We'll start with the flooring, where tile is the overwhelming favorite. Porcelain tiles that mimic slate are very popular now and are available in every shape and size. They look so authentic it is hard to differentiate them from the real thing. Natural stone such as travertine is another beautiful option, though it tends to be a bit pricier per square foot.  Both options work well on either the floor, the walls, or both.

Next we'll talk about the walls. Wallpaper is a great option for powder rooms since it gives visual interest where there is little room for decorative items. People often feel they need to keep the colors light in a small powder room, but deep, rich colors give an opulent, jewel-box look. For full bathrooms, colors such as watery blues, soft greens, and muted tans give a peaceful, relaxing feeling to the room.  

Mirrors are another necessity in the bathroom, but forget about those large frameless landscape mirrors which stretch across the entire length of the bathroom counter. Now the style is to feature smaller mirrors over each sink, often framed decoratively.

Lighting is another important aspect of a functional bathroom, and strip lighting has also gone the way of the landscape mirror. Instead, select sconces to be installed on the side of each mirror or decorative fixtures installed above each individual mirror.

The difference between a good design and a great one is in the details. That's where accessorizing come in. Good bathroom accessories can include: neatly folded towels placed on shelves or in baskets, scented candles, fancy soaps, decorative vases, live plants, and decorative containers to hide clutter. A chair, bench or stool is another nice addition as a seat for primping or as a table  for your books and beverage while you are soaking. 

With the large number of baby boomers hitting their "golden years," designers are utilizing products in their designs which will be conducive to aging in place. If you or a parent is in this age bracket and a bathroom remodel is in your future, this bathtub would prove useful when someone becomes limited in their mobility. It is completely water tight, but makes entering and exiting the bathtub safer and easier. 

If you always fantasized about being on the Starship Enterprise, the next product is for you. Instead of commanding it to "Beam me up, Scottie" you can set it to spray water at you from every direction - the ceiling, walls, and floor. The whole shower glows with built-in lighting for an out-of-this-world showering experience.   

The color of the month is white, which is a popular color for bathrooms. It is clean and bright and will work well in both modern and traditional spaces. There are several ways to decorate with white. The first is by making the entire room white: walls, floors, furniture, etc. Remember to incorporate different textures for extra interest. 

The next example is to use white predominantly, but add pops of color with artwork and accessories. In this beach house bathroom below, wallpaper was used on only one wall to keep the large-scale pattern from overwhelming the room. The additional green of the garden stool helps to bring the green to the other side of the bathroom. 

The final way to decorate with white is to surround the room with color, and then use white furnishings. Even the darkest colors can look good in a bathroom when they are balanced by a lot of white.  

The next product is flooring made from rocks. In green living, the closer products are to their natural state, and the closer they are to the end user, the better it is for the environment. You can't get more natural than rocks, and here large river rocks were used for bathroom flooring and small river rocks were made into a bath mat. 

 The final product is bathroom accessories made from bamboo. Many of the bathroom accessories on the market today are made of plastic, which is a petroleum-based product. Since bamboo is a renewable resource it makes sense to use that rather than our limited fossil fuel resources.   

Backyard gardens and farmer's markets are usually overflowing with zucchini at this time of year, so I thought you might appreciate a delicious recipe for grilled zucchini salad. It is super easy and super delicious. Enjoy!

Grilled Zucchini Salad

4 large zucchini, washed, ends cut, and sliced lengthwise

extra virgin olive oil for grilling

sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

shaved Parmesan cheese, to taste  

Dressing 

1/3 C olive oil 

3 cloves garlic, minced

juice of 1 lemon

1 T chopped fresh parsley

1 T chopped fresh basil

Prepare a charcoal grill or set a gas grill to high. Brush both sides of the zucchini slices with olive oil and season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Grill the first side 1 or 2 minutes or until there are grill marks, then turn them over and grill the other side until marked and wilted. Remove to a bowl and allow to cool slightly while making the dressing.  In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients. Pour over zucchini and toss.  Spread onto a serving platter and shave Parmesan over the top.

***Tip*** I strongly advise you to use sea salt and not regular table salt. It really does make a difference in this recipe.  

One fact of life is that no matter what your current circumstance, there is always someone who is dealing with something worse. Whether the challenge is financial, physical, or emotional, it is important to help those less fortunate in whatever way we can. In that spirit, each month I share the needs of non-profit organizations in hopes it might stir up desire in someone to help out.

Big Day at the Lake 7

Big Day at the Lake is only three weeks away, on July 16th, and we still need more boat hosts to be able to accommodate the number of children we'd like to serve. Do you or someone you know own a boat? Each year, over one hundred children and their sponsors from Big Brothers Big Sisters are invited for a day of boating fun on Lake Norman with a picnic at the Duke Energy Explorium afterward. Each child comes with a chaperone who will be responsible for the child and we have insurance for the event so you'll have no liability worries. Visit bigdayatthelake-lkn.com or its Facebook page if you would like to help out. The kids will love you for it!