Three bathroom mood boards inspired by the Arizona desert

As much as I am inspired by the tropical lushness of my native Florida, my recent trip to Arizona (celebrating marriage anniversary #15!) got me away from the norm and filled me with brand new design ideas.

I loved my time in the desert. I hiked. I rode a horse. I saw a lot of cacti. I enjoyed time with the hubs without our kids.

And then I came home and created three new bathroom mood boards inspired by my three favorite places on the trip: the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, the Sedona desert, and the town of Jerome. Keep scrolling to check them out–let me know in the comments which one you like best!

Arizona Biltmore Hotel: Art Deco Meets Arid Desert

We kicked off our anniversary trip in Phoenix and stayed at the beautiful Arizona Biltmore. I researched this resort before we went and was already giddy before even getting on the plane. Getting there and seeing the property in person was a delight and pure fun! This resort exceeded my expectations. It’s charming and unusual in the best way. Its gray cement structures are a stunning complement to the surrounding desert landscape.

The resort opened in August of 1929 and prides itself on preserving the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright in its design. Fun fact: when it first opened, the Arizona Biltmore had the 2nd largest gold ceiling in the world (the Taj Mahal is first).

Highlighting touches from the 20’s Golden Age, it’s a beautiful place that fits into beautiful scenery; it expertly blends geometric patterns with rich colors and textures. The bathroom mood board I created is inspired by this juxtaposition of shape and color.

Sedona Desert: Take the Scenic Route

Traveling from the Biltmore in Phoenix to the Sedona desert was an unexpected experience. I had never been to this part of the country before and I didn’t realize how much natural beauty my life was missing. If you ever get a chance, make sure you take the scenic route so that you have plenty of time to bask in the canyons, mountains, and open sky.

Our resort was great, but the highlight of this part of the trip was the desert itself. Its beauty is what I tried to capture in the bathroom mood board I created. The sage ground cover and juniper give way to mixes of pinks, corals, and sandstone layered within the canyon walls to create a breathtaking mural of cool and warm tones.

Sedona’s layer upon layer of canyons and mountains inspired the choices for this bathroom. The terra cotta backsplash (also a summer ’22 design trend) is meant to mirror the height of the impossibly tall canyon walls while the patterned shower tile mimics the horizontal layers woven into the caverns.

Jerome, Arizona: Unexpected Charm

One of my favorite things in life is encountering unexpected delights. The small revived mining town of Jerome was not on my initial travel list, but it is now the highlight of my trip. Jerome was recommended by our horseback desert guide who hooked me when she said it was like “Europe, but up in the Arizona mountains.” ……Yes, please!

Jerome is a small town with unexpected charm. Its glossy jade buildings with coral and raspberry trim snuggle cozily up to its angled, winding streets. Still retaining a layer of vintage grunge on its central district, this mountain village pays charming homage to its mining town history with gorgeous patina ceiling tiles, painted woodwork, and brick buildings.

As soon as I walked by the old Boyd Hotel, I knew I had to create a mood board inspired by its depression glass light fixtures. The building is no longer a hotel, but its original facade remains. The Jerome bathroom needed a suitable vintage vibe, so I chose rosy pink tile to go from floor to chair rail and a ’30s style wallpaper as its crown. Light fixtures with creamy milk glass are the perfect finishing touch. The bathroom I created for Jerome is my absolute favorite on this list–I would live in it if I could; it’s just so charming!

Feeling inspired too? I would love to bring one of my desert-inspired bathroom mood boards to life in your home. Or, if redoing your bathroom isn’t a current need, I would love to bring my ideas to help you curate a Biltmore, Sedona, or Jerome inspired design in any of your indoor or outdoor spaces.

Till next time,

Jayme