West Elm goes to South Africa

I walked into West Elm last week and my jaw dropped when I saw the incredible showcase of furniture and accessories before my eyes. Never mind the enormous graphic with Muizenberg beach in a larger than life print on the wall. I felt homesick and proud all in the same second. I love the fact that I can share these incredible little tidbits from West Elm's site about their explorations and finds in from my hometown (Cape Town) and Johannesburg in South Africa and the collections that they put together with many furniture designers, artists and ceramists. I love the fact that a lot or most of these pieces will not be available forever from West Elm, so they are truly unique. Thanks West Elm for exploring SA! But first enjoy some of the sites and places to eat!
West Elm photo's courtesy of their website and blog.

This used to be my go-to beach area. Lions Head in the background.

We need a shopping area as gorgeous as this in Boston.

Come on, we still have room on that waterfront!

A cable car transports you to the top of this incredible landmark.

Yes, these homes are really that bright and this pretty

These Muizenberg beach huts have been there since I was a 

little girl. Yes, a "bloody" long time ago that is.

I went to Grand Cafe in the Winter after it opened, but need to

get back there on our next trip. Can't beat a meal ON the beach.

These are the artists and gather more information on 

West Elm's blog

I love John Vogel's furniture line for West Elm

Trust me, even better in person

This reminds me of the Cape Castle and the rooms upon rooms 

that have "riempie" style Cape Dutch furniture

LOVE this console

This pottery wall art is incredible. I have two pieces 

perfectly placed in my newly painted dining room to 

freshen things up

Helen Vaughn Protea piece up close. National flower of SA.

Love these vases from Gerhard Swart and Anthony Harris

This Senufo bench is beautiful. Just no room in my home for it.

At $999 it's a steal for a piece like this.

To end, a few pictures of my dining room update

with my new West Elm Helen Vaughn pieces

This new Benjamin Moore "London Fog"

color is a gorgeous warm gray

This wooden sculpture reminded us of our

butler at our safari lodge, so it became our

little momento from our wedding and honeymoon

in Africa

Master Bathroom Renovation: Before

We have finally decided to go ahead with our master bathroom renovation after five years of living with this awful half bath. It's funny how you can used to something so ugly, but it is seriously time for this dated blue fake marble vanity to go and time to have a little sanctuary, complete with a big shower and room to move! This image is of the products and finishes that we have purchased and they should all be here by next week before they start swinging hammers!

Actual sample board: 

Strie Porcelain floor tile, 12x24 for floor and wall in shower (Tony's tile, Stoneham)

White matte porcelain mosaic on shower floor (American Olean)

Floating Walnut Vanity and Cabinets (Decor Planet)

Large sparkly pendant light - got it on the cheap from Joss and Main (AF lighting)

Chrome fixtures and accessories (Moen and Motiv)

Frameless glass shower enclosure similar to image (My Norwell project)

Benjamin Moore Light Pewter for wall, Decorator White for trim

We have room for a storage bench that will hold the dirty laundry, but I am trying to find the time to figure this one out - Need it to loo a. pretty, b. practical in terms of fabric c. is it a statement piece? d. needs to hold dirty laundry adequately. So I like this design from West Elm, but am still looking for custom options and ebay for an old one that I could get reupholstered. My kids will love a perch while I am drying my hair in the morning.

Now for the before photo's:

Before: Laying out new closet area

in green tape

Before: So hideous vanity 

Before: My husband's closet area,

which is where the new shower will go!

Before: The wall between the two rooms will

be coming down, to expose windows side by

side. Enlarging one window to help wall elevation.

Before: EVERYTHING you see in this 

bathroom is going, including the wall mounted

toothbrush, medicine cabinet and radiator

The drawings below are the construction documents, which detail the demolition requirements (get rid of EVERYTHING basically). Swinging the door into the bathroom out and not in, which give a much better view into the room of the new shower. Also, making the window to the left the same size as the window to the right will ensure that we have a clean and more symmetrical elevation at the new storage cabinet. The color scheme in the room is warm gray, whites and walnut with chrome for a little sparkle in the fixtures and the lighting. I opted to not do wall sconces because of issues on the vanity with not enough space and have added this bold pendant! There is additional recessed lighting which will ensure that the entire room is well lit. No details have been left out to wonder about, but there will be challenges after the demolition starts I'm sure! I will post again on the during the construction phases so you can see how the new room is laying out. Can't wait!