Master Bathroom Build: Part 1

I am nearly bursting at the seams, that's how excited I am to be sharing this project with you! When some dear friends told me that they were going to add a bathroom to their loft bedroom, turning it into a bonafide master suite, I couldn't wait to get started on helping them design a beautiful, functional en suite.

Some of the requirements and priorities of the project included:

  • Separate toilet room
  • Large (ideally walk-in) shower
  • Vanity/makeup counter
  • Maximize natural light from window
  • Bench in shower (this got moved lower in the priority list as the project got underway, with the client opting for more square footage in the shower and a corner ledge instead) 
  • An open feel into the bedroom
  • There was also some plumbing that could not be moved and dictated a fixed point for the toilet

We started with a mood board for the space and a few iterations of floor plan layouts. Interestingly enough, the layout that the clients ultimately selected was not the one they were initially drawn to. I am so grateful they were open to suggestions outside of their comfort zone because the final configuration answers many of their must-haves in an elegant and efficient way.

Here is a BEFORE picture that the client sent at the start of the project. The blue tape line indicates where the wall between the bedroom and bathroom will be. In the final design we ended up stealing about 10 additional inches from the bedroom side. It was hardly noticeable in the bedroom but made a huge difference in the bath.

Master Bath Build Before Picture

The floor plan received a few more tweaks after this, but here is the working concept.

Master Bathroom Floor Plan

3D perspective images helped the clients visualize what the space would look like built out, as well as get a feeling for what the organization and flow would be.

Master Bath Sketchup Model
Master Bathroom Sketchup Model

And finally, pencils down and hammers up! Here are a few pictures of the work in progress.

Master Bathroom // In Progress
Master Bathroom // White Subway Tile
Master Bathroom // Walk-In Shower // White Subway TIle
Master Bathroom // Walk-In Shower // White Subway TIle
Master Bathroom // Walk-In Shower // White Subway TIle

Want to see how it all came together? Check out the after pictures here!

How Looking Back Impacts Moving Forward

We recently crossed the six month mark of this little blog-venture. I've been having so much fun sharing projects, DIYs, and decorating inspiration with you! You are all so encouraging and friendly and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my passion with you. Some of my favorite posts were also your favorites (this Nursery was a huge crowd pleaser, and the Striped Entryway seemed to be a big hit as well) and it is fun to see you share them on Facebook and Pinterest--thanks!

Perhaps it is the New Year, or maybe reading the book, For The Love, where author Jen Hatmaker gently reminds that "we need to quit trying to be awesome, and instead be wise". Perhaps it is simply where my mind wandered in a quiet moment... anyway, It happened rather unintentionally. I found myself painstakingly analyzing the last six months--the successes, where I could do better, what brought the most joy, what caused stress--and honestly, I was surprised at some of the answers. 

Black and White Beach

I love people. I crave deep friendships, authentic relationships, and to make a difference in people's lives. I also love design--the pretty, the functional, the innovative, and the creative--it lights me up and gives me energy. One of the dreams behind 5 O'Clock Design Co. was to marry these two passions and help people design spaces that inspire, nurture, and celebrate their own unique style and lifestyle. 

The plan has always been to use this blog as a launch pad for the custom design services I would offer with the goal being to begin that next phase in January 2016. While writing and tackling projects for the blog, I've also been learning everything I can about being a solopreneur. Business plan, target audience, social media, licensing, privacy policy disclosures, SEO... whew! I didn't know how much I didn't know! In this time I also took on a few "trial run" projects for family and friends. Attempting to write weekly blog posts that provide meaningful content, getting the business part up and running, and taking on client work, I quickly realized I was going to need to dedicate MOUNTAINS more time to this endeavor! (yes, I just made up that metric) So the hubby and I began strategizing where this time would come from. I typically work during the baby's nap times, but since he's not such a baby anymore those are getting fewer and shorter. When I am with him I want to be truly present, but I often found myself trying to check my email, craft a few sentences, etc. while he was distracted. Either that, or I was frequently checking  the clock to see if it was nap time yet and crossing my fingers that it would be a good/long one. This is not how I want my time with this precious babe to be spent! I also know that keeping most evenings open for family and husband-wife time is important for my soul health. 

So we explored the possibility of sending the wee one to daycare a few days a week. I thought separating out "work time" and "mom time" could be a good solution, and truthfully, he would probably love it. But my heart just cannot be talked into giving up this time with him. So... what's a sappy momma/business gal to do? That, my friends, has been the million dollar question bouncing around my head the last few weeks.

You see, there's a not-so-little part of me that is strong and independent and fiercely feminist. I want to wear heels and lipstick to design meetings (translated: wearing put together clothes = feeling strong and important), earn a real income, give back to my community, and grow this little business with the hard work and long hours I know it demands. I love the sense of self and confidence this part of me brings. I want my little guy to grow up seeing that: watching me pursue my dreams and passions. I want my husband to see the all-business-lady side of me that comes out when I'm in full on project mode. It makes me feel competent and valuable when he thinks I'm a rockstar. BUT, more than anything, I want what is best for my sweet little family. I've spent countless hours trying to decide where the things listed above fall on the good to great spectrum. Because in and of themselves they are pretty awesome and potentially great, not only for me, but for our family. The only thing is, there are other things that are really good for us too: home cooked dinners, trips to the playground, playdates with friends, morning snuggles, a clean house, just-for-fun projects, going to bed at the same time, a non-weary momma/wife... and sometimes the things from the first list are in direct competition with the things on the second list. 

Because I've tried to give up black and white thinking, I'm embracing that what is best for us probably lies somewhere in the middle. I'm going to hold off on launching the next phase of the business plan and instead focus on the parts that bring me the most joy. I'm not going to worry quite so much about posting new content every week with a Thursday morning deadline, but rather take my time with projects and ideas that I think will be the most helpful and exciting to you. I'm going to try some new recipes (as soon as this kitchen renovation is done anyway!) and I'm going to let most evenings be filled with tickles and stories, conversations and early bedtimes so that there is energy for the mornings. The business will grow if it's meant to, my wee one will grow whether I want him to or not, and I will grow in the process of both. 

Thanks for joining us on this journey. Here's to many more six month milestones!



Note: Let me just throw out there how incredibly grateful I am to my husband. Without his gracious support I wouldn't have the luxury of this dilemma. Also, this is merely an honest glimpse into my heart and home--it is not meant to be a lecture on what is the "right" thing to do. There are so many factors that make that answer different for each of us and I think it's super-important to celebrate and encourage each other's choices in this area. xoxo


Little Lovelies

Thrifted Vintage, Bargain Treasures, and a New Design Book

Sometimes you have such a great week you simply have to share all the little things that made it lovely. (Clockwise, starting with the top left)

  1. I was hunting for vintage globes at an antique show this summer but they all seemed a bit pricey. This beauty was a mere $6 at a thrift store and I love the colors in it!
  2. My long-awaited copy of Emily Henderson's new book, Styled arrived and I devoured it in less than 24 hours front to back. I highly recommend it! The style quiz was a blast and the results were spot on! Stay tuned for an in-depth review in the near future!
  3. Isn't this wreath amazing?! I think it is the texture that really does it for me. I also enjoy that it can work with both fall and winter decor. YAY for double duty! The best part, when I found it at Christmas Tree Shops, I fell so in love I took a deep breath and knew that even for $30, a little more than I typically spend on an impulse decor purchase, I had to get it. Then, when I got to the register, it rang up at 1/2 off!!! 
  4. This vintage Steelcase office chair was another big win. The castors are in beautiful condition, a little gold spray paint, some new upholstery, refinishing of the wooden arms, and this chair will shine! Did I mention it's also incredibly comfortable?
  5. I was surprised to find this hanging basket lamp at Goodwill. It was on a top shelf and either no one else realized how easy it would be to update that ancient electrical wiring (I just switched it out with this $5 piece from Ikea) or the thrift store gods were guarding it for me. Since I moved the table lamp that was originally there, I think this will go perfectly in Grey's nursery!
  6. This marble base and glass dome were another thrifted treasure. I'm excited to pick out a few little baby succulents to display in it!

Kitchen Update: Stripping Cupboards and Finish Selections

The last week and a half have been consumed by this kitchen renovation.  (If you missed that this was happening, you can catch up on the details here.) A little bit of trial and error, a LOT of hard work, and a few late nights, but we are making progress!

Here are some of the finishes we've made a decision on:

Originally I thought I wanted true black paint for the lower cabinets, but after some helpful feedback and some continued Pinterest browsing, we settled on this dark, charcoal gray instead. It is Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore. I am literally jumping up and down in excitement to get this on the cupboards to see how it looks! Also, the guy at the paint store was so nice and full of helpful tips. Hooray for happy, nice people--you make me smile!

I was almost 100% sure that I wanted to use a dark grout with my white subway tile but I was still a little nervous about it being SO DARK. Then I found this medium gray grout that Jen over at With Heart blog used in her kitchen makeover and I knew that this was the one! I also discovered that I can create and pay for an order online with Home Depot and then when I get to the store with baby in tow, it will be waiting for me--no running around finding everything! How awesome it that!?

Another change in the paint game: I really, really wanted a pale, icy blue for the wall color. I taped paint chips to the wall for at least a week so I could be sure of the exact shade... then, when i got the first coat on, I realized I had a made a mistake. The rest of the house just doesn't work with my beautiful ice blue. Instead I'll go with the neutral gray we've used throughout the house: Silver Spoon by Olympic Paint. 

And here's the nitty gritty of what we've been working on!

Image progression: existing cabinet where the microwave is sitting, me checking to see if there is tile underneath the cupboard, YES! there was, so I ripped that sucker out! (all by myself, I might add!)

Because the previous paint job was so bad--lots of texture, drips, etc--I decided it would be worth the effort to strip it all off before starting with the new paint layers. I'm using Citrustrip because it isn't as harsh as and chemically as others and so far I have been happy with the results. This part is almost done and my poor fingers will be happy for the break!

Dressember

Dressember

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest."  - Elie Wiesel 

Last week, I was invited to join a circle of amazing women. These women gathered to share dessert, a glass of wine, and most importantly: their hearts. Their hearts that are broken for the injustice that is human trafficking, a global issue that exists in every city in the world. 

People are being sold for labor, sex, and other unfathomable ends. How is this still happening? Human beings are not currency or  commodities. This is not okay. We cannot (will not!)  sit on the sidelines while our mothers, daughters, children, and friends suffer such injustices. What can we do? I'm glad you asked!

The group of women I mentioned above, introduced me to an even larger circle of women (and men) who are making a difference by making a choice about how they dress for the month of December. By choosing to wear a dress (men are encouraged to wear bowties, but if you're a guy and you want to rock the dress, more power to you!) you are embracing a symbol of femininity and and declaring that you will stand up for the dignity of all women. 

I know, wearing a dress in and of itself isn't going to change a lot. BUT it's not just about a dress--it is about the conversations you have when someone comments on your dress. It is about acknowledging that everyday we have choices about what to wear, where to go, and how we present ourselves to the world and that not all women have these choices. It is about standing in solidarity for the inherent dignity of all women. It is about being part of a community that is committing to raise awareness about this issue, raise money to fund rescues, and raise our voices in a call to end this tragedy. 

I have decided to participate in Dressember by committing to wear a dress every weekend, all weekend, for the month of December. I already own two or three dresses and couldn't see purchasing more when that money could go instead toward my fundraising goal. (I am also raising money for a local team participating in the Dressember challenge.) How will you participate in Dressember?

Wear a dress. 
Have a conversation.
Make a donation. (You can donate to my team here or start one of your own!)

Together, we can make a difference!

Want to know more? Check out the Dressember Foundation and International Justice Mission