Becoming Home: The Less Expensive Bath
Bathrooms, those smallest of spaces in the home, can interestingly be one of the most expensive to complete. We want them to be functional, yet beautiful and calming, and maybe even retreat-like. We may not be able to hop a flight to the destination where spa and pampering await, but we can create something along those lines in the littlest room in the house. It's not surprising that we want the space where we begin and end our days to be nurturing of our bodies and souls.
If budget allows, the sky's the limit, as they say, for what materials and craftsmanship can be used to achieve the bathroom you're after. But what if there was only so much money to go around? How could remarkable beauty and impact be had rather than just wished for?
Generally speaking, these following ideas may help you realize that your wishes may be closer than you think:
Fabric is less expensive than glass. And yards upon yards of fabric has an impact like no other.
A slab floating counter with vessel sinks trumps a vanity with doors and drawers in cost. Add a basket beneath for extra towels, an antique apothecary cabinet on the wall for toiletries, and there you go.
Patterned tile is beautiful, but it will scoop up a good portion of the budget without apology. A patterned rug plays the same notes, just on a different scale.
Don't fear the less expensive option of wood in the bathroom. Afterall, boats and ships are built from it.
A length of copper pipe, that's what this faucet was fashioned from, no need for fancy from a manufacturer. Water flow, operated by a pedal on the floor, is already mixed to warm before it reaches the spout. Other faucet ideas: antique spiggots, or aged founatin spouts.
Because tile can be the spendiest part of a bathroom, consider using the least expensive version of it, the white glazed 6x6 ceramic, but do it in an off-set pattern. Your retreat will have the look of subway tile without the price. (Oh, and, psst!, don't tile the entire wall!)
And there you have it, just a few things that may spark some ideas of your own for creating a bathroom that you love (and can afford). Often, if we change the angle of our viewpoint just a bit, a whole different picture comes into focus.
Happy International Women's Day to my lady readers out there!
P.S. Don't forget! The Spring Sale on the Shelter Collection is going on now! Through the month of March, all building plans are 25% off (that's a $500 savings, peeps!). Learn about the Shelter Collection right over here. Shop the collection here.
