<p>oregonianmom, a friend who has a lot of verve when it comes to decorating told me a great accent rug for a powder room is a small oriental carpet from places like Tuesday Morning. They’re not too expensive and really add a touch of elegance.</p>
<p>Yes, much more fun than stressing over college issues (sigh, one more to go-our third, last and most challenging is a sophomore in HS).</p>
<p>I envy those of you with the Brazilian Cherry! We have red oak throughout the house (though it was originally stained dark, then covered with carpet). We have “recovered” all the downstairs and refinished it natural, so very pretty (short boards, no longer produced this way). Ultimately a better choice, too, as our house tends to be a bit dark. Tile that looks like travertine in the entry and into the kitchen/eating/small family area-we are messy people!</p>
<p>The upstairs/bedroom section is next. The dilemma-continue to expose and refinish the hardwood or just re-carpet. We’ve removed the carpet in one bedroom as it’s better for the child, who is now at college most of the time, with allergies. (But it’s still the ugly dark color full of staple holes!) Totally in transition upstairs-windows have all been replaced with new painted white moldings to match the downstairs, but the balance of each room continues in the original state of old beat up trim in dark stain! But those new double pane windows are AWESOME! Nasty old carpet still in place in most rooms. Can’t even discuss the children’s bathroom as it probably should be condemned. It’s next on the makeover list, but trying hard to figure out how to make it a little bit bigger. Probably a lost cause without adding on as there is no place to grab any extra square footage-wishful thinking.</p>
<p>Our entry and main hallway (with some 2 story sections) are painted “maple”, another Devine paint color. I still love it, can’t really describe it. Not gold, not yellow, not tan-has a little pop, but not too much. The entry doesn’t have much depth, but a 2 story height, so an interesting first impression. I hated this house the first, second and third time I walked into it (over a 10 month period). Now-I love walking through the dark red front door (of course that’s also been replaced since we bought this place). Yip, we bought a wreck, but we knew it (that doesn’t mean we didn’t come across a few surprises anyway!).</p>
<p>I have never heard of Devine…is it only west coast?</p>
<p>My friend is redoing her bath, there is a closet next to it(on the outside) so she is knocking it out and re-configuring the room…yes taking all of the fixtures out, but at least the pipes are all ther and so they are not dragging pipelines across. If this is a long term home, think about putting in a seamless glass shower to get more sqft. You can even put in a 2 person, or a 1 person with a seat…do it with ceramic for a hi end look. Many people are walking away from the tub/shower and doing an oversize glass shower. The glass shower will look bigger for optical illusions</p>
<p>As far as re-sale you can re-coup the money for an oversized shower. Many people are now sandwich families (older parents living with them and college age kids)…the walk in seamless shower is desirable, it is only a negative if you live in an area where it desired by young families.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, this bathroom has the only tub in the house (none in the master at this time). We may re-do our master bath at some point, which we had to re-do on the cheap early on because of a major “system” failure (the shower sprung a leak into the living room below), but that is at the very bottom of the list. Two of the walls are exterior walls, a third is part of the stairwell and the fourth is hallway (with no room to spare in that section). We could build out in one direction, but for a little extra bathroom square footage the cost might not justify it. But we’ve also considered bumping out the house in that direction with thoughts of another bedroom/suite type arrangement for grown children or visiting parents. $$$$. That is probably a pipe dream, though our area could support such a house and ours would definitely not be unusual in that set up.</p>
<p>We did that glass shower in the master with amazing results-it’s also a smallish set up. Went with boring white ceramic tile with black accent, but for a small space-did the trick and got rid of the cave feel we had before.</p>
<p>I think we just have to very thoughtfully re-do the existing kids bathroom as best we can. Galvanized pipes are getting ready to fail and could force the issue soon.</p>
<p>Devine originated in Oregon, available throughout the PNW and is designed for the gray days of this area. If nothing else, the color schemes are just awesome in my opinion and might be worth a “look see”. Maybe the local paint store could do a color match.</p>
<p>My brother and sis-in-law have the best powder room I have ever seen. Their home was built in 1910 and was bought like new construction after a major rehab. The GC went in and built what we jokingly refer to as the Harry Powder Closet…they took the hall closet and yes made it into a powder room…It is gorgeous, hard to find, b/c the gc kept the original panels as the door, the knob is the only way to find it. It is beautiful, but you do think of Harry Potter when you are in a bathroom under the stairs. </p>
<p>Outside of the box is always the best way to go…but it must fit the style of the home.</p>
<p>As a realtor b4 you think of bumping out make sure you have the ability due to county/city easement lines. Out of curiosity why do you want it bigger? If it is a spare, than by expanding it you will just be adding more dusting, windexing and cleaning time. Our Jack and Jill is not as large as our other and that is fine by me.</p>
<p>As far as the paint what do you mean it was designed for gray days…lived in AK and I understand the darkness, but what is the makeup of the paint that makes it different</p>
<p>I re-did my kids’ bathroom two years ago. It was tiny with just one sink and a tub/shower. The contractor removed a closet and the old sink, then installed a solid counter top with two sinks and lots of drawers and cabinets beneath in pure white. Then I found these really neat extra large three paneled medicine cabinets with a row of lights on top that are mirrored and put one over each sink. They have tons of space inside to put all their makeup and toiletries. I left the tub because they like to take baths (2 girls) but replaced the shower curtain with a solid sliding door that somehow makes the room larger. Then I added a full length mirror opposite the door so that when you enter it feels bigger. Everything is white - paint, counters, cabinets and tile. This lets the girls play around with towel and rug accent colors.</p>
<p>I feel very proud of this bathroom. It went from being cramped and dated to modern feeling and very functional.</p>
<p>Good questions regarding bumping out. This is the bathroom that 3 “children” share. But 2 are now in college, so things are only tight during the summer and college breaks. The expansion would be the second story, out over the first story, so I don’t think there would be easement issues. Shouldn’t be view issues. The current arrangement is narrow. We are tall people-all kiddos are over 6’. It’s almost comical to watch them maneuver in this small space.</p>
<p>Updating while staying within the styling of the house and neighborhood has been challenging. I’ve personally put a lot of time and effort into finding what I think are acceptable “replacement parts” and so far we (and the neighbors) seem happy with the results.</p>
<p>Check out the Devine website for the full story. When I first found this paint 4 or 5 years ago (it’s expensive, but I love the colors, it’s easy to work with and the finish is just lovely), the story played up the avoidance of any gray tones in the paint colors to improve “brightness”, which is an issue around here. I don’t see that comment now, but I do think this product does a nice job of keeping whatever light there is in a room “alive”, for lack of a better description.</p>
<p>I have a friend with three little girls and she put in a three-sink counter. Each sink has its own built-in soap dispenser. Too cute.</p>
<p>DH and I thought about adding a powder room under the stairs when the kids were little. Now I want a wine cellar for 350 bottles in that space.</p>
<p>We’re going to gut the downstairs bath in the spring when we can have a chute for the demo out the window. Several neighbors have done the tub removal/walk-in shower remodel. I like the idea. Won’t be able to go too glam on the bath because the slate roof is taking a beating and will have to have extensive work. The money pit lives on…</p>
<p>Okay, 2cakes has me just agog over the wine cellar for 350 bottles. Under the basement stairs is where we currently store 350 beenie babies. Wine would be so much more sophisticated . . .</p>
<p>Our D’s 350 beanie babies are in the attic. Think they’ll be worth something someday? Never mind they’re all just tossed into a big bin, not in plastic or anything. </p>
<p>Yeah, I’d rather have the 350 bottles of wine.</p>
<p>A friend of mine is putting a wine cellar into her basement. Sounds like it will be really nice when it’s finished. I’ll have to tell her about that venetian plaster idea.</p>
<p>Just saw in the potterybarn catalogue a great wood wine bin compartments, they are stackable.</p>
<p>Off topic, but what exactly do we do with all of these beanie babies that our kids had to have…I am not a big ebay person. Mine are in a plastic tub, I was even stupid enough to buy the plastic tag cover, they are not in containers or individual bags.</p>
<p>I am from the east coast, so bear with me when I say “OH M G*D I HATE YOU” Devine does not have a store near me, colors I could care less about, but the drapes are unbelievable and the site won’t let me in without one of their colors…uggh! I now am going to have to cut and paste and take to a seamstres to match with my colors…they are amazing! If we didn’t have jobs or family on the east coast I’d move out to Oregon just for this company (JK :p)</p>
<p>Off topic too…</p>
<p>We have that same plastic tub full of beanie babies with plastic tag covers!
And since I have two kids, we have two of everything…including some really old ones, ‘mixed up tag’ collectors’ items and even a few counterfeit Princess Dis my husband picked up in China. 
</p>
<p>A few years ago we were at that crossroad of 'ebay ‘em?’ or 'give ‘em away?’. We opted for the give away plan. So every time my kids need to donate gently used toys for Key Club, church or other similar organization, I send them to the beanie baby bin. We get quite a few dropped jaws, especially when a relatively valuable one turns up in the donate pile. But the way I figure it, maybe someone with more of a need than me will get to sell them on ebay…or keep them, or whatever…</p>
<p>ldmom, that’s a nice idea - to donate the beanies. Kicking myself at realizing how much money (and time) was spent finding and buying those things. But the memory of D seeing Chip and Zip sticking up out of her Christmas stocking, and then her saying, “This is the best Christmas EVER!” is priceless.</p>
<p>Here’s what’s really sick – I still buy 'em! Even though my two high school daugher’s could not care less about them. H and I couldn’t resist the new valentines beenie babies this past weekend . . .</p>
<p>I didn’t realize they still make them…I remember having to go McDonald’s to get the matching tiny beanies.</p>
<p>Gee this thread is sooooo off the OP :D</p>
<p>Oh, B&P, home decor is so much more meaningful and fulfilling than getting our kids into college . . .</p>
<p>no fight here, I love the fact that I am able to turn my mind off, but I don’t think beanie babies falls into the realm of home decor…I place it in the category of what do I do with them now? If you can figure a way to make the home not look stupid with 100 of them I am all eyes!</p>
<p>Now if you want to help I went onto devine and fell in love with their drapes…guess what you can’t order on line…talk about frustrating…you are willing to spend the money, but they won’t take it :mad:</p>
<p>I’m late to this thread.</p>
<p>I didn’t know you could have walls that weren’t white. When did that begin??</p>