Bathroom of the Week: Storage and Style in 54 Square Feet
A beautiful botanical wallpaper sets the tone in this transitional-style hall bath shared by two sisters
Two sisters, aged 11 and 13, share this San Diego hall bathroom. It was part of a complete renovation of the home. Interior designer Alyce Lopez used a mostly neutral color palette to give the rest of the house transitional style with an organic feel. But this room’s look is a departure. “The homeowner decided that the girls’ bath was a good chance to do something funky,” the designer says. A stunning botanical wallpaper, soft green cabinetry and a star-and-cross floor tile add color and pattern. Lopez also gave them smart storage and durable, easy-to-clean materials.
After: The beautiful botanical wallpaper was the jumping-off point for the design. From there, Lopez found a terra-cotta star-and-cross pattern and had the local tile company that made it customize it in a color that matched the flowers in the wallpaper. A pretty Roman shade also picks up on a color plucked from the botanical pattern.
Another element worth noting in this photo is the skirted toilet. The skirt has a flat surface that’s easier to clean than the pipe shapes and other dust-collecting details found on some toilets.
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Another element worth noting in this photo is the skirted toilet. The skirt has a flat surface that’s easier to clean than the pipe shapes and other dust-collecting details found on some toilets.
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Before: Teenage girls tend to keep a lot of products in the bathroom. The existing vanity and mirror weren’t maximizing the storage potential in the room.
After: Lopez designed a new vanity where each girl has her own station and drawers. And the new arched mirrors are recessed medicine cabinets that offer additional storage. As part of her station, each girl also has her own hand towel ring.
When determining the height of the shiplap wainscoting, Lopez created renderings that allowed her to play around with different heights. “We create realistic renderings not only for our clients to be able to visualize the space, but also as part of our own design process,” she says. “This helped us find the right balance between the pattern of the wallpaper and the height of the shiplap.”
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When determining the height of the shiplap wainscoting, Lopez created renderings that allowed her to play around with different heights. “We create realistic renderings not only for our clients to be able to visualize the space, but also as part of our own design process,” she says. “This helped us find the right balance between the pattern of the wallpaper and the height of the shiplap.”
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As with the skirted toilet, Lopez had easy maintenance on her mind when recommending a countertop material and backsplash height. Both are matching quartz, which is durable and low-maintenance. Since children can splash a lot when using a sink, she recommended going with a backsplash height of 6 inches rather than the standard 4.
The designer mixed metals for a timeless look. The plumbing fixtures have brass finishes, while the cabinet hardware and hand towel rings are polished nickel.
Cabinets: San Diego Custom Cabinets
Cabinets: San Diego Custom Cabinets
The sconces a have brass finish and pretty white pleated shades.
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Browse bathroom lighting in the Houzz Shop
Before: There were slim cabinets past the tub.
After: “We played around with the idea of extending the tub-shower and adding a ledge, but this was a good spot for some extra storage,” Lopez says. She opened up the slim storage area and added a lower cabinet, countertop and open shelving.
One of the girls is a ballerina and appreciates taking a bath to soothe her sore muscles. The new bathtub is taller than the old one, allowing for a better soak. Lopez installed a clear glass panel that keeps shower splashes off the floor and maintains an open feel for someone using the tub. She also designed a tall niche that provides each girl with her own shelf and one to share.
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One of the girls is a ballerina and appreciates taking a bath to soothe her sore muscles. The new bathtub is taller than the old one, allowing for a better soak. Lopez installed a clear glass panel that keeps shower splashes off the floor and maintains an open feel for someone using the tub. She also designed a tall niche that provides each girl with her own shelf and one to share.
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Rather than installing plain white tiles in the shower surround, Lopez chose tiles with subtle variations in tone. “With so much pattern on the other side of the room, I didn’t want this side to fall flat in comparison. But it also needed to complement rather than compete,” she says. “The subtle, not-too-busy variation in tones keeps the eye moving.”
She composed the tiles vertically and horizontally in an unexpected pattern. This also helps draw the eye.
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She composed the tiles vertically and horizontally in an unexpected pattern. This also helps draw the eye.
New to home remodeling? Click here to learn the basics
One element that had worked for the girls in the existing bathroom was having their own towel hooks. “Towel bars are long, and it can be hard to find a place for them in smaller bathrooms that’s not near the toilet,” Lopez says. “Hooks work well for these girls.”
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family whose two daughters use this bathroom
Location: San Diego
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 6 by 9 feet
Interior designer: Alyce Lopez of The True House
Before: The bathroom had a tub-shower combination with a low bathtub. The large mirror didn’t allow for the extra storage space that medicine cabinets could provide. And there wasn’t much about the style that was appealing to the girls.