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Is Your Bathroom Lacking (Your) Personality?
Find Out How to Make It Reflect Your Unique Style
It has guided your career path. Influenced your selection of a significant
other. And helped shape the type of person you've become.
Why shouldn't your personality also determine how you decorate your bathroom?
"As one of the most intimate rooms of a house, it's only natural that the
bathroom be an extension of our individual traits and preferences," says Sharon
Hanby-Robie, interior designer, author of the "My Name Isn't Martha" series, and
spokesperson for the Wallpaper Council. "Colours, textures, patterns and
accessories all come into play as we create a room that is practical, stylish
and reflects our true personalities."
For those about to undertake a bathroom decorating -- or redecorating --
project, the prospect can be somewhat daunting. An excellent place to start,
however, is by taking a few moments to answer the following questions. Tally up
the number of a's, b's and c's to discover your unique decorating profile.
1. My ideal mate is: a) cultured, b) athletic, c) easy-going
2. My favourite drink is: a) a Cosmopolitan, b) green tea, c) a Margarita
3. My friends describe me as: a) trendy and organized, b) relaxed and easygoing,
c) fun and spontaneous
4. I wouldn't be caught dead without my: a) Palm Pilot, b) Swiss army knife, c)
sunscreen
5. My fashion style could best be described as: a) fresh off the runway, b)
Banana Republic-inspired, c) beach casual
6. My ideal vacation is: a) touring museums in Paris, b) backpacking through a
tropical rainforest, c) lying on a beach in the Florida Keys
7. My next car will most likely be: a) a BMW or Mercedes, b) a Jeep Cherokee or
Ford Explorer, c) a PT Cruiser or Volkswagen Jetta.
8. The next time I buy shoes, I'll be most likely to buy: a) Jimmy Choo boots,
b) Birkenstock sandals, c) Gap flip-flops
9. My taste in music leans toward: a) Mozart, b) Enya, c) Beach Boys
10. My favourite sports include: a) golf or tennis, b) hiking or gardening, c)
swimming or surfing
"At the risk of over generalizing, we've found that most people tend to fall
into one of three categories," explains Imholte. "Those who chose 'a' most often
can be classified as elegant and refined. Their bathrooms should reflect their
upscale demeanour in pale hues of ivory, taupe, mauve and gray. Faux marble or
Tuscany-inspired accessories, nickel-finish brass towel bars, and a tapestry
fabric shower curtain add a certain panache, as does an assortment of calming
bath oils and aromatherapy products. Vanilla and lavender candles complete the
calming ambiance."
According to Imholte, those who most frequently selected 'b' tend to be earthy
and environmentally aware. When decorating their bathrooms, the key word to keep
in mind is green. A subtle palette of celadon, sage, loden and moss greens
should be used to evoke the essence of ferns, leaves and grass. Their botanical
refuges should also include lush green plants, a natural woven wood wastebasket,
tea tree oil-inspired bath products, and pine and lime candles.
"Those who most often opted for 'c' are extroverted and fun," adds Imholte. "For
them, the sky's the limit in terms of colour. They can easily combine ocean hues
of turquoise, marine blue and teal with sunset shades of yellow, orange and red.
Add a tropical fish flower curtain and shell-shaped soap dish -- maybe even a
flamingo bowl brush! Mango, pineapple and melon candles complete the island
motif."
Dovetailing nicely with the above three personality profiles are Environmental
Graphics' revolutionary Stick'n Stile peel-and-stick appliqués. Easily applied
to tiles, shower doors, mirrors, and plastic or fibreglass tubs, they create a
ceramic custom look within minutes. Stick'n Stile appliqués colour-coordinate
with towels, shower curtains and other bath accessories found in upscale
department stores as well as value stores like Target, and come in several
popular sizes and trend-setting designs.
"If we revisit our three personality profiles, it's simple to identify the most
appropriate appliqué design for each," says Imholte. "The elegant and refined
group will most likely select one of our newest patterns, Orchid and Narcissus,
a spray of fragile white flowers against a light sand-colored background by
well-known artist Cheri Blum. The earthy and environmentally aware niche will be
naturally drawn to Botanica, our other new style, created by artist Olivia
Woods, whose forest-green fern pattern vividly brings the outdoors indoors. And
our ever-popular and tropically inspired Fiji Palms pattern will easily grab the
attention of the extroverted and fun group."
Stick'n Stile appliqués are currently available in most Bed Bath and Beyond
stores. For the nearest location for Stick'n Stile, check their Web site,
www.sticknstile.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content |
