6 Guest Bathroom Design Tips

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

We all want our guests to feel completely at home when they stay for the night. There are many ways to make them feel welcome. One of the things you can do for them is to have a great guest bathroom. Here are some tips to make sure that you’ve got everything covered:

Image Source: Flickr

Replace Broken or Leaking Fixtures
There’s nothing like the looming deadline of out-of-town guests to fast-track repairs you’ve been putting off. If you’re handy with a wrench, swapping out or repairing a leaky shower head is something you can quickly tackle yourself. Source: HGTV

Dual Sinks
A pair of side-by-side pedestal sinks increases convenience for a couple in the guest bath, allowing them both to get ready at the same time. Source: BHG

Choose Neutral Colors
It’s important to realize that, even though this bathroom is part of your home, it’s destined for your guests so they’re the ones that need to be comfortable when using it. So avoid using bold colors that some might find unappealing. It’s best to use neutral colors that most people feel comfortable with. Source: Homedit

Fresh Towels
Fluffy new towels are a must! Have some artfully rolled towels on a rack or in a big basket– bath sheets and towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Turkish towels are a wonderful choice since they are especially soft and absorbent. Towels are a great opportunity to add pops of color to a neutral palate. Source: SheKnows

Tidy Up
The small space of a bathroom is no place for clutter. Utilize a stylish bathroom storage unit that fits right over the toilet to wrangle all those bath supplies while keeping everything looking sharp. Be sure to provide those little luxuries that make a visit feel extra special, like lotion, shampoo and mini soaps. Source: CountryDoor

Bring In a DIY Air Diffuser — It Makes ‘Scents’
Ensuring that your bathroom always has a fresh scent is a hostess must! Guests will immediately feel more comfortable in a new place if it’s inviting to their senses. Make your own potpourri or air diffuser to sit atop your toilet tank, counter or shelf, and freshen up the room. Source: Redfin

For the best looking bathroom fixtures, contact us!

 

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 6 Guest Bathroom Design Tips appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/2lJjtZ5

6 Guest Bathroom Design Tips

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

We all want our guests to feel completely at home when they stay for the night. There are many ways to make them feel welcome. One of the things you can do for them is to have a great guest bathroom. Here are some tips to make sure that you've got everything covered:

Image Source: Flickr

Replace Broken or Leaking Fixtures
There's nothing like the looming deadline of out-of-town guests to fast-track repairs you've been putting off. If you're handy with a wrench, swapping out or repairing a leaky shower head is something you can quickly tackle yourself. Source: HGTV

Dual Sinks
A pair of side-by-side pedestal sinks increases convenience for a couple in the guest bath, allowing them both to get ready at the same time. Source: BHG

Choose Neutral Colors
It's important to realize that, even though this bathroom is part of your home, it's destined for your guests so they're the ones that need to be comfortable when using it. So avoid using bold colors that some might find unappealing. It's best to use neutral colors that most people feel comfortable with. Source: Homedit

Fresh Towels
Fluffy new towels are a must! Have some artfully rolled towels on a rack or in a big basket– bath sheets and towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Turkish towels are a wonderful choice since they are especially soft and absorbent. Towels are a great opportunity to add pops of color to a neutral palate. Source: SheKnows

Tidy Up
The small space of a bathroom is no place for clutter. Utilize a stylish bathroom storage unit that fits right over the toilet to wrangle all those bath supplies while keeping everything looking sharp. Be sure to provide those little luxuries that make a visit feel extra special, like lotion, shampoo and mini soaps. Source: CountryDoor

Bring In a DIY Air Diffuser — It Makes 'Scents'
Ensuring that your bathroom always has a fresh scent is a hostess must! Guests will immediately feel more comfortable in a new place if it's inviting to their senses. Make your own potpourri or air diffuser to sit atop your toilet tank, counter or shelf, and freshen up the room. Source: Redfin

For the best looking bathroom fixtures, contact us!

 

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 6 Guest Bathroom Design Tips appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/2lJjtZ5

A Valentine's Day Post: Juliet's Answer by Glenn Dixon

I thought it was appropriate to review this book the night before Valentine's Day.  It's a sweet memoir about heartbreak, and the search for love--with a bit of Shakespeare thrown in to help illustrate the twisty road of love.

Glenn Dixon is a high school English teacher from Canada who travels to Verona one summer to become one of the small group of people who answer letters written to Juliet Capulet of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. People all around the world write thousands of letters to Juliet, asking for advice for their weary hearts. There is a staff of people who spend their days handwriting responses back to people and mailing them off.  They are known as the "secretaries of Juliet".  

Glenn teaches Romeo and Juliet to his high school students every year, so it's easy to see why he wants to travel to Verona to stay in the city where the epic play of dueling families, forbidden love, and tragedy took place centuries ago.  Or did it?  There are some clues that hint Romeo and Juliet may have actually existed hundreds of years ago; not enough to definitively say, but enough to deepen the intrigue and mystery of it all.  Glenn is hoping by writing letters to the lovelorn, he can figure out his own broken heart.  Glenn has been in love with Claire for years--since college, but she firmly sees him in the friend department, and he's at a loss to understand how he can either move on from her, or get her to see him as more than just a good friend.  She says she loves him, but just isn't "in love" with him.  Ouch. 

Glenn's story broadens a bit as he spends the summer in Verona, wandering the streets, writing letters, and figuring out what to do when he returns to Canada in the fall to teach.  He makes a major decision once he gets back home after a sudden and final discussion with Claire that leaves him shattered.  Can he find happily ever after with the help of Juliet?  

This was a quick read, and a thoughtful look at the many guises of love.  It can make us miserable, and make us weep for joy.  Glenn asks the question:  do we make choices in our life, or is it all up to fate?  How do we know who we're meant to be with and love?  Is it all a game of chance in which we have no control ?

I thought it was interesting to read about a man who was at a crossroads in his life, and trying to decide what to do to move on from a painful relationship.  I'm used to reading about women experiencing this, so it was an eye-opener to see heartbreak from a man's point of view.  Glenn is a nice guy--he's got a good job, is smart, well spoken, and a traveler. Never married, no kids.  Why is it so hard for him to find true love?  You'll find yourself nodding in agreement with Glenn as he ponders his situation and goes through the ups and downs of love. He gets it. 

A big thank you to Simon and Schuster/Gallery Books for a review copy of this memoir.  Fans of Shakespeare, travel memoirs, and those intrigued by love will enjoy this tale of one man's quest to heal his heart. 

Rating:  4/6 for a sweet look at the phenomenon of Juliet's letters, the bitterness of a broken heart, and the promise of new love.   

from Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews http://ift.tt/2l2lyMI

A Valentine's Day Post: Juliet's Answer by Glenn Dixon

I thought it was appropriate to review this book the night before Valentine's Day.  It's a sweet memoir about heartbreak, and the search for love--with a bit of Shakespeare thrown in to help illustrate the twisty road of love.

Glenn Dixon is a high school English teacher from Canada who travels to Verona one summer to become one of the small group of people who answer letters written to Juliet Capulet of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. People all around the world write thousands of letters to Juliet, asking for advice for their weary hearts. There is a staff of people who spend their days handwriting responses back to people and mailing them off.  They are known as the "secretaries of Juliet".  

Glenn teaches Romeo and Juliet to his high school students every year, so it's easy to see why he wants to travel to Verona to stay in the city where the epic play of dueling families, forbidden love, and tragedy took place centuries ago.  Or did it?  There are some clues that hint Romeo and Juliet may have actually existed hundreds of years ago; not enough to definitively say, but enough to deepen the intrigue and mystery of it all.  Glenn is hoping by writing letters to the lovelorn, he can figure out his own broken heart.  Glenn has been in love with Claire for years--since college, but she firmly sees him in the friend department, and he's at a loss to understand how he can either move on from her, or get her to see him as more than just a good friend.  She says she loves him, but just isn't "in love" with him.  Ouch. 

Glenn's story broadens a bit as he spends the summer in Verona, wandering the streets, writing letters, and figuring out what to do when he returns to Canada in the fall to teach.  He makes a major decision once he gets back home after a sudden and final discussion with Claire that leaves him shattered.  Can he find happily ever after with the help of Juliet?  

This was a quick read, and a thoughtful look at the many guises of love.  It can make us miserable, and make us weep for joy.  Glenn asks the question:  do we make choices in our life, or is it all up to fate?  How do we know who we're meant to be with and love?  Is it all a game of chance in which we have no control ?

I thought it was interesting to read about a man who was at a crossroads in his life, and trying to decide what to do to move on from a painful relationship.  I'm used to reading about women experiencing this, so it was an eye-opener to see heartbreak from a man's point of view.  Glenn is a nice guy--he's got a good job, is smart, well spoken, and a traveler. Never married, no kids.  Why is it so hard for him to find true love?  You'll find yourself nodding in agreement with Glenn as he ponders his situation and goes through the ups and downs of love. He gets it. 

A big thank you to Simon and Schuster/Gallery Books for a review copy of this memoir.  Fans of Shakespeare, travel memoirs, and those intrigued by love will enjoy this tale of one man's quest to heal his heart. 

Rating:  4/6 for a sweet look at the phenomenon of Juliet's letters, the bitterness of a broken heart, and the promise of new love.   

from Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews http://ift.tt/2l2lyMI

The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry

I recently read Brunonia Barry's first novel, The Lace Reader, and I have to admit, it wasn't what I expected from all the reviews I'd read.  I can say, however, that The Fifth Petal was a very satisfying read and everything I hoped it would be--yay!

First of all, the cover is pretty amazing.  Just absolutely beautiful, and certainly echoes the feel of the story.  Even if I hadn't been aware of this novel, if I'd been in a bookstore I would have picked it up just because of the cover.  

So, on with the review.  This story picks up in late 2014 in Salem, MA.  There had been a previous unsolved crime that had happened on Halloween night in 1989 that left three young women dead, a respected scholar crazy, and the young daughter of one of the victims traumatized.  Rose, the respected scholar of Salem's witch trials, wanders the streets of Salem, talking to trees and muttering about the banshee that she contains within her to keep it from killing other townspeople.  Callie, the young girl, is now a woman who is a musical therapist with a gift for using singing bowls to help heal people.  She remembers a bit of that night, but thinks Rose is dead (that's what the nuns told her) and has tried to put the trauma out of her life.  

Halloween, 2014 finds Rose near her beloved oak trees, listening to them speak.  Yes, she can hear the trees talking to her, and they are trying to tell her a story.  She is bullied by a group of teenagers, and one ends up dead.  Rose is taken to the local hospital, and it's all over the news.  Callie, who lives nearby, sees the news report and realizes the woman she considered her Aunt is actually alive.  She travels to Salem to visit Rose and try to get answers about that long ago night.  Was there really a banshee?  Did it kill her mother and her friends?  What were they doing out in the woods that night?

Brunonia Barry immerses you in the world of Salem.  She blends the historic and tourist aspects of Salem into a place that is a home to generations of families; a mysterious, spooky place that still hasn't forgiven itself for the past, and a place some only see as a gimmick and a tourist trap.  It is a complex city steeped in history.  Salem is just as much a character in this novel as Callie and Rose.  Rafferty and Towner are part of the story; Rafferty is investigating the 1989 cold case, and Towner's friendship with Rose makes things complicated for everyone.  Townsfolk begin again to start a witch hunt against Rose, and when they find out who Callie is, they start to whisper about her, too. 

There is a lot going on in this novel:  mythology, Salem history, family dynamics, and of course a good old murder mystery.  Toss in a bit of the paranormal and you've got a multi-layered story that keeps you guessing until the last few chapters.  I will say I did feel like I was missing something in the relationship between Towner and Rafferty; it seemed like I was the only one not in on the full story.  I think this may have been my inattention and unhappiness with The Lace Reader coming back to haunt me.  In any case, it didn't keep me from enjoying the obvious bond between the two.  After the hijinks of The Lace Reader I was happy to see them settled and in a good place. 

The Fifth Petal will certainly appeal to anyone who likes a bit of mystery, "witchiness", and mythology.  Reading about music therapy and singing bowls has peaked my interest, and I may delve into this subject on my own.  I'm all for alternative therapies that help heal the physically sick and those who have wounded souls.  Fans of Deborah Harkness and Paula Brackston should pick this novel up--you're sure to enjoy it.  

Rating:  4/6 for a fascinating look at Salem's history well blended into a modern day tale of murder and deep family issues.  Characters that are flawed and damaged, but not hopeless.  

Available in hardcover, audio, and e-book.







from Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews http://ift.tt/2l5NhOH

The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry

I recently read Brunonia Barry's first novel, The Lace Reader, and I have to admit, it wasn't what I expected from all the reviews I'd read.  I can say, however, that The Fifth Petal was a very satisfying read and everything I hoped it would be--yay!

First of all, the cover is pretty amazing.  Just absolutely beautiful, and certainly echoes the feel of the story.  Even if I hadn't been aware of this novel, if I'd been in a bookstore I would have picked it up just because of the cover.  

So, on with the review.  This story picks up in late 2014 in Salem, MA.  There had been a previous unsolved crime that had happened on Halloween night in 1989 that left three young women dead, a respected scholar crazy, and the young daughter of one of the victims traumatized.  Rose, the respected scholar of Salem's witch trials, wanders the streets of Salem, talking to trees and muttering about the banshee that she contains within her to keep it from killing other townspeople.  Callie, the young girl, is now a woman who is a musical therapist with a gift for using singing bowls to help heal people.  She remembers a bit of that night, but thinks Rose is dead (that's what the nuns told her) and has tried to put the trauma out of her life.  

Halloween, 2014 finds Rose near her beloved oak trees, listening to them speak.  Yes, she can hear the trees talking to her, and they are trying to tell her a story.  She is bullied by a group of teenagers, and one ends up dead.  Rose is taken to the local hospital, and it's all over the news.  Callie, who lives nearby, sees the news report and realizes the woman she considered her Aunt is actually alive.  She travels to Salem to visit Rose and try to get answers about that long ago night.  Was there really a banshee?  Did it kill her mother and her friends?  What were they doing out in the woods that night?

Brunonia Barry immerses you in the world of Salem.  She blends the historic and tourist aspects of Salem into a place that is a home to generations of families; a mysterious, spooky place that still hasn't forgiven itself for the past, and a place some only see as a gimmick and a tourist trap.  It is a complex city steeped in history.  Salem is just as much a character in this novel as Callie and Rose.  Rafferty and Towner are part of the story; Rafferty is investigating the 1989 cold case, and Towner's friendship with Rose makes things complicated for everyone.  Townsfolk begin again to start a witch hunt against Rose, and when they find out who Callie is, they start to whisper about her, too. 

There is a lot going on in this novel:  mythology, Salem history, family dynamics, and of course a good old murder mystery.  Toss in a bit of the paranormal and you've got a multi-layered story that keeps you guessing until the last few chapters.  I will say I did feel like I was missing something in the relationship between Towner and Rafferty; it seemed like I was the only one not in on the full story.  I think this may have been my inattention and unhappiness with The Lace Reader coming back to haunt me.  In any case, it didn't keep me from enjoying the obvious bond between the two.  After the hijinks of The Lace Reader I was happy to see them settled and in a good place. 

The Fifth Petal will certainly appeal to anyone who likes a bit of mystery, "witchiness", and mythology.  Reading about music therapy and singing bowls has peaked my interest, and I may delve into this subject on my own.  I'm all for alternative therapies that help heal the physically sick and those who have wounded souls.  Fans of Deborah Harkness and Paula Brackston should pick this novel up--you're sure to enjoy it.  

Rating:  4/6 for a fascinating look at Salem's history well blended into a modern day tale of murder and deep family issues.  Characters that are flawed and damaged, but not hopeless.  

Available in hardcover, audio, and e-book.







from Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews http://ift.tt/2l5NhOH

My Husband's Wife by Jane Corry

I always start out a new year with a whole bunch of reading rules in my head.  I look at what I read the year before, see the patterns, and decide I have to pay attention to the genres that didn't get much reading from me.  Chick lit is still one of my favorite genres, but it certainly has gone through a bit of a change since I read Jemima J by Jane Green years ago. I still love my Jenny Colgan, my Jane Green, my Katie Fforde; my fun and frothy novels.

 But  I have to say, there's a new chick lit in town, and it's the woman/dysfunctional marriage/drama/maybe someone will die/oh there's a twist  sub-genre.  I think it's still chick lit, but a much darker side.  These novels are definitely written with a female audience in mind: Gone Girl, Girl on the Train, The Woman in Cabin Ten...you get the picture. 

My Husband's Wife by Jane Corry fits into that category, but it is different from the other novels I've mentioned above.  It sounded intriguing, so when I received a review copy, I dove right in without thinking too much about what to expect.  This was the perfect way to approach this story, because there's no way I would have been even close to guessing what would happen--and a lot happens.

The novel starts with someone's murder.  Just a short blip, but enough to tell you to hang on for an interesting ride.  Move back fifteen years, and we meet Lily and Ed, two newlyweds living in London.  They've just come back from an Italian honeymoon after a whirlwind courtship, and Lily has to go back to work as a lawyer.  Ed works in advertising, and desperately wants to be an artist.  Their relationship is very new, and very awkward.  It's pretty clear Lily and Ed have some work to do if they want this marriage to last.  Lily's boss has moved Lily to a different kind of law work:  she's been assigned the case of a prisoner in jail who's been convicted of murdering his girlfriend, but wants to appeal. Lily is in no way ready for this, but has no choice--she needs her job (Ed isn't a very good breadwinner).  She visits the jail, and meets the enigmatic Joe Thomas.  Mild mannered looking, he reminds Lily of her adopted brother Daniel, and that's where the fatal attraction begins.  Joe is not all he seems; Lily quickly becomes deeply entangled in his appeal and upcoming court case.  Meanwhile, Ed struggles to find his muse, and the tension between the two is painful!  

Enter little Carla and her mother Francesca.  They live in the same apartment building as Lily and Ed; Francesca is a sales clerk and Carla is a deeply unhappy little girl who's bullied at school for her dark Italian looks and her lapses into speaking Italian during the day.  Francesca's got a sugar daddy, and Carla figures out how to use his desire to keep certain things secret in order to transfer to another school, get a bike, and get her way in a lot of things.  

Ed and Lily's life intersects with Carla and you just know things are going to get bad.  And they do...but not for 15 years.  Move forward 15 years; Lily is a successful lawyer, Ed tries to be a successful artist.  He's actually just an alcoholic.  Marriage is still intact, but so dysfunctional it's no wonder Lily works all the time.  They have a son, Tom, who is such a challenge that he's another added stress.  Joe Thomas is still in the picture, lurking....why won't he leave Lily alone?  I know....but you're going to have to read the book.

Carla arrives back in their lives.  She's now 23, gorgeous, and has a giant grudge.  She wants what Lily has, and does her best to get it.  You know what they say about the grass is always greener?  Well, Carla gets to find out if that's true.  

There are so many twists in this story that you're never quite sure what's going to happen next.  Everyone has a secret; Lily has more than a few.  She's a good person trapped by a few little lies that turned into potentially life-destroying secrets.  No one here (besides Joe) is really a bad person. Circumstances and poor choices made them what they are; those choices keep propelling them all towards an inevitable nightmarish crash.  Yes, you are  on the roller coaster until the very last page.  What a ride. 

I was totally surprised by this book in a very good way.  All of the characters are flawed and every one of them have issues from their pasts that drive them to do destructive things.  It's a tale of revenge, opportunity, lust, frustration, and that sense of being trapped and feeling helpless to get out.  But there are ways to get out...

Thank you to Penguin/Viking for a review copy.  Wow!  This was a really good read, and refreshingly different in the female thriller/dark chick lit genre. You'll find yourself thinking about it long after you've turned the last page. It would make a really good book club choice!

Rating:  8/10 for a tangled weave of past and present, deadly secrets, destruction, and a marriage that struggles under the weight of two flawed people.  

Available in hardcover, e-book, and audio. 

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