Summer renters have gotten pickier (I speak from experience; we’ve been renting out our Wellfleet house for a decade now). It’s no longer enough to swab the bath and call it a day. What I’ve learned: store your breakables; if it can be broken (ceramic soap dishes, fragile glassware, glass soap dispensers), it will be broken. Pick a simple palette (navy and white, for instance) and invest in accessories that are stylish, durable, and will mask the fact that your rental bath is less than perfect.
Above: Architect Sheila Narusawa renovated Harbor Cottage in Maine for Fiona and Tony Cooper; it’s available for rent via Home Away (see more photos at Design Skool).
Above: The indestructible iron enameled Soap Dish is $14 from West Elm.
Above: Poly-resin coated Linen Trays from Fog Linen start at $18 and are good for corralling essentials.
Above: A row of Shaker pegs provide ample space for beach towel hanging; for sourcing ideas, see How Shaker Pegs Saved My Summer Sanity.
Above: The Steel Waste Basket from Schoolhouse Electric is $42 and comes in gray, almond, and black.
Above: Disguise unattractive tissue boxes with the Linen Tissue Cover from Waterworks; $30.
Above: Inspired by an old hotel design, the wall-mounted Linfield Articulating Scissor Mirror is available in four finishes; $185 from Rejuvenation.
Above: The 100-percent cotton Broad Stripe Dhurrie from Serena & Lily is available in two sizes; $58 for the 24-by-36-inch size, and $98 for the 30-by-50-inch size. Does your rental bath have unattractive flooring? Order the larger size.
More ideas? Peruse the Bathrooms in our Photo Gallery and our Steal This Look posts. Find out the Ideal Plants for Bathrooms on Gardenista.
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