Wednesday, January 30, 2013

A Gentle Bath Christmas...

You might think that our family gets new towels all the time...  not true!  The truth is our current towels were about 3 years old, and in good shape, so it is hard to justify replacing them just "because" we have some new bath towels in stock.

This year we brought in a number of new Bath Towel Collections and as always, I test out a towel or two prior to stocking them.  Although all of the new collections were nice, I just could not resist a few of them and so I decided we would treat our entire family to new Bath Towels this year.

We gave our two boys each a set of the KassaDesign Towels.  They are so affordable that I got them each a Bath Sheet instead of a Bath Towel in their set too.  Since I had the Holiday Hand Towels embroidered at a local shop, I also had the boys towels monogrammed as well.  I think they turned out beautifully and was very happy with them.  I know that no teen boy has Bath Towels on their Christmas List, mine included, but after the luke-warm reception, I saw a lot of enjoyment when they actually began to use them!  They were  one of those gifts, that a Mom knows eventually they will enjoy, and that they did.

The Boy's KassaDesign Towel Sets in Garnet Red with Navy Monogramming
Note: They appear brighter red than they are due to the flash.  They are a true
dark Garnet Red, more like the towel color in the right corner.

For our Master Bathroom, I picked out the Belaire Bath Towel Collection.  I was so intrigued by their Quick Dry properties, and the sample Hand Towel that I had been using was the softest towel I had ever felt.  I just had to see what using a Bath Towel was like.  I was curious about the quick dry feature so I timed them the first time to see how long they took to dry.  For a six-piece set it took only 38 minutes to completely dry! That is really good for our dryer and I was very impressed, but how would they feel?  That was my big test.

Belaire Bath Towels in Crystal Blue.  Six piece set with the regular size Bath Towels.
They have been washed and dried once before this picture was taken.
Not to be disappointed, I was even more impressed with their soft plush feel!  The first time I used them, it felt like I was wrapped up in a big fluffy cloud!  They are so thick and so plush but at the same time so light, if I had in my mind a perfect feeling for a towel, they would be it!  I think that it is a big accomplishment to get this much plushness and softness in a towel this light!  Not to mention the short drying time.  Kudos to Kassatex for sure, this collection is a big WINNER!


Our other set of  MBR bath towels, the Kassasoft Supima in the Ocean Blue.
They are now my 2nd runner-up in softness & plushness from our Kassatex
Collections.  Just knocked out of my first place by the Belaire Collection!  

I have to now put the Belaire in first place for softness, next to the Supima in second place, then tied for third would be the Elegance and the Bamboo.  I started my store with the Bamboo Collection by Kassatex, and that is still a big seller, but there is a new kid in town, and it will be interesting to see if the Belaire catches the fire that Bamboo has had now for five years!

Until next time,

Regards,

Brenda

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Favorite Bathroom Designs of 2012

Being the first post of the New Year, I am changing it up a little (a lot) on the Blog.  Last year I felt like I was recreating the same information from the Website for the Blog... it was getting old trying to make the same information look and sound different.  Then it hit me after looking at some other blogs that this would be the perfect place for sharing the personal side of anything and everything that I love about bathrooms and baths!

The New Year seems like a great time to start, a new beginning for the Gentle Bath Blog.  I've rewritten the Blog description and from now on, the blog will be uniquely different from the information from the  store. Here is where I'll share what I like, what catches my eye, what products I'm using at home and any bath-related tips or tricks that I learn or try.  I am crazy about everything and anything bath, I live and breathe  bath design, bath & body, bath fixtures, bath towels and bath accessories - you name it - I love it.  What better way to share all of that but with this blog! 

To start the New Year and "New" Blog, I'd like to share some of my favorite Bath Designs of 2012.  When we redesigned the store I looked through hundreds of bath designs to use in our Shop by Color and Shop by Design categories.  Not all of them made it to the store, so this is the perfect place to share a few more of the Bath Designs that I loved from last year!  Enjoy!

Attic Bathroom with Big Skylight


White Attic Bath with Big Skylight

This makes me want to have an attic so I could add a bathroom like this to it!  I love all the natural light and the storage that they tucked in the wall.  Very clever too, how they placed both sinks across from each other - very unique layout.  Source:  Better Homes & Gardens-Skylight Eves

Bathroom with Blue & White Wallpaper


Blue and White Bathroom with Pedestal Sinks

I love Blue and White!  This was the runner up bathroom photo for the "Blue Category" at our store.  It was a hard choice, but we only had room for one.  I collect blue & white china, and I am a sucker for anything blue and white.  Of course this bathroom caught my eye!  I usually don't  like wallpaper either, but I could live with it in this bathroom! Source: Country Living-Traditional Bath

All Grown Up in Peach


Peach colored Master Bathroom with Arch

This was the runner up for the "Orange" category and in fact, I liked it better than the one we used.  The only reason it didn't make  it was that the other bath was a true Orange color.  I am not a big fan of orange, but this one really appealed to me.  The way that they built the arch over the bathtub is GORGEOUS!  Plus, I love the lead glass windows and all the white woodwork and cabinets.  The overall effect is so light and airy, that I would gladly take the peach color if I could have this bathroom!  BTW - this is not even Master Bathroom - it was designed for teen girls to share!  If I had this when I was a teen - I don't know if I would have ever moved out!  Source: Better Homes & Garden-All Grown Up

Traditional Red & White Master Bathroom


Red and White Elegant Master Bathroom

This is one of the only "true red" bathroom designs that I have seen, and I love it!!!.  Most of the "red" bathrooms are dark burgundy, dark and overbearing or dated or usually both.  When I saw this, I fell in love.  Red IS one of my favorite colors and this is my style and taste 100%.  For a red bathroom, it is so light and bright and not at all overwhelmed by too much red.  It has just enough to give it pizzazz!!  I would love love love to have that ottoman by my tub.  It looks so comfy to sit on before and after a bath.  I love the Chandelier, the cabinets, the way they framed the mirror in molding and the curve of the arch over the mirror - it's all the little details that add up to a great bathroom design!  This bath is a frequent pin on Pinterest and no wonder!  This is one of my all-time favorite  bathrooms!   Source: Better Homes & Gardens: Red Traditional Bathroom

Seafoam Green Traditional Master Bathroom


Seafoam Green Traditional Master Bathroom


This color, Seafoam Green, has been one of the most popular colors for bathrooms the past year or so.  I can tell how popular it's been because we have four bath towel collections that each have a version of the color in it.  What better color could you have for a bath-a combination of blue and green, both of which are calming, relaxing colors, a perfect color for a bathroom.  This color is beautiful with gray and that combination is very popular as well.  I always gravitate to bathrooms of this color and have about ten bathroom photos all in Seafoam.   Hmmmm... that gives me an idea, I think a Seafoam Bath Collection may be coming to the blog in the future!   Source: Better Homes and Gardens: Seafoam Master Bathroom

Neutral Color Master Bathroom


Traditional White Master Bathroom

And the last bathroom is an all neutral Master Bathroom.  One of the most common color bathroom design is a pure neutral.  No color but still stunning with a soft beige wall color accented by cream cabinets and grey marble.  A more serene, calming bathroom would be hard to find.  This elegant bath caught my eye with it's simple, soft color scheme.  I love the the cabinet work in it as well, a lot of detail add interest to basically a monochrome bath design. The tile work also has a subtle but elegant detailed edge, again this room shows how much of a difference all the little detail make in the overall design.  This room's color scheme could by bland and boring if it weren't for all the elegant details. Source: Better Homes & Gardens

Thanks again for visiting the Gentle Bath Blog, Beat wishes for a Happy New Year and I look forward to sharing my passion for bathrooms with all of you.  Up next... a Gentle Bath Christmas at our house this year!  

Until next time,

Brenda
The Gentle Bath & Company