The prescription for a depressing bathroom...

Okay, so you suspect you have a depressing bathroom. I use the term 'suspect' because one can never be too sure of the outlook of an inanimate object. But you just may be depressing yourself and unsuspecting guests, with a regrettable bathroom.

Decor-wise, bathrooms tend to be ignored, even though they're the most visited room in your house when you entertain. In other rooms, you work extra hard to create an inviting environment where people will happily forget where they are. A bathroom, on the other hand, is a constant, usually jarring, jolt back to reality.

In most cases, bathroom depression can be so severe that displaying baskets of even the nicest soaps from Town Home won't be enough to overcome the problem. But you can:

Fix the Lighting: Flourescent lighting is the sartorial equivalent to assaulting your guests. When one gazes at their reflection while under the greenish-hued glow, the party is over for them. You can completely undermine one's confidence with a single flip of the switch. If you own your home, invest in recessed lighting, taking care not to install canisters directly over one's head (such as the center standing area over the sink). Renters (or the installation-phobic) can use indirect sconce lighting for a similarly flattering effect.

Paint the Walls: While a good, bold color can capture my heart, bathrooms really do look better with a low-key color. The most flattering bathroom color I've seen is a buttercream yellow hue- the golden tones enhance skintone while brightening the room.

Invest in a Better Bathtub: And perhaps a sink. But the bathtub tends to be the pivotal piece in a bathroom. You will endlessly impress others with a well-chosen bathtub, since most are, at best, very dreary utilitarian pieces. And you know what you can do with a lovely looking bathtub (like the Savoy from Waterworks)? Fill it with ice and create a mini-bar. It's a batty idea, but doesn't it seem fun? You wouldn't want to do that with most vinyl/chipped ceramic bathtubs.

But if it's not in your budget, a thorough cleaning, a new shower curtain and new hardware can do a world of good.

The big decor retailers in the city- west elm, Williams-Sonoma, Macy's, Ikea- are a good start for bathroom accessories, though the more serious should head directly to Waterworks (1525 Walnut). Their business focuses on bathrooms, so you'll find a good selection of tubs, sinks and hardware.

Philadelphia Salvage: Where to Go, What You'll Find

The Problem- You live in a castle with gothic stained glass windows. Your neighbor's bratty child threw a baseball through said stained glass windows.

The Solution, presumably after you had a restorative cocktail- Architectural Salvage.

When you've lost something that happens to be irreplacable, when you're restoring a historic home, or when you're just looking for an interesting kitchen sink, the first place you should head to is one of the city's many architectural salvage clearing houses. These stores buy up wonderful old items- from mantles to columns to claw foot bath tubs, and everything in between- from renovators, clean them up and re-sell, at a fair price. Here's a few good places to go:

ReStore (3016 East Thompson St.): A very comprehensive selection, includes cast iron ornaments, tile, doors and sinks. Also offers a design service and never-used pieces.

Found Matter (1320 N. Fifth St., by appointment): In addition to handcrafted furniture pieces made from re-harvested wood, a very good selection of architectural pieces. Stained glass windows, doors (including double-doors), moldings and more.

Architectural Antiques Exchange (715 N. 2nd): If you have a sudden need to buy a complete, paneled library, this is where you go. Gates, lighting, beds, bars...and everything in between.

Taking the Terror out of Guest Soaps.

Is there anything as precious as The Guest Soap? They're always the prettiest and nicest smelling, to the point where they become off limits to everyone- even guests. My grandmother had a lovely set of hand-carved rose shaped guest soaps, which we were all terrified to use. For more than a decade, these beautiful creations sat untouched, the home decor equivalent of a museum exhibit, until a fine layer of dust relegated them to the trashbin.

That memory came to mind when I saw the collection of soaps at Town Home (126 S. 19th). In addition to the darling set of "see no evil/hear no evil/speak no evil" monkey soaps (left), there are pigs, frogs, poodles and chickens. Not keen on animals in the bathroom? Then take a peek at pears, rose petals and robins eggs.

Though lovely, these soaps are deliciously scented and adorable enough to make people want to use them. Encourage use by breaking up sets, setting one by the kitchen sink, another by the tub and the last on the bathroom sink. Guests will get the message that these soaps are, in fact, there to be used. Lightly suds them up beforehand to drive home the message.