This little corner showcases the battle I can never win. I am not sure the war is over quite yet, but I do know that the troops are always there.
I have tried baskets {metal & natural materials}..both on the counter and under the sink. I have tried to organize them and do something with them to make Mr. B's toiletries not become the main decor of my master bathroom...but I am losing.
What would you do? I am so sick of looking at this....and then I thought, maybe you have some ideas of what to do that will not be too drastic to start WW3.
When I think of a master...I don't want much, just something a tad shy of stunning.
both pics are from DecorPad
A mix of the above two would be fabulous...but on a VERY limited budget, I would be happy with just cleared off countertops.
Any thoughts? I have tried everything in hiding them, but Mr. B wants them always accessible. He finds it silly to hide every day necessities...and here I find it a necessity to hide every day things.
Any thoughts? I have tried everything in hiding them, but Mr. B wants them always accessible. He finds it silly to hide every day necessities...and here I find it a necessity to hide every day things.
I am open to any strategy or game plan.
Cheers~
e
My solution...adopt another bathroom as "yours" and do anything and everything you have ever wanted to do to it...solid white...solid gold...solid silver...lace from top to bottom...sterility and anything that pertains to it...in a house full of men...go for it!!! I just wish I had done this sooner!!! Now I'm working on apple green, black and white toile and I get to choose everything I like!!! Good luck with your decision!!!
ReplyDeleteI know your pain! After 20 years of marriage you would think we would have completely figured it out.... but we have reached a bit of a compromise. (Sorry no pictures as our windowless/orange bathroom does not photograph well...) All products which can be poured into more attractive bottles (i.e. mouth wash, etc) are poured into clear bottles which I label. Things like contact solution is left in the original bottle with the label soaked off, and then I make new labels to cover the aerosal cans. I hope this gives you a few ideas. Oh I do use old small white vases to hold brushes, etc. (Oh and we have very little countertop space in our bathroom, just mere inches on each side of the sink...)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
My husband feels exactly the same way, that things one uses often should be out at easy reach at all times. I've won this battle over the living room, but the bathroom remains my temporary defeat. Believe me when I tell you that your bathroom at least has most of his issues confined to a corner, whereas my husband likes to spread his army of supplies and uses over the entire battlegr--, uh, counter. Let me know what you decide to do!
ReplyDeleteSame conversation at our house! Thankfully we have a medicine cabinet next to the mirror so that is where most of it goes. I put our mouthwash in a cute glass container so it is technically out, but it look ok to me (sorry I don't have pics yet.) I even got him to switch to an old fashioned shaving set. He agreed b/c you can still use the mac3 disposable razor heads with it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/4065811/8479869.htm
and get a cool bowl for the soap. Looks great on the counter!!
Hi! I am with you sister, I cannot stand clutter on my counters! I was going to suggest a really cute (lidded) basket (I just saw some at TJ MAXX), but if you've tried that and he still doesn't like it, then I have a suggestion, it's more work for you, but ultimately, it will give you the bathroom you want: every night before bed, you take his 'necessities' out and place them on the counter, then in the morning, store them back into a basket, and put under the sink. I know it's a pain, but you'd get the look and feel of the bathroom you dream of, with a little extra effort...it would probably only take a few extra minutes a day, and may be worth it in the end (I know for me, it is!). Good luck, and I can't wait to see how you resolve it. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally go for the distraction strategy, which you could do too cause you have a little counter space. I always make sure I have some kind of tallish (fake of course) floral arrangement on the counter for a focal point so that's the first thing you notice when you walk in. Everything else is just tossed messily into an open top basket on the counter, but I don't mind, it's not the first thing you notice, so it's hardly there.
ReplyDeletetake off the standard mirror you have and replace it with a pretty medicine cabinet! it will keep all the necessities as well as being stylish! maybe paint your lower cabinet dark like in your inspiration photo and go with something like this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.homedepot.com/Bath-Medicine-Cabinets/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbase/R-202568937/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Aw... I don't know what to tell you. I don't know what kind of comprimise you could make with him, it seems so simple to just put stuff away. Tell him youre sick of picking up all his stuff to clean? Maybe he will utilize those drawers and baskets if its not about decorating.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is the exact opposite (to a fault)- and especially in the bathroom. Everything MUST be in its place, he even hates it when I have to leave my curling iron out to cool.
what i would suggest is a small cabinet on the wall by the outlet.all the bottles go in there . a small dish or tray for contacts/ watch. which could actually go in one of those drawers. my husband gets upset with me when i move his stuff [i think this is common ;)]. new habits are a process, this is part of sharing a bath room . and wouldnt this make you sooooo happy ;)
ReplyDeleteOur husbands must know each other. I tell Mr. FC daily: You are the reason why I drink a lot of wine. Which usually guilt trips him into putting away some of his things...which lasts all of 24 hrs.
ReplyDeleteI know you're thinking of moving but I too suggest a medicine cabinet! It doesn't even have to be a recessed one.
Do you have drawers in your vanity? That's where Dave keeps all of his stuff. It's not organized at all, but at least I don't see it! : )
ReplyDeleteWell I was going to say baskets until you said that you have tried those and .... it all just ends up back on the counters.
ReplyDeleteMaybe something decorative in that corner? That will prevent that specific clutter from reoccurring in that one particular spot.
OK I agree with baskets, trays, something from container store...I have a thing I hang on the back of the door...kind of like a jewelry or small shoe thingy that has little pouches in it. You only see it if you close the door. I can store tons of stuff in it and it is easily reachable. Good luck :) Medicine cabinet over the toilet????
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I'm not the only one with a husband who doesn't seem to understand that it just isn't pretty when he leaves his deodorant, contact solution, shaving cream and mouthwash sitting on the counter instead of neatly put away out of sight! Now if only I did have a solution to this problem! :-)
ReplyDeleteSame boat. In fact, I just bought a smaller vanity today hoping to make the room seem bigger, but I am worried where I will put all the STUFF. I think a medicine cabinet (inset) to the right of the sink would work. That is what I want to do. I tried one over the sink, but it was too bulky. An inset one I think will do the trick.
ReplyDeleteawww... that's tough! Where do you keep your things?
ReplyDeletedoes mr b have enough space?
While we're on this subject I'll tell you a little secret (more for Thurgood than mr B) as he grows older and doesn't pick up something that you repeatedly ask him to put away. YOU put it up where he can't find it. Then he has to ask you where it is, eventually he will remember to pick it up.
mr b however just doesn't share your tidy uncluttered gene. So sorry!
sometimes men can be too practical for their own good. maybe you could get him to clear "some" of it? I like the idea of a pretty container for the mouthwash.
gail
I use a canvas basket on the counter and under the sink...the whole thing can sit on the counter and then when everyone is finished, I throw it under the sink. I just take it upon myself to throw anything in there that is left on the counter...and my children now do this in their own homes!!
ReplyDeletehaha! I feel your pain. What works at our house.... separate bathrooms!! Unfortunately, JJ's is our hallway/main bath but at least I don't have to see it every.time. I enter the bathroom! I go in there a couple of times/week and put everything away..and it stays for a day or an hour or not. But, I have resigned to the fact that I know I do things that drive him mad...I'll just have to accept his messy counter top obsession... I guess.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Right there with you! We have a pedestal sink in the master...something I haven't put on my blog yet either. Can you put some shelves in or a medicine cabinet on that wall? A basket like mentioned above is another thought too. We have 4 shelves, and each have our own basket. The problem is there is some wasted space, and we need to adjust the shelves to fit the huge bottle of listerine in. What I've done is bought us each our own little bottles of listerine, and fill from the linen closet as necessary. Helps on the clutter. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping into my world and your sweet comment about my art. I hesitated sharing it...as it's super personal, so much so that I was weeping most of the time while making it. In huge letters it reads, "Friends are your chosen family," and "Every family has its angels and its demons." Those words are hard to read, but there, and rang true over some rough spots in the last few months.
Hugs,
Julie
Oh man I can always get the job done with baskets! I sweep piles of the hubby's junk into a basket on our dresser, in the bathroom, in our office and at our entryway. Keeping it contained is key! Ha, men... it does make some sense though, leaving the day to day stuff handy.
ReplyDeleteAhh, counter clutter - the worst! Here's what I'd do in this situation:
ReplyDelete- Remove the standard large mirror (your local glass company can do this safely). You may need to sand and repaint the wall, depending on the amount of adhesive was used to secure the mirror, but it's worth it! Use this as an opportunity to change the wall color in your bathroom if you like! I've done this in two out of three bathrooms in my house - what a difference it makes!
- Over each sink, hang a mirror. If you have inexpensive wood frames, you can have your glass company cut mirrors to fit inside the frames. Or go to Marshalls or Home Goods - they often have great finds.
- Between the mirrors, add a set of narrow open shelving, like this: http://img1.classistatic.com/cps/kj/101018/079r9/3577bml_19.jpeg
- Given the pictures you used to illustrate your idea of an elegant bath, I'd choose something with a dark wood. You can take this opportunity to paint your vanity to match the shelving and mirrors. You can also change the knobs and handles on your vanity - it's amazing how that small change will affect the whole look!
- If you like (and it doesn't clutter the look), add a mantle shelf underneath each mirror - you can use this for extra storage or a vase of flowers. I'd suggest doing a separate shelf under each, but you can also find mirrors with a shelf attached, like this one: http://furniturestocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Contemporary-Bathroom-Furniture-Anna-Wooden-Mirror.jpg
Good luck!
One other thing - to the extent possible, transfer Mr B's various liquid items (Listerine, for example) to nicer looking bottles!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a compromise- like he can keep out just 3 things - like say the cologne, the glasses, and the mouthwash. You could put the mouthwash in a nice container (plastic or glass). Then just put the rest in a basket under the sink or a medicine cabinet maybe. This way you both win. Just a thought- men are kinda hard headed sometimes :)
ReplyDeleteI bought a sort of big bamboo box with a hinged lid for my husband to keep all his things in. It was easy to get to whatever he needed, and when the lit was closed, I couldn't see anything. (When we remodeled, he got his own sink across the room from mine, and a low wall hides everything so I can't see it. ) Maybe a box would work.
ReplyDelete