Itty Bitty Window

Our house is always in some state of remodel and it's rare that one room is completely finished. We're great at starting projects and terrible about finishing them. Usually it's one or two small projects and we're done but it'll stay in a state of perpetual construction for months if not years. Case in point. Our 2nd bathroom.

We started to remodel this bathroom 2 1/2 years ago when the sewer backed up. Yep, it was awful! Once the plumbing was fixed and the mess cleaned up, we added octagonal historic tiles to the floor, refinished the original 4' clawfoot tub (perfect size for washing Lhasa Apsos) and added a small cabinet sink. I really like the room but other than the tub faucet that needs to be installed (it's partially installed), the room didn't feel "finished".

While browsing one of my favorite blogs Cote de Texas, I came across this photo of a bathroom window treatment and had my "ah ha" moment.



That's what the room was missing...a window treatment. I ran downstairs to take a photo and realized the window is unusually low (never noticed before) and started laughing. Hopefully the neighbors haven't received an eyeful ;-)

Sorry the color of the room is a little wonky as I haven't figured out how to use my new camera





So this weekend I'm going to pick up woven wood shades and linen to sew a ruffled curtain like the photo above.

To see more of this home, visit Cote de Texas.

Vancouver Island

When my husband was on leave from Iraq back in 2008, we took a week off and took the ferry to Vancouver Island, BC and drove around Vancouver Island. We drove to the resort town of Tofino and stayed in a wonderful hotel and enjoyed the tranquility and quiet beauty of that area. If you truly want to 'get away from it all' I highly recommend you take the BC ferry from Tsawwassen (west of the city of Vancouver) and spend a week tootling around Vancouver island.

This home below is a good representation of the Pacific Northwest and use of natural elements in a more contemporary style.

It's an interesting exterior blend of Victorian Cottage and Northwest Lodge.



That dining room table is fabulous and the view is breathtaking!











(all images/video from Judy Gray)