Guest Blogger Kevin Isbell on luxurious practicality in the bathroom

Image credit: Peter Pennoyer

Kevin Isbell: A bathroom is a highly personalized space which should reflect the owner. This is the room in which we begin and end our day, a room of quiet contemplation in a sea of distraction. Of any room in the house, this is the area to indulge and relax. Second only to the kitchen, the bath is the most expensive space to remodel. It should be classic, yet keep with the owners style and architecture. This is not a place to indulge in trends or fads (Yes, I am talking to you, Vessel Sink, 1999).

Indulge, however, in style– be it white subway tile, slabs of honed marble or a graphic wallpaper. To add a little pizzazz to my bathroom, I am having my decorative painter lacquer the walls a deep cherry cola. A dark, moody color with red undertones which looks great set against the modern architecture.

Image credit: Country Living

For those of you without the luxury of space, storage is paramount. In my bath I store essentials such as Q Tips, and cotton swabs in lidded glass canisters on a wooden tray on my counter. This makes for an artful, yet practical storage solution. To add warmth, texture, and additional storage, I purchased an antique Asian cabinet for the less attractive necessities. Within the cabinet items are stored in individual wicker baskets grouped by function. This helps to streamline my morning and makes clean up a snap.

When it comes to towels, there are 2 very distinct camps: those who prefer white, and everyone else. Never one to turn down a fluffy white Frette towel while traveling, I prefer color for everyday use. Towels are a great way to introduce color and personality to your bath. When you tire of the color or pattern you can easily replace them and completely update the look. Big chain retailers such as Restoration Hardware stock good quality towels in today’s on-trend colors. In my bath, I store rolled towels underneath the floating vanity in a rush basket . This is an easy and practical solution which has the added benefit of disguising the exposed plumbing.

Image credit: Country Living

In the end, there are no rules that apply to everyone. Just make certain the space reflects who you are and have bit of fun. This is a working room, so make certain that all the components are there to assist how you live and offer a bit of pampering on those days when you could use a little TLC.