New Year, New Showroom!

We like make-overs just as much as our customers do! Lately, we have been displaying some new items in our showroom to change the scenery a little bit. We have always had a great selection of wall sconces for the bath on display, but did you know that we also can order pendant lights for over your kitchen islands? And dramatic chandeliers for your bathrooms and living spaces?

We love this bubble inspired orb from Hudson Valley that we recently installed over a new-to-the-showroom soaking tub. The silver finish on the outside of the tub is sleek and elegant. Beneath it, we are planning to add an equally luxe carpet from Landry and Arcari.

Here is one that we are considering:

We also have some new recessed mirror cabinets on display. Typically our mirrors are shown with mirror side kit options even though they can be installed as recessed. We are now hoping to create more vignettes in the showroom with the mirrors built-in as you would expect to see them in your home. This particular brand also has some gorgeous Venetian mirrors in their collection, so just ask if you are leaning towards this type of design style.

Traditional cut glass and etched Venetian Mirror

If you follow us on Instagram, you will often see showroom updates as they happen. Last week we added a head/back rest accessory to our WetStyle display. When you just don’t want to get out of the tub, this piece will truly enhance the relaxation experience! The wall mount cube system provides additional storage options within arm’s reach. We also put one of their shower bench options in the showroom. It’s a great piece to add to a shower or freestanding within the bath room.

cube shower bench from WetStyle

Often times we are able to introduce exclusive pieces in our showroom, like this “Thatcher” bath vanity with copper basin. Besides experiencing in real life the latest design trends in kitchens and baths, another benefit of shopping in our showroom is our pricing labels. We have been working diligently to price all of our vignettes and fixtures so that our customers can quickly determine which pieces will be at the top of their project wish list. Some pieces are marked as take home today (gray tags) while others are special order (orange tags). All of our experienced and knowledgeable sales consultants can help you discover how to best accomplish your goals in your desired time frame and within your budget range.

Set up an appointment to discuss your project in depth, or feel free to stop by to browse while checking out what’s new at Designer Bath.

Mistletoe in the Powder Room

A sprig of mistletoe surprised visiting guests in a holiday
show house bath designed by Diana Kennedy Interiors

Who says a bathroom can’t get decked out for the holidays? We’re not talking traditional reds and greens as much as bits of designer bling like we recently saw at the Glen Magna Farms Designers Holiday Show House in Danvers. Held December 1st – 15th, this show was a fundraiser for the Danvers Historical Society in its continued efforts to renovate and preserve this historic property. The show, which relied on over a dozen design professionals to transform the estate, had four bathrooms on the tour. Each offered some fabulous styling tips and unique design solutions for the hard working – and frequently visited – very important room of the house.

SECOND FLOOR GUEST BATH

We were happy to sponsor the re-design of the second floor Guest Bath by Caitlin Flynn and Elyse Parkhurst of North Fork Design Co. A classic-style console sink was installed along with a new toilet, mirror, polished chrome lav faucet, and other bath accessories from our showroom.

In the farthest corner of the room, an original vintage foot bath awaits.

The tub, dressed for a holiday photo shoot, is also original to the estate, although it is not plumbed for use anymore. 

The North Fork Design team added lots of modern style to this traditionally appointed space with a fun collection of bright and bold graphic patterns. To see before photos, visit North Fork’s September guest post on our blog here. 

There were several other bathrooms in the estate that did not require new fixtures, as the original pieces were requested to remain preserved, although they did need some designer TLC. Below is a how these spaces looked in their holiday finery ...

THE BRIDE’S BATHROOM

Art selected by Diana Kennedy for the Bride’s Bathroom

The Bride’s Bath, designed by Diana Kennedy Interiors and home to the playful sprig of mistletoe, was beautiful from top to bottom. Inspired by Chinoiserie print fabrics and Parisian elegance, Diana focused on adding stately glamour with a twist of the unexpected, like this clawfoot soaking tub filled with silver and gold ornaments ...

Across from the tub, the new window treatment provides privacy while still allowing lots of light to stream in from above. A gold bamboo etagere adds much needed storage space. The bow on the toilet? Just for the show, of course! 

A pop of color: Bride’s Bath area carpet from Landry and Arcari

SECOND FLOOR POWDER ROOM

BEFORE and DURING // photo courtesy Weston Design

When challenged with an old and worn checkerboard vinyl floor in the second floor powder room, Candy Weston of Weston Design knew just what to do. She enlisted the artistic talents of Karen Ward of Nantucket Decorative Painting and the two of them completely changed the look of the room with a vintage stencil pattern. Protected by several coats of varnish, it will stand up to years worth of visitors beautifully. Adorned with a sparkly white floral arrangement, flickering pillar candles, and silver mercury glass votives this space shined for the holidays.  

FIRST FLOOR POWDER ROOM

BEFORE: a particularly challenging first floor powder room

BEFORE: awkwardly placed heating duct unit in powder room

AFTER: dressed for guests by Yvonne Blacker Interiors

wall mural painted by Mary Taggart of TaggArt Studio

Inspiration: a vintage fabric chosen for window treatment

The final bathroom in the estate was the first floor powder room which I personally took on to re-design. Tucked under the stairway, it had short ceilings on one side and on the other side a necessary heating duct ran from floor to ceiling. After weeks of trying to figure out what to do with this elephant in the room, it occurred to me that the pole looked similar to a tall thin tree (especially with its bumpy bark-like peeling paint surface). Inspired by a vintage fabric depicting a woodland scene that I had chosen for the room’s new window treatment, I had Mary Taggart of TaggArt Studio paint the pole to look like a birch tree, much like one would see in the surrounding gardens of the Glen Magna Farms estate. Mary’s beautifully done faux finish was a design solution that surprised and delighted visitors. Sometimes starting with simple decorative touches can make the biggest difference.

Other new and improved features in this tiny powder room included a set of vintage-style polished chrome hot and cold pillar taps from our showroom, a wall-to-wall woven vinyl floor covering called Bolon (water and stain resistant) via Landry and Arcari, and a tailored sink skirt in a soft gray Barbara Barry indoor/outdoor fabric from Kravet.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AT GLEN MAGNA

Last day of the show at Glen Magna Farms // photo courtesy Jenifer Dunn Coen

Congratulations to all the participating designers and to the Danvers Historical Society for their collaborative efforts to transform Glen Magna Farms while raising much needed funds for the continued preservation of this historic property. Now that the show is over, the estate is ready to book future events for weddings and special occasions. Schedule a tour to see it for yourself. If you visit in the warmer months, be sure to step outside to walk the landscaped grounds. There is just as much beauty to discover beyond the mansion’s doors!

Love notes left on weeping beech trees in the

Shrubbery Garden at Glen Magna Farms

A peony blossoms in the Derby Summer House

botanical flower garden at Glen Magna Farms 

{learn more about Glen Magna Farms here}

Radiant Orchid in the Bath

via Design Vignettes on Polyvore

A classic gray and white bath is the perfect counter point to an infusion of the warm and vibrant Pantone color of the year, Radiant Orchid. Layering in colors like deep amethyst and soft pink – close to orchid on the color wheel – is a great way to add depth to a design that features this stylish hue.

“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”

– Leatrice Eiseman of Pantone Institute

The Amalfi freestanding slipper tub from Victoria + Albert

If I had to choose the perfect soaking tub to coordinate with an orchid color scheme, it would have to be this freestanding slipper tub from Victoria + Albert. Its sides are almost petal-like creating a more feminine-looking form than most soakers.

Pantone Reveals the Color of the Year 2014

While last year we enjoyed Emerald Green in our fashions and furnishings, in 2014 we have lots of Radiant Orchid coming down the runways and into our homes. Including orchid in our wardrobes may not require much of a commitment, however when considering dressing the bath it is best to stick with touches of these on-trend colors. 

Modern Silk Rug from Landry and Arcari

This silk rug from Landry and Arcari would suit a dressing room just outside of a full bath. The soft fibers underfoot would be a luxurious way to start or end any day. And it has just enough interest in its pattern from other colors like charcoal gray and acid green to keep it from being too pre-teen purple.

Iridescent glass tile from Walker Zanger

Likewise, a glass tile that features just a shimmer of Radiant Orchid would be a look that one could live with even after another color of the year is selected.

Will you be adding Radiant Orchid to your home this year?

Designing a Room: Yard Sale Style

It’s not unusual to see drivers pulling over on the side of the road to look for bargains on someone’s front lawn during summer months in New England. Once a year, we host a sprawling tag sale of our own under huge tents set up in both the Designer Bath and Beverly Depot parking lot. Our friends from Moynihan Lumber, Landry and Arcari, and Lucia Lighting join in the fun. For one day only, showroom items and overstock inventory from all four locations are offered at super low price points. Deals are everywhere!

“After hearing so many good things about it, we decided to check out the 23rd Annual Yard Sale at the Depot in Beverly. What a treat! All four businesses sold exceptional items at incredible prices.” – Linda Hentschel of i-Design Interiors

We have regular yard sale customers who plan their home improvements around this annual event (this year was our 23rd Beverly Yard Sale!) With so much to choose from, the difficult part is deciding what to take home. Some of our seasoned shoppers take the following approach ...

1. Build from the ground up. Find a large inspiration piece and then shop the rest of the sale for bargains to match it.

Floor coverings from Landry and Arcari Oriental Rugs and Carpeting

2. Bring home what you love. Chances are good you will find a special place for it. 

Many took home bling from Lucia Lighting.

3. Give something new a try. At yard sale prices, it’s worth the minimal investment.

Benjamin Moore paint samples were 5 for $1 under the Moynihan Lumber tent.

What a great way to test lots of color swatches at once! 

4. Plan ahead. Is there a room in your home that you would like to tackle? Start with a low priced sale item then shop later for the rest. By saving money at the beginning of the project there is more in the budget later for finishing touches.

(FYI: There is still time to save at Designer Bath: our showroom sale ends Monday, June 24th!)

5. Have fun! Shopping a sale is a lot like a treasure hunt. You never know what you will discover, but you have to pull over to find the real gems.

Thanks goes to everyone who stopped by and made this year’s Beverly Yard Sale a great success! Special appreciation goes to the team from 92.5 The River who provided cool tunes to shop by, plus music giveaways. We hope to see you all again next year for more bargain-hunting-fun under the tents!

{view additional Yard Sale photos on our facebook page} 

One-Day Yard Sale this Saturday!

If you have a home improvement project on your summer to-do-list, and are looking for a bargain, then mark this Saturday, June 15th on your calendar to attend the 23rd Annual Multi-Business Yard Sale at Beverly Depot and in our 97 River Street parking lot. From 8am to 4pm, rain or shine, look under the tent for huge savings on quality merchandise from Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply ... 

faucets, fixtures, furniture, accessories, soakers, sinks and more

Landry and Arcari Oriental Rugs and Carpeting ...

hand-woven oriental rugs, bound area rugs and carpeting, huge bargains

Moynihan Lumber ...

doors, windows, kitchen cabinets, hardware, paints and more

Lucia Lighting and Design ...

outdoor lighting, paddle fans, bath lighting and much, much more!

Come early for best selections and be prepared to save big! Bring a truck (no delivery available on yard sale items). 92.5 The River will be giving away music freebies including concert tickets throughout the day. See additional photos from last year’s yard sale on our facebook page. For directions and more info, visit www.beverlyyardsale.com