Tag: At Home

Toothbrush holder-turned-vase

I love taking an item intended for one purpose and using it for another.

Case in point. Bathroom accessories.

The toothbrush holder to be exact. Who really uses the toothbrush holder?

I mean, I understand the purpose and I get its handy function. But do we really want our toothbrushes on display? I think not.

But that doesn’t mean I won’t buy the toothbrush holder if it is part of a collection.

Take the downstairs bathroom, for instance.

I bought the toothbrush holder that came in the white and chrome hotel collection, but instead of using it to hold toothbrushes, I use it as a vase. I place a single stem of something or other in the center hole and leave the other two holes empty.

In October, I displayed a single maple leaf.

For Christmas, a sprig of holly.

In March, some clover.

For Easter… well, you get the idea.

This allows me to purchase the items in a collection so that all of the pieces match, but without being so predictable in how I use them.

Give it a try. Or better yet, tell me how you’ve recreated an item’s purpose.

Turn the toothbrush holder into a vase by placing a single-stemmed floral or greenery in the holes. Photo by Cindy Hernandez

Llama

John and I loved the llama canvas the moment we saw it.

So presidential. So unexpected. So perfect for the wall above the toilet in the downstairs bathroom.

It would be a couple of weeks still before the house would be ready. But the store had only two left, so we grabbed one.

The canvas is black and white, which were the colors I wanted for that bathroom. The space is not small by any means. But because this would be the commode that company would use, I wanted the space to exude clean and simple.

I finished the look with white and chrome accessories for that hotel vibe, hung white and grey monogrammed towels, and — voila! – the first room in the house was complete.

Now when company is over, John and I hope they have to use the restroom just so we can hear them laugh.

A llama canvas, monogrammed towels and white & chrome accessories complete the downstairs bathroom. Photo by Cindy Hernandez