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Room Tour: A Small Dated Bathroom Gets a Fresh, Natural Makeover
Natural textures and neutral tones have given this small washroom a lighter, softer look
This compact family bathroom was looking a bit tired and was in need of a smart redesign. To come up with a space that would grow with the children and be appealing to guests, the homeowners worked with designer Natalia Avalos, sharing inspirational photos they found on Houzz.
Natalia preserved the footprint and layout of the old scheme, but replaced just about everything else, layering neutral tones and natural textures and focusing on subtle details that would look fresh but stand the test of time.
Natalia preserved the footprint and layout of the old scheme, but replaced just about everything else, layering neutral tones and natural textures and focusing on subtle details that would look fresh but stand the test of time.
Before Photo
Scroll to the end to see the new floor plan, which remained essentially the same.
After removing the old finishes and fixtures and installing a new, clear glass window, Natalia turned her attention to giving the room the timeless, calming and relaxing feel her clients requested.
The herringbone-patterned floor consists of 10cm x 30cm tiles in soft, neutral tones that have a little bit of movement. Atop the floor is a neutral synthetic rug that has the look of a timeworn antique.
Natalia found a white oak vanity unit online that could be customised to have the reeded fronts her client requested. She topped it with white quartz with a thick edge for a modern look.
After removing the old finishes and fixtures and installing a new, clear glass window, Natalia turned her attention to giving the room the timeless, calming and relaxing feel her clients requested.
The herringbone-patterned floor consists of 10cm x 30cm tiles in soft, neutral tones that have a little bit of movement. Atop the floor is a neutral synthetic rug that has the look of a timeworn antique.
Natalia found a white oak vanity unit online that could be customised to have the reeded fronts her client requested. She topped it with white quartz with a thick edge for a modern look.
The vanity unit turned out to be everyone’s favourite element in the bathroom, Natalia says, and set the tone for the rest of the décor. “We were inspired by the natural materials, the very neutral tone [and] the pretty white oak that blends really well with the porcelain floor,” she says.
More: What We Know About Your Bathroom Renovation Choices in 2023
More: What We Know About Your Bathroom Renovation Choices in 2023
Most of the walls are white, but if you look closely you can see that Natalia opted for a bit of contrast behind the vanity unit. The warm neutral paint with grey undertones blends with the rest of the room, but showcases the white vanity unit top.
“It’s just one of those important details that I wanted to make sure was implemented,” Natalia says.
Wall behind vanity unit painted in Pale Oak; other walls painted in Simply White, both Benjamin Moore.
“It’s just one of those important details that I wanted to make sure was implemented,” Natalia says.
Wall behind vanity unit painted in Pale Oak; other walls painted in Simply White, both Benjamin Moore.
Above the toilet, Natalia hung a cabinet with a cane front that complements the rest of the nature-inspired design. Below it is a piece of art from her personal collection, which was intended to be temporary, but the client liked it so much that she ended up buying it from her.
On the right, you can also see that Natalia replaced half of the solid wall between the bath and toilet with glass, a move she calls the most dramatic change in the room.
On the right, you can also see that Natalia replaced half of the solid wall between the bath and toilet with glass, a move she calls the most dramatic change in the room.
Before Photo
Previously, the shower-bath combination had a light-blocking curtain and tiles that ended partway up the wall.
Now, the sun shines through the new glass partial wall into the bathing space, the walls of which are covered to the ceiling with square ceramic tiles in a single colour – ivory – that have a lot of tone variation and a handmade look. Natalia replaced the standard bath with a version that allows for a deep soak, but isn’t too tall to step over comfortably.
The glass shower door swings in or out to open completely, which helps when a parent is bathing the children.
A handheld shower would also have been nice for bath time and when cleaning the bath – but hindsight is 20/20. “At that moment, they were trying to be very budget-conscious,” Natalia says of the homeowners’ decision to forgo a hand-held shower. “But then at the end they regretted that they didn’t do it.”
The glass shower door swings in or out to open completely, which helps when a parent is bathing the children.
A handheld shower would also have been nice for bath time and when cleaning the bath – but hindsight is 20/20. “At that moment, they were trying to be very budget-conscious,” Natalia says of the homeowners’ decision to forgo a hand-held shower. “But then at the end they regretted that they didn’t do it.”
Fortunately, that was the only regret. The owners and Natalia are thrilled with the transformation.
A stool Natalia found at an antiques fair is a nice detail with multiple functions, including holding towels and offering a place to sit. Like the rest of the bathroom, it’s subtle but full of character.
A stool Natalia found at an antiques fair is a nice detail with multiple functions, including holding towels and offering a place to sit. Like the rest of the bathroom, it’s subtle but full of character.
The bathroom floor plan. Note the hooks for towels near the door; Natalia placed them at different heights for the children.
Tell us…
What do you like about this bathroom transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like about this bathroom transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A family of five
Location Danville, California, USA
Room dimensions 7.7 sq m
Designer Natalia Avalos of Natalia Avalos Interiors
Photos by Jessica Brydson
The old bathroom had a double vanity unit and, above it, a long mirror; here, you can see in its reflection the shower-bath combination and toilet niche.
That arrangement worked well for the young family, but the finishes hadn’t been updated in some time. What’s more, the solid wall between the bath and toilet blocked much of the natural light coming in through the frosted window.
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