Wednesday, March 5, 2003

Home accessories: It's the small touches that make the biggest impact

What do your favorite Hollywood actress and your bathroom have in common?

Ask any trendy stylist or interior designer, and chances are you'll get the same answer. The key to a fashion-forward, pulled-together appearance all comes down to selecting the right accessories. Think about it for a moment. What separates one basic black dress from another at an awards ceremony or after-party? It's the Fred Leighton earrings. The Harry Winston choker. The diamond-encrusted sandals.

Your bathroom's no different. While we may be talking about a bath mat instead of travertine marble, the key to a major decorating success often lies in the small details. And unlike their more glamorous counterparts, bath accessories are a whole lot more affordable.

"The key to a simple yet elegant and coordinated bathroom lies in the accessories," explained Cheri Blum, whose artwork graces industry leader Croscill's line of botanically inspired bath items. "Find a motif or color scheme that you like and weave it in throughout the entire room. You may start with a matching tissue box, soap dish and lotion pump, then layer in a shower curtain, towels and wastebasket in the same pattern. Coordinate your wall tiles with tile appliqués ... introduce fresh flowers such as roses, lilies, orchids or narcissus ... and add beautiful artwork to your walls to create a special sanctuary."

It's more than coincidence that Blum alludes to the above four flowers. They happen to be featured in three of her popular lines of Croscill bath accessories: Antique Rose, Calla Lillies, and Orchids and Narcissus. The latter has been especially well-received, as its subtle white blooms complemented by soft celadon green leaves and aged parchment background are just as appropriate in a New York City apartment as in a California home.

"As soon as we saw Cheri Blum's Orchids and Narcissus bath items, we knew the design would work equally well for our Stick'n Stile peel-and-stick appliqués," explained Todd Imholte, president of Hopkins, Minn.-based Environmental Graphics. "Our products already reflected contemporary color palettes and design trends, so adding Orchids and Narcissus tiles was, literally, a 'natural' line extension."

Much like their fellow bath accessories, Stick'n Stile appliqués fit within virtually any budget. "They're specifically geared toward value-conscious consumers who wish to quickly and easily create a fresh, contemporary bathroom ambiance," added Imholte. "Changing the appearance of your tiles not only adds a touch of color, texture and creativity, it really transforms the entire room within minutes.

"When you think about it, we all love to read about Hollywood's best-dressed actresses. Why shouldn't we enjoy our own best-decorated bathrooms?"

Stick'n Stile three-dimensional, raised appliqués are easily applied to tiles, shower doors, mirrors, and plastic or fiberglass tubs. They color-coordinate with towels, shower curtains and other bath accessories found in upscale department stores as well as value stores like Target, and come in several popular sizes and trend-setting designs such as Botanica, Summertime, Water World, Fiji Palms, and Geo Squares.

Stick'n Stile appliqués are currently available in many Bed Bath and Beyond stores. For the nearest location, check their Web site at www.sticknstile.com.

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