Dreaming of a spa bathroom

My favorite part about staying at a swanky hotel is, hands down, the bathroom. Sure, sometimes I might be wowed by a huge fireplace (Whistler) or an incredible view (Cinque Terre), but at the end of the day, give me a huge soaking tub, lovely tiles, plush towels, a beautiful sink, and fancy bath salts, and I am in heaven.

For me, the bathroom should be a haven: relaxing, a bit luxurious, and a place to enjoy getting ready for and, eventually, unwinding from the day. My favorite bathroom from our honeymoon was in a beach villa we stayed at in Nha Trang, Vietnam:


Major style. Love the natural light, the stonework, the huge green ferns, and the chic shampoo, conditioner, and body wash pump dispensers. Two things you can't see:

1. an opaque bamboo sliding door leads to the main bathroom, where the focal point was a carved wooden Buddha head; and
2. they planted a flowering tree above the roof of the bathroom, so there were tons of yellow and white flower petals littering the roof. Amazing!

I definitely won't be owning a beach house in Nha Trang anytime soon, but I can still try to recreate the feel:

• Thick, fluffy towels and bathmats. I like whites, neutrals for the spa aesthetic.
  
• Clear and streamline counters and surfaces. Keep toiletries organized and put away in drawers, woven baskets, or under the sink. I like the bamboo and acrylic drawer organizers at The Container Store. For things I store on the counter, I like to use pretty colored bowls or apothecary jars.
  
• Look for stylish refillable containers for hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. I dislike plastic mouthwash bottles so I have been toying with the idea of putting mouthwash in a simple carafe, like this one from Crate and Barrel.
• Add something green: a single large green leaf in a vase of water, a potted fern, or colorful blooms in a mug adds a lot. I love lush elephant ear plants.
• Candles and fragrant hand soap are always a luxurious touch.

Now that I have to share a bathroom with a BOY, I can't indulge every feminine whim (goodbye mirrored vanity, ruffly shower curtain, and flowery bathmat I never had...), but I think this is a good compromise.