It’s so refreshing to get out from behind the computer screen and hit some actual stores. Grand Rapids has so many lovely shops and talented makers it feels god to spend some money and feed the local community.

I can’t let this tradition slide, time to share my wish list. It’s usually a mix of home, fashion and always a couple of tools I noticed I need throughout the year.

My first gift guide this season is for the curious and creative kid! Of course my kids have a list full of items from big box stores, with commercial characters, but I like to supplement those wishlists with toys and games that evoke curiosity and creativity. I poked around some of my favorite shops for some surprise, out of the box ideas for the kiddos.

We made it! Another One Room Challenge in the books! I am just so happy with how this bright and modern kids bath turned out! Started from a dated 80’s bathroom with a blue formica countertop and carpet and gave her a major glow-up in the form of a complete renovation. Now - classic selections with a special layer to make it a happy, updated space for my kiddos.

For the reveal part 1, I’m showing you the everyday wear of my kid’s bath reno. Next week she will get dressed up! I designed this bathroom to be updated classic at its core. The subway tile on the walls and the mosaic on the floor are available at big box stores, but I’ve mixed them in unexpected ways. The bones of this bathroom have longevity and flexibility. I could paint, wallpaper, add paneling and it will all work with the tile, vanity and lighting. The color and fun I will be sharing next week are the frosting and can be easily changed and updated as my kids grow.

Shopping for a kid’s bath? I got you. I’ve been wanting to do a round up of places to shop for a bathmat for quite some time. For a kids bath I need a true bath mat, something washable, with the non-slip grips, that can take a beating, get wet and is also comfy enough to kneel on to give the kids a bath. I rounded up 12 super fun and playful mats that would be perfect in a kid’s bath. Then I took it a step further and found you some complimentary shower curtains.

No pretty pictures or fun shopping resources to share with you this week, unfortunately. We have been getting down to business though! If you’ve missed it, check out my plans in week 1, tile layout options in week 2 and lighting options in week 3. About two and a half weeks ago my husband and I completed the demo. We ripped out the bad shower surround, the blue formica countertop, the carpet, all of it! Keep reading to see how far we’ve come!

That’s it for the updates on the progress, now for the fun stuff! I’m talking about lighting today. I spend lots and lots of time looking at lighting for clients, and one of my favorite resources is Etsy. The options are endless, the pricing is usually good an, items are often customizable and they are made by artisans. Click to check out my favorite Etsy shops for lighting!

I have made almost all of the design decisions, check out the plan here. There are just a few hanging question marks. One of the big ones is the subway tile layout. I sourced classic matte white subway tile in an updated size, 2 inch x 8 inch. I originally planned on doing a basket weave pattern, but because the tiles are exactly 2 inch x 8 inch they won’t work as a basket weave with grout lines. I want something more out of the box than a straight stack or a traditional brick pattern. I have been playing around with a few other layout options.