Thursday, October 28, 2010

Las Vegas Style Inspiration: Bathroom Blogfest 2010

Bathroom Blogfest 2010
Back in February 2010 - seems like ages ago - Surfaces organized an insider's tour in Las Vegas of the Encore, hipper, younger sister to the Wynn, led by the Encore design team. The experience - because it captured intense Las Vegas style inspiration - was unforgettable. Luckily, I had my camera handy and kept it busy thereby allowing me to share with you several bathrooms.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that opulence is a dominant theme throughout the Wynn and Encore in terms of unique materials and themes and fascinating juxtapositions of products.

We started out at the Wynn Las Vegas.  This first bathroom is located in the shopper section - definitely not your average shopping mall public restroom! Notice the beautiful materials and the combinations of colors, shapes and textures. I love the contrast between the bold floor pattern and the more soothing solids of the other surfaces.

Restrooms in the Wynn shopping mall
As you transition from the Wynn to the Encore you notice butterflies. The effect is subtle because the color scheme works together. The Encore theme is the butterfly which symbolizes metamorphosis; it's considered good luck across all cultures.  I took many photos of all of the instances of butterflies: in store windows, on the walls, in sconces.

Carpet transitioning from the Wynn to Encore
This bold butterfly carpet pattern was repeated in tile patterns. Truly marvelous!

Moving on to another bathroom.

We visited the XS Club, inspired by the human body, and were told that this was a place that got pretty wild at night.  Luckily, we were there early in the day and had it all to ourselves.  Check out the women's room....


The Women's Room: What's That in the Mirror?

Understated, utilitarian flash

Functional with glitz


Consider yourself warned!
As you exited the bar to make your way to the foyer, these marvelous torsos lined the wall.

Reminds me of Rodin's Gates of Hell

Love this: Coat Check
[Funny how many casino nightclubs seem inspired by the human body.  Definitely read  Inside Jersey's Best of NJ: The best public bathrooms by Greg Saitz' description of the Caesar's Atlantic City Hotel and Casino bathroom.]

This image I took along our walk. I just had to include it. You are right in concluding that it has nothing to do with the club we just left. I consider it timelessly elegant, possibly even reminiscent of the 60s?.


Lucky Peacock: Gorgeous ostentation


Finally, this bathroom was in one of the special ritzy suites. I couldn't get over the soothing green color scheme and the rich, sparkly insets and details. Luckily, the mirror frames were simple shapes. Isn't that fabric scrumptious?


Pure Bathroom Elegance


Check out Becky Carroll's post Bathroom Blogfest: Stuck in the 60s? for other Las Vegas bathrooms.

What do you think? Are you inspired by Las Vegas Style Inspiration?

Happy Bathoom Blogfest 2010!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Surfaces and Bathroom Blogfest 2010

Surfaces and Bathroom Blogfest 2010
Surfaces, the annual exposition for the flooring industry, occurs once a year in Las Vegas. For Bathroom Blogfest 2010 - taking place this week - I thought I would share with you what I consider a clever way of showcasing flooring products.

[For more information about Bathroom Blogfest 2010, read the official release and consider visiting BathromBlogfest.com.]

Now, for the record, I don't have much related to carpet or rugs to share with you in this post.  However, Bethany Richmond has a really interesting blogpost about bathroom rugs and carpets you may find inspiring.

I think you'll also enjoy these design related Bathroom Blogfest posts:

Back to Surfaces...

These pictures below are ones I took on the last day of Surfaces having just finished using the women's bathroom on the ground level of the Sands Convention Center. I couldn't get over how cool the effect was.

The product manufacturer, Armstrong, had vinyl product samples displayed in the women's room.  I wish I had checked whether the men's room had also been decked out. Next time.  In any case, the product does a great job jazzing up, warming up and improving the acoustics of an otherwise uninspired and rather sterile space.

Sands Convention Center Women's Room

Look Down! Armstrong flooring sample


Look down again! Another Armstrong sample


Now, imagine Bethany's bathroom mats on there... Nice, don't you think?

Happy Bathroom Blogfest 2010!







BathroomBlogfest.com.
Like Bathroom Blogfest on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter.

Be part of the fun!

This year's participants in Bathroom Blogfest 2010 include:


BloggerBlog NameBlog URL
Susan AbbottCustomer Experience CrossroadsCustomer Experience Crossroads
Paul AnaterKitchen and Residential DesignKitchen and Residential Design
Shannon BilbyBig Bob's Outlethttp://blog.bigbobsoutlet.com/
Shannon BilbyCarpets N More Bloghttp://blog.carpetsnmore.com/
Shannon BilbyDolphin Carpet Bloghttp://blog.dolphincarpet.com/
Shannon BilbyFrom The Floors Uphttp://fromthefloorsup.com/
Shannon BilbyMy Big Bob's Bloghttp://blog.mybigbobs.com/
Toby Bloomberg Diva Marketinghttp://bloombergmarketing.blogs.com/
Laurence Borel Blog Till You Drophttp://www.laurenceborel.com/
Bill BuyokAvente Tile Talk Bloghttp://tiletalk.blogspot.com/
Jeanne Byington The Importance of Earnest Servicehttp://blog.jmbyington.com/
Becky CarrollCustomers Rock!http://customersrock.net/
Marianna Chapman Results Revolutionhttp://www.resultsrevolution.com
Katie Clark Practial Katiehttp://practicalkatie.blogspot.com/
Nora DePalma American Standard's Professor Toilethttp://www.professortoilet.com/
Nora DePalma O'Reilly DePalma: The Bloghttp://www.oreilly-depalma.com/blog/
Leigh Durst LivePath Experience Architect Webloghttp://livepath.blogspot.com/
Valerie FritzThe AwarepointBloghttp://www.awarepointblog.com/
Iris GarrottChecking In and Checking Outhttp://circulating.wordpress.com/
Tish GrierThe Constant Observerhttp://spap-oop.blogspot.com
Renee LeCroyYour Fifth Wallhttp://yourfifthwall.com/
Joseph MichelliDr. Joseph Michelli's Blogwww.josephmichelli.com/blog
Veronika MillerModenus Bloghttp://www.modenus.com/blog
Arpi NalbandianTILE Magazine Editor BlogTILE Magazine Editor Blog
Maria PalmaPeople 2 People Servicehttp://www.people2peopleservice.com/
Reshma Bachwani ParitoshThe Qualitative Research BlogThe Qualitative Research Blog
David PolinchockPolinchock's Ponderingshttp://blog.polinchock.com/
Victoria Redshaw & Shelley Pond Scarlet Opus Trends Bloghttp://trendsblog.co.uk/
David ReichMy 2 Centshttp://reichcomm.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Sandy Renshaw Around Des Moineshttp://www.arounddesmoines.com/
Sandy Renshaw Purple Wrenhttp://www.purplewren.com/
Bethany RichmondCarpet and Rug Institute Bloghttp://www.carpet-and-rug-institute-blog.com/
Bruce SandersRIMtailing Bloghttp://rimtailing.blogspot.com/
Steve TokarPlease Be Seatedhttp://stevetokar.wordpress.com/
Carolyn TownesBecoming a Woman of Purposehttp://spiritwomen.blogspot.com/
Stephanie WeaverExperienceologyhttp://experienceology.blogspot.com/
Christine B. WhittemoreFlooring The Consumerhttp://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com/
Christine B. WhittemoreSimple Marketing Bloghttp://www.simplemarketingblog.com/
Christine & Ted WhittemoreSmoke Rise & Kinnelon Bloghttp://smokerise-nj.blogspot.com/
Christine B. WhittemoreThe Carpetology Bloghttp://carpetology.blogspot.com/
Linda WrightLindaLoo Build Business With Better Bathroomshttp://lindaloo.com/

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Live UK Design Chat 10/15/10: George Clarke

Live UK Design Chat 10/15/10: George Clarke
Are you passionate about Home Design & Improvement [and how carpet fits into the overall picture]? If yes, you might be interested in a HousetoHome Live Web Chat taking place this Friday, October 15, 2010 with George Clark, UK architect, writer and lecturer, hugely successful property TV presenters on UK television and newest addition to Fun on the Floor's panel of experts.

Here are the details:

Location: Go to www.housetohome.co.uk

Time: 1 pm BST or 8 am EST

Be sure to register! Sign up below.




Here is some additional information on George Clarke from my friend Patrick Finn at FunontheFloor.com.

"Many of your UK readers will know George from The Home Show [launched in 2008] and Restoration Man [launched in 2009] programmes that he appears on at Channel 4. After three successful series of Build A New Life for Five from 2003 to 2006, George became the face of architecture at Channel 4.

George will be on hand via this Live Design Web Chat to answer questions on home renovation and design projects so I feel sure that this will be of interest to your audience. May I request that you let your readers know about this unique opportunity to quiz him about anything from carpet tips to basement conversions."

As I mention above, George recently joined the Fun on the Floor panel of carpet experts and now has a home design blog at Fun on the Floor where he adds more useful help and advice on all sorts of home improvement projects there.

Do register for Friday's event to participate in the Live UK Design Chat with George Clarke.  I bet you will be inspired!

By the way, you might also be interested in the HousetoHome Blogs.