In just over a year, I've overhauled every room in my historic condo - every room except for the bathroom, that is. I've been putting off the looming "reno" for as long as possible. Though it's often the smallest room in the house, the bathroom can take a mighty bite into one's design and decor budget. Having already tackled a kitchen reno this year, I'm not quite ready to eat the costs of another major home project. I'm drooling over this inspiration shot from West Elm. The bathroom's exposed pipe, roughly surfaced baseboards and classically styled bath fixtures reference the few features my, otherwise neglected, bathroom has going for it. 3 lessons to take away from this interior: #1 perfect pedestal - pedestal sinks are perfectly suited to old, character bathrooms like the one in my historic condo. An added bonus is that they're also perfectly suited to my bare bones budget. I'll be able snag one of these from a big-box store for under 100 bucks! #2 form meets function - the plaster walls in my condo make hanging towel bar accessories a nightmare. To side-step this annoyance, I think I'll opt for a freestanding towel rack instead. I love the verticality of this ladder-turned-towel rack in the inspiration shot above! It's as sculptural as it is functional, so there is no need to spend a fortune on artwork.  Bamboo Ladder, Solid Bamboo, West Elm. #3 safe place to land - classic bathrooms, like the one shown above, are often outfitted with a clawfoot tub. My bathroom boasts one of these beauties in a lovely shade of yellow. While bubble baths in tubs like these are every bit as wonderful as the movies make them out to be, finding a place to prop your essentials can be slightly less pleasant. A petite table or stool, like the wood stump table featured in the inspiration shot, is a pretty and practical way to keep everything you need close at hand. Natural Tree-Stump Side Table, Solid Cypress Wood, West Elm. Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For my design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock .