Bathroom Towel Racks

One of the more essential things in the bathroom, is the towel rack. The place where you can hang up the wet towel to dry after use - yes, and not placed in a heap on the bathroom floor like your loved one does!

Below is an expert take on choices available when you lack space for a built-in towel rack; turn to the free standing towel rack.

A Free-Standing Towel Rack Solution
By Jennifer Akre

Sometimes I've run into a design problem that I knew I could solve with a simple solution. My story explains my quest to find a free standing towel rack, and how it changed my master bath from almost perfect to exactly right.

Several years ago I was involved in a challenging home renovation project. We bought a 120-year-old Queen Anne Victorian, a house that had been the victim of several non-sympathetic additions and adaptations. Our goal was to restore the house to something close to its original state, preserving its character but still updating it so it would be comfortable for a modern family to live and work in.

I discovered that is more difficult to work within the confines of an existing building than to build a new one. It wasn't impossible, mind you, and a surprising number of details fell into place quite easily.

Free Standing Towel Rack



I was particularly happy when we were able to create a traditional master bath with contemporary features. We found reproduction tile and re-used solid wood doors original to the home. Our new master bath was as perfect as I could imagine.

Perfect, that was, until it was time to install a towel bar. We had no place to screw anything into the wall within reach of the shower. Pocket doors, plumbing, lack of a reasonable expanse of wall-I had no place to hang a towel. But I knew there had to be a solution. I was on a quest to find a free standing towel rack.

Although I hadn't seen them anywhere at the time, I knew the free standing towel rack couldn't be a far-fetched idea. I was thinking of a quilt rack, but none were narrow enough for the space I was trying to fill. Eventually, I found a free standing towel rack in an in-flight catalog. It was a rare and lucky find.

The idea must have had merit, because today, you can find a free standing towel rack in a wide variety of sizes, finishes, and features. If you have limited floor space and need a place to hang the terrycloth, you can find a simple free standing towel rack on post and a weighted base. The post is topped with an S-shaped hanging rod, or a set of free-swinging bars on the top of the post, or an open oval rack. With this free standing towel rack, there's plenty of room to hang a few towels while taking up less than a square foot of floor space. And if you want to hang hand towels and don't have the nearby wall space for a conventional towel bar, you can get a countertop version of the free standing towel rack, too.

An elegant solution follows my instincts about using a quilt rack. Today you can find a free standing towel rack in all the popular hardware finishes. They are now readily available, and they provide two or three hanging rods--enough space to hang towels for a whole family. A base shelf on a free standing towel rack can store folded towels and spare bathroom essentials.

Another innovative design for the free standing towel rack is a towel ladder. Even if you have limited passage in your bathroom, the floor space that the ladder takes up is minimal, and you can hang four towels is less than two feet of wall space.

If you have space in your bathroom, another free standing towel rack takes its design from the étagère. Rather than having open shelves, this rack uses side bars for hanging towels. It gives you hanging space on four sides, and might give you hanging space for outside for pool towels.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it is bath accessories for your bathroom or chairs for your kitchen there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Click today and indulge your senses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Akre

Bathroom Towel Racks Ideas

Bathroom Towel Rack

Bathroom Towel Rack White

Bathroom Towel Rack

Bathroom Towel Rack

Off Season on the Island!

This weekend Dave and I are in Martha's Vineyard to attend a wedding. What a beautiful place the island is, especially during the off season when most of the summer crowds have gone.
Here are a few photos of the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown where the wedding will take place.
Weddings always stir up feelings of happiness, hope and excitement for the future. It's turning out to be the most spectacular day for a wonderful couple.

And some great R&R for Dave and I. Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend as well!

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(all photos Harbor View Hotel)

A Quick Cambridge Kitchen Redo!

Not all projects that I am involved with are huge in scope. Remember the Cambridge Workman's Cottage? You can read all about it here. It is a wonderful home that my dear friend, Leonard, renovated. Years before when budgets were tight a simple renovation was done to the kitchen. Here is the before. Cabinets were painted and new stainless appliances were purchased but the kitchen was largely as he had acquired it. In truth I really did not think the kitchen was as awful as Leonard did. Yes, the red counters were bad and I agreed that counter space was limited. Also, the stove seemed strangely out of place with about 24 inches of unused wall to the right. But Leonard's choice of cabinet color was really great. I especially loved how he refused to put in any upper cabinets. It kept the space wonderful and airy.
Here is the after - At first glance not terribly dramatic until you really take a closer look at all the details. First notice the gorgeous apron front soapstone sink and counters. A wonderful addition to a house seeped in history. We also moved the stove under the window and extended the counter to the doorway, this added significant workable counter space. Now he has two longer spaces of counters which definitely allows for more prep area. Drawers were chosen over cabinets for extra storage of pots and pans. The corner cabinet was outfitted with high quality pull outs to maximize the usable interiors. New KWC faucet and Cliffside cabinet hardware latches and pulls added the wonderful accent and ties in the stainless appliances wonderfully.

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Not terribly expensive to do, but a huge impact in terms of workability! And if you take a much closer look, I think you will agree it is an excellent improvement - a kitchen worthy of a house with so much charm and history!

(all photos Willow Decor and not to be used with out permission)

A Maine Coastal Jewel By Linda Banks

Designer and architect, Linda Banks, has been creating some of my favorite coastal homes for many years. She just sent on to me one of her recently completed projects to share with you. Once again Linda has created a wonderful ocean oasis for her clients in Maine.

On a spectacular property on the coast of Maine, Linda worked with her clients to create a shingled styled home from a new construction design. The goal was to create a casual feeling in a formal plan, but still retain the warmth and history of historic home. As such the home is filled with Linda's distinct attention to detail, including the client's antiques and collections, as well as nautical references of boats, fish and seashells, indigenous to the Maine coast.

The entryway above is a wonderful example of how Linda created the sense of history and age. The 24 foot hand hooked rug was custom designed with ships, lighthouses and other local references of Maine, sure to become a family heirloom. The bamboo bench is a beautiful reproduction and looks gorgeous with the framed hand tinted vintage map of the area.

The mudroom above provides a thoughtful location to keep everything in its place. With so many children and friends visiting the second home, this allows a wonderful spot for organization.

The dining and kitchen area above are designed in the classic New England tradition with white cabinets and blue/black granite counters. Wonderful slate floors, and butlers chairs create the perfect compliment of old and new.

The living room is the most formal room in the house. Linda used a beautiful palette of whites and creams and several classic pieces from Hickory Chair. Chairs are slip covered in Belgian Linen and the hand hooked rug was custom designed. The painting is by Stephen Bach.

The octagonal family room is part of a three level octagonal wing which captures the incredible ocean views . Above this room is the master bedroom, and above that is the client's home office which you will see in the photos below. Lovely shades of blue enhance the ocean views.

The master bedroom continues the soothing soft palette of gray blues, creams and whites.

The attic office provides the most spectacular views. Created to mimic the inside of a sailing yacht all the furniture is built in. Notice the beautiful ceilings.

The master bath is an oasis with cast iron tub perfectly positioned to capture the ocean views.

One of the boys rooms with signature Banks Designed horizontal panelling called "nickel gap", because the boards are spaced a nickel's width apart - common in ship building. The blue tone really brings a richness to the room.

The boys bathroom provide a space for each child. Nautically inspired lights and a whimsical whale rug bring a youthfulness to the space.

Another bedroom on the third floor located in the wonderful attic boasts arched casement windows. The zinc topped table was designed by Linda and her shop, Simply Home.

Another bath is awash is beautiful pale blues and marble. The mirrors are custom designed by Linda and also available through Simply Home.

The Maine coastal home is another wonderful example of Linda Banks' beautiful work and attention to details that make a house into a home. For more information on this house and to read the full article in Maine Home and Design click here. For information on Linda Banks Design click here. Finally to browse Linda's wonderful store Simple Home click here.
Thank you Linda for another fabulous home tour!

A Tale of Two Kitchens

It is always interesting to me to see how different two similar spaces can look. I wanted to share with you this wonderful restoration of an Edwardian Duplex in San Francisco by Marsh and Clark Design. By altering the choices of cabinets, furniture and lighting these nearly identical kitchens each become unique spaces. Designer, Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt created the first kitchen in a more formal tone with ebony cabinets, marble backsplash and marble counters.
The second kitchen in lighter tones has a more relaxed look. Notice that the space and layout are almost the same but the feel is very different.
This first unit lacked a formal dining room. In this case, it was important to have the dining area and the kitchen itself, take on a more formal atmosphere. The lighting and furniture choices are more dressy and sophisticated. Notice the upholstered chairs, chandelier and pendant lights, all would be equally at home in a dining room.
I love the contrast of the white marble against the dark cabinets. Also notice the steel counter stools. I love the sleek contemporary feeling of this space.
The other unit had a formal dining room, so the kitchen was designed to have a more relaxed, informal feeling. By choosing warmer wood tones and wall colors you immediately can see this space has a completely different feeling than the kitchen above. It is interesting to note that the backsplash and counters are the same marble as the kitchen above.

Rattan and wood chairs, small pendant lights and textured shade chandelier give the kitchen a more warm and relaxed feeling. Here you peek into the dining area. The side area of this kitchen doubles as a wet bar for the dining room. This is a wonderful example of changing wood tones, lighting and furnishings and transforming two almost identical kitchens into two very different spaces. Click here to see more wonderful projects from Marsh and Clark Design.

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Finally, after a short hiatus to spend more time this summer focusing on my family, bi-weekly posts at Willow Decor will begin again in September. Recharged, refreshed and more inspired than ever! Exciting things lie ahead!! Glad to be back!!

Decorating with Giant Clam Shells

(Julia Cumes for the Boston Globe)

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Sanibel Island in Florida. Like so many visitors to Sanibel our family got bitten by the "Shell Collecting" bug and we spent much of our time roaming the beautiful beaches hunting for shells. I am a big fan of using natural materials in decorating, especially shells, and one of my favorites items is the giant clam shell.

When I returned home I looked through my files and found that over the years I had several images of the giant clam shell. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorites. The photo above is vignette from the John Derian's summer home on Cape Cod. I love the unexpected texture the shell brings to this simple, rustic antique table.

(designingdna)

Perhaps the most obvious way to use a giant clam shell is on a table top. It lends itself well as a vessel for planting or housing a collection of fruit or decorative balls. I really love the example above. I find the contrast of the soft, willowy arrangement very striking against the rough coarseness of the exterior of the shell.

(Elle Decor)

Above is lovely living room of Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos. You can see the giant clam shell in the fireplace.

(Elle Decor)

Here the shot is restyled and you can see a better view of the shell. I especially like the bold color of the back of the bookcases. It provides a wonderful contrast for the other shells which are displayed.

(coastal style living)

These next two bathrooms are designed by Barry Dixon and they are fabulous of examples of using the giant clam shell in the bath. The glass shower creates almost a terrarium like display for the shell and provides a fabulous natural element.

(coastal style living)

Barry Dixon again uses a giant clam shell and fills it with natural sea sponges. I love how the placement of the shell softens the lines of the tub. The chandelier and screen are also beautiful additions.

(Jupiter Granite)

I love to see the shells used in more unique ways like the sink above. I adore this!! Someday I hope to add a bathroom at the beach house with a giant clam shell as a sink. This particular one was beautifully executed.

(House Beautiful)

Here is a more opulent example of using a giant clam shell as a sink. This bathroom, with it's mother of pearl tiles, is located in Southampton, NY. You can read more about this amazing home here.

Finally here is wonderful vignette located on the back wall of the pool house of Antiquarian, Michael Trapp, via Joni at Cote de Texas. The giant shell adds a wonderful burst of white against the spectacular stone walls. This home is really extraordinary. You can read more about it here.

Our Sanibel vacation inspired me add more shells to our beach home decor. We came home with a suitcase filled with our beautiful finds. I am anxious to get them sorted and displayed. More to come!! Hope you all are enjoying the summer!!!

Kitchen Colors and Accessories

Tired of your old kitchen look? Perhaps it is time to re-vamp your kitchen with a new look. But it is not necessary to spend much money on remodeling a kitchen. By changing the color scheme of your kitchen, and selecting kitchen accessories, you can create a new and updated look for your kitchen.

This article focuses on great ideas for changing the look of your kitchen that you can use to create a modern and updated kitchen that also exudes warmth and pleasure that all beautiful kitchen do.

Art of Selecting Right Kitchen Colors and Accessories
By Savs Foster

When it comes to colors, you can think of all the shades of light and dark to add to your kitchen. The choice of colors is completely an individual's choice. However a wiser choice always makes a great impact on the look of the complete area. This particular area has multiple things ranging from walls to accessories. The art of combining various colors and patterns of the kitchen commodities will make it a better place to cook.

Here are some simple tips of colors that may help your kitchen rejuvenate and give it a class feeling.

* In case you are having a fair good kitchen space then you can flaunt with all sorts of shades. The use of bright colors on walls and ceilings like pale, yellow, lemon and green will make it appear big. However, if you want to give an elegant and sleek look then you can even paint the walls red. This is both a bright and a dark shade that will offer a different look.

* Some basic colors like orange, violet and indigo are also an excellent option for the walls.

* To enhance the appearance, it is not necessary that you need to have one color. You can add different shades to the ceilings and walls. Some pattern fabrics and designs are being included. People having linear and striped patterns love their areas and it also makes the place look bigger.

* Coming to your cabinets. You must have installed them to add more space. The shades of your cabinets too make a difference. People having a small kitchen area can install them in neutral shade like white. This gives a bright look. In case you have a big kitchen, then dark colors will give a sophisticated and classy appearance to the area. Cherry red shades, wood color and other similar colors are becoming a part of the latest trend and people are installing them more often.

* The shelves and slab colors are often recommended to be light and mostly suggested to be of the material that is easy to clean.

* The floor color of your kitchen is another aspect to be looked after. The use of marbles, ceramic tiles, granites, hardwood and other flooring types is becoming popular not only for the durability, but also because of the fact that numerous shades are available.

* These days, dark as well as light, shimmery and glossy type granites are being installed to give a modernized and dazzling appearance. So, you can always think of installing the granite floors.

In case you want tiles in your kitchen then you better use both light and dark combinations to reflect a unique pattern. Contrasting colors like black and white, red and white are often being used by the homeowners.

Apart from the kitchen furniture, choice of some big equipment to be placed in your kitchen must be made judiciously. You can better try matching them with your kitchen theme. It is not necessary that you have to stick to one fabric in this part of home try using multiple building materials this would give more choice. The use of metals in various shades is also picking up trend for simple reason that they give an ethnic and antique look.

Do you want to revibe your home interiors? Then look for more kitchen design ideas, drawing room design, living room interior and many more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Savs_Foster

Updated and Modern Kitchen Decor Pictures