Three severely outdated bathrooms were overhauled for a creative client whose vintage collections inspired bright and quirky design touches, linked thoughtfully to the rest of the home.
Written by Wilson HackThe goal of the guest bathroom remodel was simply to make it more beautiful and functional — no small feat considering the circumstances. The original builder grade bathroom was from the 70's and was really dark. A low vanity and an exceptionally deep linen closet lacked basic functionality so Suzanna took it down to the studs in order to re-do the most basic elements properly. A deeper soaking tub was added with opaque glass above so as to let in maximum light while still maintaining privacy. Wall tile from Walter Zanger was applied with an interesting twist; traditional rows were mixed up by introducing a slightly smaller tile, adding a subtle and clever rhythm. Less expensive porcelain tile for the floor was selected, similar in style to cement, but with greater functionality. Suzanna removed the existing compartments in the linen closet and made it all one continuous element from floor to ceiling. The same depth was retained but new pull-out shelves were installed inside so that the client could easily access and organize. Overall, the guest bathroom was significantly brightened and made more functional while adding some subtle yet thoughtful patterns, textures and color.
Because the client's father was a painter, there was an endless collection of artwork that could be borrowed from other areas of the house. It was the colors of these that drove the vivacious and electric energy of the powder bathroom. The client had originally attempted to re-do the bathroom herself, applying a purple faux finish to the walls, but this didn't quite achieve the desired result. The idea was for the bathroom to be both "happy and fun," while maintaining a decidedly personal flare. Suzanna removed the dark purple in favor of light green, a vivid but gentle color that was applied to both the ceiling and walls and complemented nicely the original Saltillo floor tiles. An existing piece of antique furniture was taken from the client's living room and repurposed into a stunning and complimentary vanity. To brighten and soften, an opaque window was added in order to utilize all the natural light possible, while still allowing for privacy. The beautiful array of curated artwork above the toilet is the room's showstopper collection: colorful brushstrokes entice and awe in this fundamentally distinctive powder room.
Having found herself in a new phase of her life, the client wanted a master bathroom experience that felt like a spa: a place she could truly relax and get ready for the day. However, the existing bathroom was anything but—the wallpaper was so horrid that the client had physically started peeling it away. The oversized tub remained unused so Suzanna decided to replace it with an oversized shower to aid in a functional but luxurious feel. Aside from this, the layout of the bathroom remained the same. Floor-to-ceiling wall tile was added for texture and brightness; hexagonal floor tile from Walter Zanger added subtle variation to a thoughtfully restrained yet exceptionally beautiful materials palette. Suzanna replaced the window above the original bathtub with slightly larger glazing and altered the frame color to be white rather than black. The brightness of the white wall tile combined with the larger window size was significant, making the space feel exponentially bigger. The client had a lot of little antique collections and Suzanna felt it was important to bring in that personal vibe so the bathrooms didn't feel completely separate from everything else. Using the Restoration Hardware piece felt more like vintage furniture than a bathroom vanity, and pieces from Round Top gave it that added layer that made it feel like it had been there for a while. A vintage Chinese miniature stool (a find from Round Top) was used to house some of the client's personal trinkets on top of her vanity. The client, who was "an overall amazing, nice person and human being," had a "personality to have a little fun with," which shines brightly throughout the design.
