The clever mix of high and low.
As I begin a new bathroom remodel project this month I wanted to share some of my past work, which reveals how I have mingled exquisite high end finishes with moderately priced furnishings and executed a skillful reuse of existing elements when they were available.
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This tiny but mighty en suite bathroom (below) is one where we took the original bathroom down to the studs, and while my client did not want to expand the bathroom, we did remove the bathtub/shower insert and replaced it with a walk in shower to save some space. The highlights are the beautiful marble vanity counter, mosaic floor tile, and oversized porcelain shower wall tile, which elevate the design and create a dramatic feeling in spite of this bathroom's petit size.
The elegant antiqued gold leaf mirror is illuminated by a pair of fringy pendants and above by a Kate Spade scalloped flush mount, which add some whimsical touches to the otherwise conservative finishes.
The sliding glass shower door gives the illusion of a larger space without concealing the gorgeous mosaic marble tile floor and oversized porcelain wall tiles, which have a hint of gold sprinkled in them.
A pocket door would have seemed like the obvious solution for the bathroom entry, but was not possible due the electrical, plumbing, and spatial restrictions. To compliment the sliding shower door, I selected a sliding "barn" entry door with frosted glass panes, which saves space and is an interesting architectural element seen from both the bathroom and the adjoining bedroom.
While this beautiful guest bath (below) underwent a complete renovation before I came onto the project, I was hired to make the final finish selections of wallpaper, lighting, furnishings, and accessories.
Although this bathroom is at a higher budget, the lighting I installed was moderately priced and perfectly suited to the elegance of the space.
The original tiny half bath (below) was squeezed into a hallway and was a poor previous addition in a 1950s bungalow I renovated. In order to create a more functional bathroom and a full bath for the adjacent guest bedroom, we brought this room down to the studs and worked in pedestal sink, corner shower, and toilet. The glass enclosed shower with a pan floor rather than tile was a money saver, as was the pedestal sink instead of a custom vanity. The black and white palette fit the style of the bungalow, with a modern twist and happy nod to the past.
Powder baths are one of the most fun spaces to design, because of their demure size and I believe that there should always be a little surprise when you enter. These surprises can be a funky mirror, whimsical wallpaper, original artwork, or specialty lighting.
The bathroom below was in a home where I did a complete remodel and design. My clients' budget was a priority because of the extent of the project, although creativity and design was not compromised anywhere in the house.
In order to avoid replacing the vanity in this powder bath, we "lifted" the counter to a standard height by adding a two by four spacer, then painted the entire vanity and added new brass hardware (which I hand rubbed with gold leaf paste) so that no modifications would be noticeable. By saving on the cost of a new and custom vanity, I splurged on the wallpaper. The mirror and lighting were new and mid range in cost. The vintage and new personalized accessories added the charm which finished this powder room in a lovely way.
The oversized mirror was a purchase from a liquidator - it was originally used in at a Ritz Carlton Hotel in Florida. The black wrought iron chandelier was in another area of the home and its proportions and style were so appropriate for this bathroom that we moved it into the bathroom. Simple chrome plumbing fixtures add just the right amount of shine against the soft, matte custom closet doors and vanity. The slightly French industrial style vanity light fixture in polished nickel does the same.
The simplicity of the black and white porcelain floor tile, and "groovy" shower wall tile offset the cost of splurging a little bit and using pretty penny tile in Carrara marble for the shower floor.
The custom floating vanity visually gives the room a sense of spaciousness, as does the clear glass shower enclosure. With the simple and classic palette of black and white, this bathroom will endure the test of time.
This sweet little girl's bathroom (in the same home as the powder bath above) was similarly modified when we lifted the double vanities, rather than replacing them. After painting them in a high gloss paint and adding new hardware, there is no indication that are not custom! Here new plumbing fixtures were installed and the original wall to wall mirrors I had cut to large, circles and framed them with whimsical sconces. The "surprise" in this bathroom is the wallpapered ceiling!
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Often a modest remodel of a bathroom is all you may need, and then there are times when a complete renovation is what is necessary in order for a bathroom to function properly.
If you are ready for either, SMR Interiors will provide a unique and beautiful design, within your budget, and in a timely manner. It will be a stress free and enjoyable experience for you!
Contact us for a complimentary consultation. Write to us here.
