The great thing about being a designer is that we are aware of all (or most) that is available out there. The terrible thing about being a designer is that we are aware of all (or most) that is available out there. I know, I know- I feel your sympathy coming through. At any rate, I think this is why, when it comes to personal projects, we can get decision fatigue. It is often more challenging when approaching our own spaces, whereas in a client's space, it usually becomes clear quite quickly which direction to go. The one thing I knew for sure in this project was that I wanted to create a calming, spa-like space.
A Little Background:
We built our house in 2007 right in time for the big housing bust. We raised 4 kids here, and it has been well-loved and well-used. Over the last couple of years, we have been methodically going through the house and updating it. (next up is the carpet- goodbye Dr. Pepper and other unidentified stains!) This bath served us well for 16 years. My twins shared it until our oldest moved out, and then they each got their own bath. In the beginning of 2024, we began remodeling some of our upstairs, and this bath was one part of it. Shall we check out the before pictures?
The Goal:
To update a kid's bathroom to a spa-like sanctuary that would support visitors of all ages.
The Plan:
The cabinets were in surprisingly decent shape, so we saved money by switching out the doors and drawers to update the profile. We also decided to nix the tub/shower combo in favor of a shower with a clean-lined, floating bench and add a shower wand to make less backbreaking work for cleaning the littles. Next up was selecting materials and finishes that were soothing to the eye and to the spirit.
The Deets:
I knew I wanted a serene bath with a spa feel, and in the early stages of planning, I hit all the local tile stores in search of a tile that would be the jumping-off point. I did cycle through a few, but in the end, I kept coming back to a subway blue, zellige-type tile that had enough variation to encompass a good range of blues but still be soft and subtle. I knew it would be used as an accent and I wanted to find a large, simple tile for the rest. Ultimately, I decided to have the accent tiles installed on the shower floor in a herringbone pattern, with the rest of the creamy marble tiles lining the walls. I also knew I wanted to incorporate wallpaper around the vanity. I found the perfect wallpaper from Galbraith & Paul for it with the softest blue background and taupey-grey koi. It incorporates many of the colors of the accent tile, and I knew that was it immediately. The finish of choice was a polished nickel that perfectly complements the palette. I selected a simple, white undermount sink and a new, beautifully shaped faucet from Rohl with levered handles labeled Hot and Cold, and it is one of my favorite parts of the whole remodel.
Heavy-duty Montreal quartzite was selected for the countertop and splash and additionally used for the shower curb and bench, so the look is clean with minimal grout lines, which is always a plus. To the backsplash, we added the detail of curved cutouts which gives it the feel of a furniture piece. For the floor, I selected a sand-blasted marble in an oversized 24x36" format, which has a great texture to it (no slipping here!), and pulled some of the blue tiles into the vanity area on the floor to tie it in nicely with the shower floor. I sourced some beautiful fused glass fish from glass artist Jo Downs out of Cornwall, UK, that tied everything together perfectly. All in all, I believe we achieved a timeless, tranquil bathroom that will serve us (and our family & friends) well for years to come.
To see the other bath we remodeled at the same time check out this post.
Thinking about remodeling a bath? Check out our blog on how to select the right tiles here!
Now it's your turn to chime in. Did we hit the mark? Did we forget anything? Let us know in the comments!
Lisa
Comments