Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!
It’s Springtime, and people are turning their thoughts to renewals and within home design, that points to remodeling. We are receiving numerous calls on Bathroom renovations right now, and this leads me to think, “What a great topic for a post!” (Thanks to our clients for helping with the blog!)
I believe that with a little design guidance and a little DIY know-how, any one can create a bathroom to meet their every need. Bathrooms are one of the most private spaces in a home and because of this, it requires a close examination for its remodeling project.
Long hours can easily be invested in the selection of paint, tiles, sinks, faucets, vanities, mirrors, and accessories. All of these are personal preferences, of course, but there are always a few common goals in any project, no matter what the budget, style, or location.
Limit Your Options
Use What You Have by Making the Most of Existing Space
Take Design Cues from the Rest of your Home
Use Furniture
Choose Timeless Materials
Set up 'His and Her' Areas
Last but not least… Splurge a Little on a Luxury Item
It’s Springtime, and people are turning their thoughts to renewals and within home design, that points to remodeling. We are receiving numerous calls on Bathroom renovations right now, and this leads me to think, “What a great topic for a post!” (Thanks to our clients for helping with the blog!)
I believe that with a little design guidance and a little DIY know-how, any one can create a bathroom to meet their every need. Bathrooms are one of the most private spaces in a home and because of this, it requires a close examination for its remodeling project.
Long hours can easily be invested in the selection of paint, tiles, sinks, faucets, vanities, mirrors, and accessories. All of these are personal preferences, of course, but there are always a few common goals in any project, no matter what the budget, style, or location.
My Common Goals for a Bathroom Remodel
Limit Your Options
I use this rule in all my design projects, not just the bathroom. Too many choices are just too confusing. An ideal bathroom serves as a refuge so it's no place for fussiness. Scale down the variables to establish a soothing atmosphere. Contrast dark woods and finishes with light ones for instant drama. A neutral palette with one strong color will create the same effect. Here’s a great tip - if the bath is small, you can repeat simple design details, such as matching floor and wall tiles, to make the space appear larger. In a bathroom, it is very important to use the same materials and features throughout to unify the design scheme.
Use What You Have by Making the Most of Existing Space
If a bathroom feels cramped, it may be necessary to strip the space down to the studs and reconfigure the room. Always use the best floor plan possible when working with a small space, especially in a bathroom. The biggest mistake people make when starting a remodeling project is that they get too bogged down with filling a new space with too many useless items. Less-permanent elements, such as fixtures, interior walls, and cabinetry, are candidates for remodeling, but plumbing stacks and drains are not so easily modified. Take a close and critical look at the layout, consider your options, and then plan accordingly.
Take Design Cues from the Rest of your Home
Don't create a showroom out of a remodeled bathroom. Use some of the same materials, colors, and textures that appear in the other rooms of your home. If the house has decorative wainscoting, arched doorways, beaded-board paneling, or other similar points of style, consider echoing those features in the bath. An updated bath should not appear to be an island of architecture or design within your home. The goal in any renovation is to harmonize with the existing structure.
Use Furniture
The space doesn't have to feel clinical. I don't like the bathroom to look just like a bathroom. It is a room after all, and the elements in it can take on the feeling of furniture. There is no need to rely on items made specifically for bathrooms. Think outside the box when selecting furnishings. Armoires can store towels and toiletries. Chests may be plumbed and converted into vanities. Pharmacy cabinets, console tables, decorative mirrors, and comfy chairs can make great appealing additions.
Choose Timeless Materials
Keep an eye toward longevity when remodeling a bath. Avoid trendy colors and design fads when selecting tiles, faucets, and fixtures. Classic elements, such as subway tiles, vintage style nickel fixtures, and claw-footed tubs often make better investments. I have many clients who live in 1920s houses who love their original bathrooms and old tiles.
Set up 'His and Her' Areas
When designing a bathroom for two, use the same materials for both spots, but differentiate them in a subtle way. For instance, you can vary the heights of the vanities, or you can use different sink basins.
Last but not least… Splurge a Little on a Luxury Item
In the bathroom, an obvious gesture of self-indulgence is easily justified and there are so many options… how about heated floors and towel bars, frameless glass showers, shapely soaking tubs, steam generators, therapeutic showerheads... I could go on and on. But exercise restraint. A little luxury goes a long way so don't go overboard or the space will easily look over-done.
