Renovation Reveal: Primary Bathroom

This might be the biggest transformation of our renovation project. When we first walked into the primary bedroom we were stunned by the views of Seattle and Lake Washington. We were also really surprised at the size of the room — it spanned the entire back of the house wall to wall, but it shared a small bathroom with the two other bedrooms on the top floor. We knew that we’d be adding a bathroom to the room when we bought the house. It was hard to imagine something that didn’t exist, and there was a lot of taping involved to get the idea of the scale, but in the end I’m so happy with it.

Because we were renovating during the pandemic we were affected by delays in product availability and long lead times. This West Elm vanity was not the first we had chosen for the space, but I was actually thrilled we got the chance to re-think our plan when our initial choice was delayed. I love that it brings a mid-century modern vibe to the bathroom and the wood tone is so rich. I am also a big fan of the marble countertop. I always thought marble would be too fussy but I haven’t found that to be the case at all!

I was enormously pregnant during our design and shopping process, so Mike would hop into tub after tub in showrooms to see if he liked the fit before I had to waddle in. We love the one we chose (and probably sat in about 40!).

As for the floor tile? You guessed it, another pivot in choice. We had one picked out that we loved (especially with the first vanity), but became unavailable as well. This purple hex tile was a little bit of a playful spin for us. We solidified this choice when we were in the hospital after our second was born. Literally, I was in a hospital bed when we hit “order.” While we’ve kept much of the house really neutral and classic I wanted to have a little bit of fun, and the bathroom feels like a good place to take a color risk. I’m so glad we did — it really worked with the other cool tones from the subway tile.

We decided to go with the green glass subway tile because we loved the luminosity of it. It also feels a little like a retro pool shower room finish to me, which I love. We continued it all around the room at mid-height.

And for a good before and after, here’s the listing photo! The bathroom now sits in the back third of the space. We have a large pocket door dividing it from the bedroom.

Here is our list of fixtures and finishes:

Vanity lights: West Elm

Wall sconces: Allmodern

Vanity: West Elm

Light above tub: West Elm

Tub: Kohler

Tub filler: Signature Hardware

Vanity faucets: Signature Hardware

Mirrors: Wayfair

Subway tile: Home Depot

Shower floor: Floor & Decor

Towel fixtures: Wayfair

Floor tile: Home Depot

Rug: Ikea

Paint Color: Alabaster - Sherwin Williams eggshell on walls, semigloss on trim

An Easy 1-Minute Lunch

I’m a big believer in the “miracle product” over here. Anything that does multiple duty and will take my situation from average to fantastic is an instant win in my book. So yesterday, during a quick run to my local Trader Joe’s, I was specifically on a hunt for key ingredients to make my life quicker and easier (and moreover, to make delicious, healthy and FAST lunches).

I always love to grab a pack of their cooked chicken from the refrigerator section. It’s easy to throw into lots of recipes, and we had a lot of salad greens at home that I didn’t want to go to waste (is there any worse feeling than pitching unused produce?!). I also grabbed a package of organic blueberries, which they always seem to have and at a pretty decent price. Then, I saw it:

I don’t know if it’s a new product or just new-to-me, but this Vegan Creamy Dill Dressing caught my eye right away. I’ve used TJ’s dressings in salads and grain bowls on many occasions, and they always level things up. Since I’ve been trying to rely less on dairy and I had only some sad and almost empty salad dressings at home I decided to give this a whirl.

The verdict? Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just get thee to Trader Joe’s and get this dressing ASAP. I threw together this salad in under 1 minute and ate it just about as fast. The dressing is creamy, not overpowering, and makes this otherwise basic salad feel really special.

Pro tip: keep a bag of wonton strips on hand. Last year when Sam was born we subscribed to a meal service box, and I noticed how having these little extra toppings really make things go the extra mile.

I’m also excited to mix this dressing into chicken salad with grapes and walnuts, or to use as a dip with fresh veggies.

Why I Photograph Interiors | Seattle Real Estate + Home Editorial Photographer

I spent most of the year 2020 scrolling Zillow. We had sold our house in Chicago and were feeling desperate to get out of our apartment building and into a home. With the pandemic, we changed a lot of our plans, including accelerating our family planning. The urge to settle in and make actual roots in Seattle after sooo many years of renting got REAL.

We spent every weekend driving around neighborhoods, my belly growing, John growing, and wondering if I’d get that tingly *this is it* feeling. It was thrilling and exhausting.

We finally found our place and have been renovating for the last year. It’s a work in progress but it’s ours. And now, after having gone through that, I’m tracing a line backwards in my life: interiors and homes have always been significant to me.

As a little kid my mom and I would visit open houses, mentally arranging furniture and imagining the possibilities. I played with dolls but stopped after extensively setting up their homes with found objects. The Sims happened and I could be found in the basement doggedly designing and cheat-coding so I could afford the *best* wallpaper (IYKYK). Preparing for my future home began in my teens when I’d collect vintage Pyrex and antique secretary desks. A table I snagged from @crateandbarrel became the first item that moved in with my (now) husband.

It’s always been there. And now I’m welcoming homes and spaces into my work more than ever. Shooting interiors brings me a joy I can’t explain. Our spaces are so important. Think about some of your best memories, are they attached to a home?

I have so much to say on this and will continue to explore and share with you. Thank you for coming along with me!

Photos for @thedigs.co (who just shared a big and exciting update yesterday!)

Colorful and Cheeky AirBnB in Cle Elum | Seattle Interiors Photographer

When I’m looking for a quick and easy getaway from the gray rainy Seattle weather, I’m always up for the beautiful drive across Snoqualmie Pass and over to Eastern Washington. Cle Elum and the surrounding area is the perfect stone’s throw for a weekend trip. With a beautiful lake and mountains leading slowly to desert, it’s a visual wonderland and always helps me hit reset. That’s why I jump at any opportunity to work with The Digs Co., a real estate and vacation rental company that has the BEST hosted and co-hosted sites across the pass. I met Chelsea, the founder, years back and we stayed in touch as our businesses grew and evolved. I first stayed at her first rental, Roslyn Digs, when I was expecting my first son. I’ll never forget how I enjoyed those peaceful mornings and shooting the brand new space with a cup of coffee in hand.

Fast forward almost four years (and now with a second baby!) I’d been following their progress with this super cute spot. Chelsea’s design sense is so spot on and you can tell the theme of this was FUN. I love all the pops of color in the house, from the emerald green velvet chairs to the neon pink hand hook in the bathroom, to the retro comic tile in the shower. The art in this space is so fun and playful, and as soon as you step outside you’re enveloped by towering pines and a whisper-quiet roaming yard space. I’m setting my sights on a little solo refresh retreat there soon.

Enjoy Shin Digs, and book it here!