Berkshire Estate: Bathrooms & Guest Suite

I thought I could wrap up the BERKSHIRE ESTATE in just one more post. 

Turns out, that would be one LONG post.  Today we'll cover the remaining

BATHROOMS & GUEST SUITE.

You may have noticed we are using similar materials throughout this home.  We used different versions of subway tiles, concrete counter tops with integrated sinks, pendant lights, frameless beveled mirrors, and contemporary chrome faucets to add consistency from top to bottom.

Who wouldn't want to do laundry in a tiffany blue laundry room? 

We incorporated both open and closed storage to make this utility space as functional as possible.

We used beverage buckets from Target as laundry hampers 

(I wrote about these babies here). Chic and cheap!

The hex marble mosaic tile dresses up the 12'x12' porcelain nicely, don't you think?

The guest suite is not your average guest suite.  

With picture windows overlooking the pool and hot tub and positioned off the 

2nd family room and kitchen (we'll see those tomorrow!), 

it's more like a second home within the main house.

Who needs a vacation when you have a get-a-way in your backyard and basement?

{Interior Design by Brooke Jones Designs, Photography by Jylare Smith}

Jones Living Room Design Board

Remember this post after I sold my living room chairs to make room for a desk? Well, like most of my projects, as soon as I changed one thing, the project snowballed into changing 2... 3... 7...  items and now it's almost a complete redo.  Whoops! I'm absolutely loving it, though.  Here's my game plan:

I already own half of these pieces, thank goodness.  The sofa in the board is not an exact match, but is close to my black velvet sofa I designed when I worked at Bassett Furniture.  I've had a love/hate relationship with the fabric but as it's nylon and black it wears like nailes and cleans like a dream!  The mirrored end tables I bought at Target years ago, I think for $40 a piece-- such a steal!  The nickel and glass coffee table is another memento from my Bassett days (originally it was $1200+, but add in my employee discount on top of the clearance price and I walked out with it for less than $200.  Awesome.).   The lead crystal floor lamp is from Restoration Hardware and retails at about $600+.  I found mine at a scratch-and-dent store (anyone else in UT love DownEast Home?) and it was mis-tagged for only $25.  I asked the sale associate about it and she said she's honor the price. CHA-CHING!!! $575 savings for me! And believe me, it's a quality lamp, 'cause that thing is heav-VY.

Here's where the new stuff comes in.  I had dove grey velvet curtains in my head for my large picture window but in Texas I visited a Restoration Hardware OUTLET.  They accepted my designer discount on top of their prices. I picked up a pair of charcoal grey Belgium twill grommet panels for less than $100 (they were more than that a piece originally). DONE! If you live anywhere near San Marcos, Texas you must visit the outlets-- Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn/West Elm/William-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, etc. etc.  It was a shopping paradise. 

Last week I stopped by a different location of the same scratch-and-dent store where I got my lamp.  In all honesty, I went shopping for a client but ended up buying something for me.  Surprisingly, that doesn't happen as often as you would think.  Anyway, I came across a desk that looked a LOT like this:

Be still my heart...

...except the top portion of the DownEast desk is french blue.  

Upon a little inquiring, I found out that the polished nickel trestle bases are the real deal from William-Sonoma but the top, though it looks the exact same as the WS original besides for the hardware and ...ahem... blue finish, use to have wooden legs that were freight damaged.  With a savings of about $1575, I took the soon-to-be-gorgeous 'Frankenstein-ed' desk (I'm currently in the process of researching who could paint the top white.  The blue has got to go.).  

Next on my shopping list is this little beauty, as seen from Pieces Inc:

I didn't spend $1850 on the William-Sonoma desk, so there's no way I'm going to spend that on a chair.   The chair is from the late 1960's-70's designed by Anton Lorenz.  I have found a few vintage ones on etsy and eBay in pretty good shape but all are in need of some hair-on-hide re-upholstery.  Since hair-on-hide can get spendy, I'm holding out until I can find this chair for less than $100.  If you see one in your local Craigslist, LET ME KNOW!!!

After my pocket book recovers from there, I will invest in a custom-made credenza for my television (have I ever written about how much I HATE media credenzas these days? I don't mind seeing the TV, but do we have to see the cable box and X Box too?).  I'm thinking something that completely closes off the components, in white lacquer, inspired by the 1920's or maybe the 1970's.  

As far as the rest of the accessories, well, I think I'm going to save that for tomorrow.  I think I may need your help on that part...

Not too bad for a savings of $3850+ and counting!

{images via WS Home & Pieces Inc}

Target Beverage Tubs

I dropped by Target this morning to grab a quick swimsuit cover-up (our pool opens this weekend! Not that it's warm enough to use yet...) and I was amazed by what they had in stock for home decor.  I know everyone RAVES about Target, but I find it's usually hit-and-miss.  Boy, was it a hit today!

 Front and center were these little beauties:

which reminded me of this nursery:

Such a great way to store and organize all those darned stuff animals!  So I bought two for my twin nieces. 

These 'beverage tubs' come in several sizes and finishes and could be used for a million purposes around the house. 

The jumbo size is less than $20, so you could literally buy one of each and not break the bank!! Bravo Target. Bravo.

{images via Target & MadeByGirl}