Room Tour: A Serene, Relaxing Bathroom in White, Navy and Brass
A clumsily arranged, dated bathroom is reworked as a light, peaceful space with plenty of storage and luxe extras
Virginia Crawford was working with designer Laura Anderson of Craft and Trade Renovations to update her kitchen when she realised it was also time to bring her main bathroom into the modern world. The former space had a heavy style with a dark wood vanity unit, an ageing built-in bath and a shower with a clunky glass-block enclosure, all of which made the space feel stuck in the past.
Virginia wanted a brighter, spa-like bathroom with a better layout and a more modern style. Laura responded with a more open floorplan with an elegant freestanding tub, an open shower with a clear glass enclosure, two bespoke navy blue vanity units and brass accents.
Virginia wanted a brighter, spa-like bathroom with a better layout and a more modern style. Laura responded with a more open floorplan with an elegant freestanding tub, an open shower with a clear glass enclosure, two bespoke navy blue vanity units and brass accents.
Laura stripped out the bathroom to the studs, removing the vanity unit, bath, glass blocks and tiles. She created a more streamlined layout with a repositioned freestanding tub.
“My biggest point with the bathroom was the waste of space,” Virginia says. “My main motivation was getting rid of that tub. We played with different locations and ended up going with the tub backed up to the shower.”
The walls are a warm grey with warm white woodwork. White 7cm x 30cm tiles with a silver grey grout wrap the lower portion of the walls and run in a vertical pattern in the shower. “They add a little texture, dimension and interest to the space,” Laura says.
The flooring is elongated hexagonal marble-look porcelain tiles. “They have soft, warm veins that reflect the brass we have in the bathroom,” Laura says. “We also loved how the hexagon made the bathroom feel longer and bigger.”
“My biggest point with the bathroom was the waste of space,” Virginia says. “My main motivation was getting rid of that tub. We played with different locations and ended up going with the tub backed up to the shower.”
The walls are a warm grey with warm white woodwork. White 7cm x 30cm tiles with a silver grey grout wrap the lower portion of the walls and run in a vertical pattern in the shower. “They add a little texture, dimension and interest to the space,” Laura says.
The flooring is elongated hexagonal marble-look porcelain tiles. “They have soft, warm veins that reflect the brass we have in the bathroom,” Laura says. “We also loved how the hexagon made the bathroom feel longer and bigger.”
Frameless glass on a new half wall lets light into the reconfigured shower area, giving the room an airier feel. “We decreased the shower footprint a bit, but you don’t feel it with the clear glass,” Virginia says. “I also wanted the walk-in on the side. I like not having a shower door.”
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The single-sink bespoke vanity unit next to the shower features a bold navy colour, a countertop linen storage tower and a waste bin pullout.
“Adding more storage was important,” Virginia says. “There was no linen tower or closet in the bathroom before. I stored the towels on a rack by the shower and the rest in a closet in my bedroom.”
Vanity units in Maritime, Kemper Cabinets by MasterBrand Cabinets.
“Adding more storage was important,” Virginia says. “There was no linen tower or closet in the bathroom before. I stored the towels on a rack by the shower and the rest in a closet in my bedroom.”
Vanity units in Maritime, Kemper Cabinets by MasterBrand Cabinets.
Virginia uses this larger vanity unit more frequently. The tower storage has drawers for stackable jewellery trays, an upper cabinet for travel toiletries (she travels frequently for work) and a bathroom-safe television. “She likes to have the TV for getting ready in the morning,” Laura says.
The built-in seated section has drawers for makeup and skincare products. “Virginia loved the idea of having a built-in makeup area,” Laura says. “It was an important addition for her and on her wish list for this space.”
Brass hardware, lighting and taps complement the navy cabinetry. Virginia bought the upholstered wood chair with wicker back from a local furniture maker. “It has a light, airy feel, and it’s the perfect size for that space,” she says.
The built-in seated section has drawers for makeup and skincare products. “Virginia loved the idea of having a built-in makeup area,” Laura says. “It was an important addition for her and on her wish list for this space.”
Brass hardware, lighting and taps complement the navy cabinetry. Virginia bought the upholstered wood chair with wicker back from a local furniture maker. “It has a light, airy feel, and it’s the perfect size for that space,” she says.
The shower features a wall-mounted rain shower and a hand shower. Laura installed the white tiles in a vertical pattern to differentiate the shower from the main area. “I didn’t want the huge walls in this bathroom with subway tiles running in the same direction,” she says.
Round penny tiles in varying white and grey tones cover the floor. The same tiles in a solid white cover both sides of the half wall, including inside the niche. The niche shelf is lined with the same marble-look quartz used for Virginia’s kitchen worktops.
Round penny tiles in varying white and grey tones cover the floor. The same tiles in a solid white cover both sides of the half wall, including inside the niche. The niche shelf is lined with the same marble-look quartz used for Virginia’s kitchen worktops.
A brass bath tap is mounted on the half wall. “It’s a really sharp look to have the plumbing fixtures on the back side of the shower,” Virginia says.
The bath is high-gloss acrylic in an ergonomic design. “Virginia knew she wanted a [freestanding] tub, but didn’t want claw feet,” Laura says. “This one feels elegant and classic.”
Serafina bath in White, Jacuzzi.
The bath is high-gloss acrylic in an ergonomic design. “Virginia knew she wanted a [freestanding] tub, but didn’t want claw feet,” Laura says. “This one feels elegant and classic.”
Serafina bath in White, Jacuzzi.
The large pendant light coordinates with the brass fixtures in the room. “I struggled with the lighting,” Virginia says. “When I think of chandeliers, I think crystal, and I didn’t want that. This one has a subtle elegance, and it keeps the space open.”
A matt black towel bar on the wall by the bath, a hook by the shower, and rings by each vanity unit keep towels and robes within easy reach.
“I really wanted the space to feel relaxing,” Virginia says. “Just the calm, serene feel of the bathroom was really what we were after, and I definitely think we achieved that.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this tranquil bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
A matt black towel bar on the wall by the bath, a hook by the shower, and rings by each vanity unit keep towels and robes within easy reach.
“I really wanted the space to feel relaxing,” Virginia says. “Just the calm, serene feel of the bathroom was really what we were after, and I definitely think we achieved that.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this tranquil bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? Virginia Crawford
Location Mooresville, North Carolina, USA
Size 200 sq ft (19 sq m)
Designer Laura Anderson of Craft & Trade Renovations
‘After’ photos by Tiffany Ringwald Photography
The previous bathroom featured a heavy traditional style with a large built-in tub that took up a lot of square footage. “The rest of the home is very pretty, and this part felt very dark and sad,” Laura says.