Bathroom Update - Shelf DIY Inspired by Pinterest

Our main (and only full) bath is nothing to write home about.  Don't get me wrong - it's a nice sized space that would function well as a main bath, but since it is our only full bathroom we avoided doing a full scale renovation on it when we moved in, opting instead to change out the sink and toilet while leaving the (old) cast iron tub and (random) wall/floor tiles to be replaced later on (when we add an addition and an ensuite to the master bedroom).  So, from a design perspective, there's still much to be done.

While we did have enough space to add dual sinks when we moved in, the bathroom lacks storage otherwise.  Just outside the bathroom is a linen closet that houses our towels and extra toiletries, but I wanted to add a space to have those on hand in the bathroom itself.  So when I saw this picture on Pinterest, I knew that it was something I could easily do to add some character and storage to the space.

Source: marthastewart.com via Wendyjp on Pinterest

A few weeks ago, I sent Esposito to Home Depot to pick up a shelf and some brackets.  You may remember this picture on my Instagram feed:

The brackets were about $8 each, and I believe the wood for the shelf was an additional $10-$15 (of course, Esposito doesn't remember)!  A coat of primer and two coats of white semi-gloss trim paint (already on hand) later, the brackets and shelf were ready to put up (no pictures because my camera was broken)!

Here is the bathroom window before the shelf and after.

Bathroom Window Before Shelf

Bathroom Window After Shelf

I still need to paint that random beige strip just under the casing - I'm not sure what it is or what it's there for (doesn't seem to be part of the window) and I never really noticed it until now that I'm looking at these pictures!  Also, I'm not yet entirely sure how I'm going to style it up - since the ceiling above the shelf is sloped, anything I put on there can't be more than 6" tall.  I am on the hunt for some pretty boxes to conceal extra toiletries and additional towels to fold prettily up there. In the interim, I shopped my house for some pretties to adorn the shelf. 

For sure, the apothecary jars ($5 before a 40% off coupon at Joann's) will stay to hold cotton balls and q-tips.  I'd also like to find some "bathroom" art for the frames.  The plant typically goes on the sink ledge, so it gets some light, but I may leave it up there and see how it fares for a bit.  At some point, I may also make a DIY roman shade to hang under the shelf - but I need to first find the perfect fabric!

At first, I was afraid that the shelf was going to look a bit too country, but I actually like it and the character and function that it brings to an otherwise unusable space.  And for a ~$30 project, it can't be beat.  What do you think?

I'm linking up to Today's Creative Blog "Get Your Craft On" link party here, and to Home Stories A to Z "Tutorials and Tips" link party here!

Loving Lately - Rose Gold Accents

One of the trends I've picked up on over the last few seasons has been rose gold accents.  Sort of like how brass is the "new" thing in home decor, rose gold has shown up everywhere from jewelry to watches and other accessories to shoes.  I think one of the main reasons I'm drawn to rose gold is that it adds an extra something special to your accessories versus your regular silver/white gold or yellow gold pieces, at the same time remaining fairly versatile.  I bought myself a rose gold watch a few months ago (on super sale at my local TJMaxx) and I wear it all the time.  I'm still on the lookout for the perfect rose gold pieces  to add to my jewelry collection, as well as for ways to incorporate it into my home.  Here are some rose gold pieces I'm currently loving:

Friday's Fancies - Spring Fever

This week's Friday's Fancies theme is Spring Fever and I'm totally on board...  I don't know if it's the insanely warm-for-winter weather we've been enjoying here, or all the blog posts about spring trends, or the fact that it's already the second month of the new year which means spring is just around the corner, but lately, I've had spring on the brain.  One of the spring trends I'm loving most is mint green - while I don't normally gravitate towards pastels, mint green seems very fresh and easy to pull off.  So for this Friday's Fancies post, I'm styling up a piece similar to one I hope to add to my wardrobe in the coming weeks.

Friday's Fancies - Spring Fever by wpolanco featuring nude shoes

Head on over to Long Distance Loving to see the other Friday's Fancies posts!

Favorite House Tour from Apartment Therapy

I was looking through some of my old inspiration pictures recently (pre-pinterest, I used to just save inspiring images to my computer and have thousands of images still on my hard drive!) and came across the images from one of my favorite Apartment Therapy house tours ever.  After searching through the archives, I finally found the original link and thought to share with you (it dates back to 2007 so hopefully it will be fresh for many!).  I think what I loved most about this tour is that the decor seemed very attainable yet the home has a very casual, lived in vibe.  It is at once elegant and cozy enough to know that someone can actually live there.  To this day, it continues to be a source inspiration.  See the full house tour (and additional details) here.  Enjoy!

Work It Wednesday - Navy & Pink

Last week, I posted about my love of navy and pink as a color combination.  Coupled with all the neon inspiration going around these days (I don't know about you, but I'm ready for Spring!), I thought it only appropriate to feature the colors in this edition of Work It Wednesday.  Here are three looks featuring (bright) pink and grounded with navy - one for a (rainy) weekend, one for a night out for dinner or drinks, and one for work.  And as soon as I get my camera back, I'll show you just how I wore it, using items already in my closet!

Work It Wednesday - Navy & Pink by wpolanco featuring michael kors tops

Head on over to The Good Life for Less to see the other Work It Wednesday posts!