Spring 2020 One Room Challenge - Week 7, OVERWHELMED as Mudroom / Guest Bathroom Waits for Accessories

Well, Week 7 has been a little bit challenging for me. Not only is it crunch time to accessorize the mudroom bathroom, but I am also teaching a five-day interior design and decorating course this week, which means early mornings and long days. Trying to accessorize the mudroom and guest bathroom has been a little challenging. Planning to seek accessories in contrast color of lavenders and purples, retail stores that are open have been low on inventory because of Covid and are trying to rid of inventory that they've had during the spring shutdown.

Accessory Theme for Mudroom and Family Memories

For the mudroom, I wanted to create a garden theme since entering the space off the garage which has a door that leads to our hydrangea alley garden as well as living on the seaside a little mix of seashells. And just as I’m typing this I remembered all of our collected sand dollars and sea urchins from our family trip to Eleuthra, Bahamas that I had saved in the basement. Big score! I always try to incorporate a family memory into all my designs for our own home and my clients. Purple sea urchins will be gracing the top of the wall paneled crown molding as well as little embellishments from our own excursions mixed with collected sea glass. This space will reflect a mix of everything our home represents. Gardens, the ocean and family memories.

Accessorizing with a straw garden hat a light sweater some gardening boots and tools and baskets to collect cuttings and garden shears is the plan. I am under the gun because today is my las day of teaching and we’ll have Father's Day weekend, and a house full of people. Finishing out the course and hopping right into entertaining are on the agenda. Besides, I still haven’t cocked the holes in the crown molding in the guest bathroom or put the final coat of paint on that either…and my professional photographer is coming on Monday morning to shoot these spaces. I have told family members who will be staying the weekend that they need to leave this house no later than 12 noon on Sunday in order for me to clean the house and the space and get it photo-ready.

Accessorizing the Guest Bathroom

For accessories in the guest bathroom, I thought a punch of color in lavender would work well against the linen mica color King protea wallpaper from Sanderson which is just so fabulous looking in this space. Trying to find lavender towels was quite difficult. However, I did run to Homegoods and pick up a few things. Lavender will also be accessorized in the hand soap and in a small candle that will sit on the shelf of the vanity mirror. A large Boston fern will make an appearance as well in the shower. I’ve also been waiting to use somewhere a 3 set of large green metal banana leaves for décor.  These will make an appearance in both the mudroom and the bathroom.

I’m all about the vintage finds. I will be using a vintage plant stand that is made from reeds and tree branches that I found with black chippy paint. I still need to touch that up before Monday as well. This would make a great holder of rolled guest towels in lavender with the black contrast.

Feeling Overwhelmed

Through the whole remodel project of taking the pink 10’ x 10’ bathroom and dividing the space into a mudroom in a guest bathroom, which remodeling is my favorite part of my job, and it’s what I'm good at; however, coming down to the accessories which normally I do not have an issue with is becoming the hardest part of this One Room Challenge. Because of all the time I had to work on this project prior to our state reopening after the Covid shutdown, my work schedule is completely full again leaving little time to put all the finishing touches into this project. However, I am confident I will complete the task in time for Monday morning's photoshoot and it’ll be gorgeous. Finger’s crossed!

Once again I want to thank Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge and the ORC sensitivity and support for the Black Lives Matter Community.

You can follow more of my ORC on Facebook and Instagram as well. Come back to see our final reveal during Week 8 of the Mudroom Guest Bathroom Remodel and how final accessorizing goes. Better Homes & Gardens is the official media sponsor of the ORC.

ABOUT DEBBE DALEY

Debbe Daley is New England’s leading interior design expert in the fields of design, decorating, and styling of interior spaces. She is a professional speaker, educator, influencer, and business coach in the field of interior design. She also educates and coaches creative interior design and home decor enthusiasts and change-of-career-minded individuals at her School of Interiors through courses, mentoring, and hands-on training. Debbe is currently an installed Design Services member for the Boston Design Center.

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