When at all possible, we encourage our clients to pair major renovations with huge life transitions.
I mean, we don’t, but somehow that’s always the way it seems to happen in life!
Our clients had successfully released one of their birds from the nest and into college, and their second (and last) daughter was preparing to head off to college as well.
THE STORY
After years of wear, tear, and life, the bathrooms in our clients’ homes were in need of some TLC. As was the upstairs carpet. If you have kids (especially the variety of the kids that like to paint their nails, you understand this in your soul).
Each of the girls’ en-suite bathrooms, the guest bathroom, and the downstairs powder bath were still in their 1991 builder basic stage. Think seashell sinks, black and white ceramic tile, and a heavy dose of Pottery Barn Tan.
The bedrooms had also served their duty and it was time to refresh them to some higher quality items (with less signs of abuse) to bring them into the current millennia.
THE RENOVATION PLAN
The layouts were all actually great. When you have a standard size 5’ x 8’ or so bathroom, there are typically only a couple of ways you can shake it. The only change we really made here was to remove a piece of wall in one of the 4 bathrooms and convert one tub to a shower. Otherwise, in terms of layout, we were in good shape.
Style-wise, though, everything must go.
Out with the tan, the hot pink walls, the baby blue ceramic tile.
In with a fresh, sophisticated, coastal inspired color palette.
Think soft blues, natural textures, and some surprising sophistication.
THE AFTER
Let’s start in the Pool Bath.
This space is visible from the living room and is the main bathroom for the family and visitors on the first floor, so we wanted to make it special.
First order of business – the floor. A classic checkerboard pattern, but softened up with a deep gray marble in lieu of black.
The day we came to photograph it, our client showed us the cover of that month’s Luxe Magazine, and lo and behold, it was the very same floor. She was thrilled that we spotted the trend before the magazines even got hold of it.
We smiled, and then responded that it wasn’t our goal to be on trend, but to be classic, but if everyone else agreed that it was cover-worthy, who are we to argue?! 💁♀️
For another something special, we wrapped the room in a classic blue and white botanical wallpaper. The organic lines are a subtle nod to the coastal color palette that we were after, but we didn’t want to hit people over the head with it (hence, the removal of the seashell sinks).
Carrying the organic vibe around, the mirror is a natural rattan and the sconces are plant inspired. The shade keeps them timeless instead of kitschy.
The wall mounted faucet is a luxurious touch. Remember, always do this into a countertop material and not your drywall for stability! And while we were at it, we schwooped the backsplash into a lovely curve.
The blue vanity provides much needed storage for pool towels and other essentials.
Inside the shower, a classic combo of a marble subway + hexagon floors, with a blue tile trim creates an unexpected little bit of interest and pattern.
Now we’ll head upstairs for Bedroom Suite Number 1.
This bedroom has the most gorgeous, dappled natural sunlight. It’s a breath of fresh air.
These bedrooms are now not occupied full time by our clients’ daughters, so we wanted to create spaces that were inviting for guests but also had bits of each daughter’s personality.
This bed has a hint of glam with gold and lucite details on the bed.
Statement lamps and caned nightstands reinforce the coastal aesthetic of the home.
This chaise-lounge-chair. Damn. I can’t think of a better spot to sit on a rainy day and read a book (slash take a nap).
If you were to pry yourself away from the chair to do some homework while home from college, you can plop yourself over to the adjacent desk.
A break for a dresser and art moment, and then through this door we’ll enter the en-suite bathroom.
Each bathroom in the home features different materials, but with repeating elements of white marble and hints of blue to tie them together.
This triangular inset gray and white marble tile was a lovely way to bring in some pattern in a not-overwhelming way. The cabinets are soft gray, allowing for the blue wall tile to be the feature of the room.
Our best advice for bathrooms for girls (and bathrooms in general) – you can never have too many drawers.
Our second best advice – soft lighting from shaded sconces makes you look pretty and is much better for applying makeup.
Plus – if you look closely – the same lucite + brass detail from the bed repeats itself in the mirror. We’re clever that way.
Now onto Bedroom Suite Number 2.
This bedroom brings a bit more color to the party with accents of deep blue and hot pink in art, pillows, and window treatments. The tall, natural linen headboard keeps the style on-point with the rest of the house.
Opposite the bed, another dresser and large scale art moment.
This bathroom also includes more color (again, reflecting each kids’ personality, but in a way that makes sense as a part of the whole home). A blue and white patterned tile floor + blue vanity + blue tile might sound like a lot of blue, but because they’re all in the same color tone (i.e. subdued, not crazy vibrant), it works.
Can you spy the rattan + hot pink accent rug?!
In this bathroom, a wider mirror was a request, so rather than 2 sconces on the side of the mirror (which would have required a narrower mirror) we added vanity lights over the top. The soft curves at the top of the mirror keep things slightly feminine and organic.
Storage. Towel storage. Product storage. All the storage.
Finally, the Guest Suite.
Our client had bedding that she loved for this room, so we used that as a jumping off point. The paint color in this room is the most gorgeous, whisper soft blue that the camera does zero justice to!
A caned bead and wood dressers, with a combination of drawers and open storage, continue our natural elements.
Another precious window seat makes you feel like you’re in a treehouse.
The room size allowed for a cutie small scale lounge chair in the corner.
Into the bathroom, a soft blue vanity with tons of drawers (your guests will thank you).
More nods to organic style in the floral sconce and artwork.
In the shower, gray zellige tile at the base and creamy white zellige tile above for a final moment of interest in the guest bath.
Not like, final final. The guests will all get to live and leave just fine. Just like, the end of this tour, final.
Thanks for coming along on our latest project tour! We hope this tale of 4 bathrooms have given you some inspiration for your next project (or just made your Pinterest board a little prettier).
Oh! And to close our opening story – the renovations wrapped up, the daughter graduated, and life is good (and now a whole lot prettier) for our clients!
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