laundry units.

So now that it's done, what do you think?  Is this a room you could relax in?

Sources:
Chandelier - Murray Feiss Arabesque
Bedding - Pottery Barn Sammie Duvet & Shams
Window Treatment Fabric -  Anne Selke Home
Lamps - Target Threshold
Round Table - Simply Home
Paint Color - Sherwin Williams Rice Grain (used throughout the house)
Master Bath
   Vanity - Foremost
   Toilet - Toto
    Shower - Maax, Toto, Moen




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Open House: 30 Deake Street, Sunday April 6, 11:00-3:00

Please join us for an Open House, this Sunday!  Only steps from Willard Beach, this house is listed at $499,000.  It includes 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths and many, many new features.  The entire 2nd floor is new and includes a Master Suite, 2nd floor laundry, plus 2 more bedrooms and a full bath.  The first floor includes an open concept floor plan as well as an additional bedroom/office and a full bath.

We're still finishing up some odds and ends, but we should be ready by Sunday.  I'll get more 'before and after' photos out soon, but here's a sampling of the finished space:

Exterior:

First Floor:

1st Floor Bedroom or Office 

1st Floor Full Bath

2nd Floor - Master Suite

Master Suite includes cathedral ceilings, sitting area and water glimpses

The Master Bath has a large, walk in shower, marble mosaic floors and a stackable laundry

Master Suite Walk In Closet with Custom Storage

Kids Rooms:

Large bedroom with built in dresser & window seat

2nd Floor Hall Bath

And best of all - the location.  Deake Street ends at Willard Beach and Fisherman's Point.  Just a few short steps and you see these beautiful vistas!  I took these photos yesterday - it looks like spring is here!

End of Deake Street - Fort Gorges and Spring Point Lighthouse

Deake Street leads to the Path to Fisherman's Point

View of Portland Head Light from Fisherman's Point

Of course there's more - but I'll save that for the next post.  Hope to see you Sunday!

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Before and After: The Open Floor Plan

There are so many things we love about this house, but our favorite?  The open floor plan that evolved from removing multiple walls on the first floor.

Built in 1943, this house only had one owner for almost 70 years.  And it was a bit of a time warp, with lots of dated features that don't work well for today's lifestyle.






But now, it's had a dramatic makeover!

Before - typical of that period, there were distinct rooms, including a small, dark kitchen.

But now, it's light and bright. with a kitchen that blends seamlessly with the living room.  It's the perfect room for the whole family to gather.  And you know how everyone ends up in the kitchen when you have a party?  Well this house can handle that with ease!

The kitchen changed the most, with all new cabinets, quartz countertops, an island with space for lots of seating, and lighting from multiple sources.  One of my favorite features?  This giant stainless steel farmhouse sink, with an industrial style faucet.  You can do some serious cooking here!

I'm so pleased with how the glass backsplash turned out.  It was a bit nerve wracking during the install (I forgot to order extra iridescent glass bars, so couldn't make any mistakes!), but it looks fantastic!















The living room is a big space with a wood burning fireplace and built ins as a focal point.  By replacing the 'picture window' across the front of the room, we've updated the look of the room, while still allowing lots of sunlight to stream through.

And remember the original phone caddy that was in the old hallway?  We moved it to the kitchen wall and incorporated both a plug for a traditional phone AND an outlet for USB charging.  It will charge 2 phones/tablets at once and we've already started using it :-)

So what do you think?  Is this a house that's ready for another 70 years?







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