Master bath
Toilet area. If you check out the “before” photo, you can see that there used to be a full wall between the tub-shower and the toilet, making this the darkest corner in a dark room. Cross moved the shower’s plumbing wall to the opposite side so she could put in a knee wall topped with clear glass. This made the area lighter and brighter. And the glass surround makes the room feel larger and more open.“This room is less muted than the rest of their home, but a bathroom is a chance to do something unexpected because it’s in a private area of the home,” the designer says. “People shouldn’t be afraid of pattern and color. It truly adds joy to a home and makes people happy.” TakeawaysA large mirror lets you bounce more light around the room. When using a strong pattern, let the other elements be supporting players, not competitors.Mixing metals gives a room more personality.Repeat a countertop material on shower thresholds for continuity. You can have them all cut from the same slab.Have a little fun with a shower niche.Hide an unsightly HVAC register in the toe kick under a cabinet (this works in kitchens and other rooms too).Let a lively pattern bring some joy into your home.Toilet: C...
Scope of work. This was a down-to-the studs renovation. Work included repairing the skylight, fixing problems with the ductwork, which was not properly connected to the furnace, and adding insulation to make the bathroom warmer and more soundproof. Also, the new floor has radiant heat, something much appreciated during Ontario’s cold winters. Tip: Repairing the ductwork allowed Cross to hide the register in the toe kick underneath the vanity rather than letting it interrupt the herringbone marble floor. Layout. The homeowners were pleased with the layout, though they wanted increased storage. Keeping the toilet in the same spot made sense and eliminated the expense of moving any plumbing lines. If you look in the mirror’s reflection you can see that the new shower stall is to the left. The toilet area is to the right.
Photos by Stephani Buchman PhotographyBathroom at a GlanceWho uses it: This is a family bath for a couple’s three children. Two are away at college and one will be leaving for college soon. Location: Near TorontoSize: 66 square feet (6 square meters); 8 by 8 feetDesigner: Sandra Cross Interiors This family bath had been untouched since the house was built in the 1980s. Its dramatic makeover began with a striking wallpaper. “I have been working with these clients on this house for awhile,” says interior designer Sandra Cross. “They had been in it for years and their style has evolved from traditional to a more modern transitional one.” Cross knew a patterned wallpaper would be pushing them out of their usual comfort zone, but she also knew the back wall of the bathroom, seen here on the right, would be visible from the hallway and staircase and was an opportunity to draw the eye with a special view. “I proposed this wallpaper and a quieter one, but once one of the homeowners saw this one she knew she had to have it,” she says.Wallpaper: Thibaut; browse blue geometric wallpapers
Cool layout, chandelier, and tub/shower space concept
Q