bathroom
Natalie Clayman Interior Design SaveEmail Shower tile: Clayman incorporated two types of tile on the shower walls by using large square tiles on the bottom and smaller hexagon tiles on the top. Clayman felt that the hexagon tile pattern was too busy to use throughout the shower, so she paired it with a visually simpler tile. “It’s about scale and proportion,” she says. “Using two smaller tiles with patterns would have been overkill.” Pro tip: When you mix different tiles, the key is to choose ones that aren’t too similar, Clayman says.
The shower gained space on two sides during the remodel, solving the cramped shower issue. On one side, the tub now takes up less space. On the other side, Clayman pushed back the wall, taking space from a closet in the next room. These two changes resulted in a shower twice the size of the original. The new shower’s style — curbless and glass-walled — also gives the illusion of even more space, she says.
Or expose it. In this Shabby Chic-style bathroom, the homeowners chose a shower with exposed plumbing. Large fixed shower heads like this one, and the concealed-pipe version in the previous image, are classic. But be aware that because there’s no slider rail, you won’t be able to adjust the height of the shower head. Some designs come with a tilt option at the neck of the shower head, but that’s pretty much it. Consider whether this will be practical for your needs. (Those with long hair, for example, may hanker for a shower that can adjust to hit the shoulders rather than the head on between-shampooing days.)
Ben Quie & Sons SaveEmail In the powder room off the kitchen and den, Battles recessed the sink to save space and ensure that the homeowner’s wheelchair would fit. “The space is small but articulate in the details,” he says. Marble surrounds a hammered metal sink found in Mexico, and wainscoting also functions as a handrail for the owner.
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This linen closet, by Kathryn Scott Design Studio, in a Brooklyn, New York, townhouse makes use of pullout drawers for easy access to the contents — even those way in the back — without toppling over piles.
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Rotating soap holders are a longtime tradition in France — with good reason. They keep counters free and allow soap to dry quickly. No wonder they’re a staple in schools and public buildings. This model from GearCulture comes with a bar of lemon oil soap that’s good for 1,000 washings.
Get creative with your soap dispensers. A spritzer or even a vintage oil can will dress up a sink and add character to the setting.
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he accent shelf in the shower is a Carrara marble piece that was left over from the vanity countertop slab. Three rows of 1- by 1-inch Carrara marble accent tiles tie the subway tile and the shelf’s marble together. Polished nickel fixtures pick up on the gray tones in the marble.
Outdoor windows. Like hidden ruins stumbled upon on a walk in the woods, a garden wall complete with windows makes a striking garden feature. It also provides an excellent wind block, making it a great place for a sitting area.
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An old teacher's desk also makes a lovely vanity. And here the drawer space can be saved, since the plumbing can fit in the middle.
Tile layout. Now it's time to start designing your tile's layout. Look at how simple and clean lined this shower is — the shower niche is exactly in between two tiles. This is no coincidence; planning ahead can make the difference between a sloppy look and a clean look. If you're aiming for a polished shower layout, make sure you and your installer know exactly where every tile will lie before framing starts.
The newly converted shower-tub combo is covered in blue hexagon tiles that were also used for the bathroom floor. Some of the tiles feature white stars. “Eighty percent of the tiles are solid blue and twenty percent have stars on them,” Ruppert says. “We had them laid in a completely random pattern.”
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