Bathroom of the Week: Soft Blue Tones and More Storage
Designers adjust a bathroom’s layout, update its fixtures and add color to create a warm, functional space
Anyone who has taken on a house in need of some love and personality may dream of transforming it in one go. In reality, not many of us have the money or stamina for that and instead tackle the work room by room. That was the case in this London home. The owners had previously worked with interior designers Jessica and Eleanor Pile of House of Norica, so when it came to remodeling the bathroom they immediately gave them a call.
“The room needed a complete refresh,” Eleanor says. The sisters put together a full design for the space and a shopping list for everything from faucets to tile, then the owners found the contractors and oversaw the work. “Then they rang us and said, it’s all done, it looks really great,” she says.
“The room needed a complete refresh,” Eleanor says. The sisters put together a full design for the space and a shopping list for everything from faucets to tile, then the owners found the contractors and oversaw the work. “Then they rang us and said, it’s all done, it looks really great,” she says.
Before: The owner had previously painted the bathroom a deep blue-black. “It had made the room feel quite stark, because they had a lot of white against a very dark shade on the walls,” Eleanor says.
The original layout was not working well either. “The toilet looked directly onto the basin, which felt very awkward. The space was quite cramped,” she says.
The original layout was not working well either. “The toilet looked directly onto the basin, which felt very awkward. The space was quite cramped,” she says.
After: The toilet was moved from the back wall to the side. “It made a lot of sense to turn that around,” Eleanor says.
She and Jessica designed a light, subtle color scheme, with blue-white walls and pale blue zellige tile. The tile has an uneven surface that brings some texture and subtle shifts of color. “None of the other rooms were in this blue tone, it wasn’t something seen in the rest of the house, and it felt like a good choice to have something different in here,” Eleanor says. “It works really well in a bathroom and makes it look fresh.”
Zellige tile: Mandarin Stone; wall paint: Borrowed Light, Farrow & Ball; window frame paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
She and Jessica designed a light, subtle color scheme, with blue-white walls and pale blue zellige tile. The tile has an uneven surface that brings some texture and subtle shifts of color. “None of the other rooms were in this blue tone, it wasn’t something seen in the rest of the house, and it felt like a good choice to have something different in here,” Eleanor says. “It works really well in a bathroom and makes it look fresh.”
Zellige tile: Mandarin Stone; wall paint: Borrowed Light, Farrow & Ball; window frame paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Before: The previous bathroom contained some storage, but the owners wanted to incorporate more.
After: “Putting in more storage was really important,” Eleanor says, “so we sourced a big vanity in warm teak, which gave them much more usable storage than before.”
Vanity: Tikamoon
Vanity: Tikamoon
The owners didn’t have a huge budget for the remodel. “They didn’t want to spend loads of money on it,” Eleanor says. This led to a few tweaks to the original design proposals. “We had planned a full storage unit in wood above the toilet that would go up to the ceiling,” she says, “but that was reined in so the design stayed more affordable.”
The owners were happy to spend on all the brass hardware, including the faucets, shower and radiator though. “We had a discussion about changing out the finish from brass to black to reduce costs,” Eleanor says, “but the owners decided they really wanted this look and felt it was worth spending the money to achieve that vision, rather than compromising on it. I’m glad they did, it looks lovely.”
A mirrored cabinet above the vanity provides additional storage.
Faucets: Arezzo
Check out our guide to get started on your home project
The owners were happy to spend on all the brass hardware, including the faucets, shower and radiator though. “We had a discussion about changing out the finish from brass to black to reduce costs,” Eleanor says, “but the owners decided they really wanted this look and felt it was worth spending the money to achieve that vision, rather than compromising on it. I’m glad they did, it looks lovely.”
A mirrored cabinet above the vanity provides additional storage.
Faucets: Arezzo
Check out our guide to get started on your home project
Before: The bathroom had a separate shower and tub. “The owners wanted to still have both in the new space and not have a bath and shower combined,” Eleanor says.
After: A new shower and freestanding tub were installed in the same position as the originals. They slightly increased the size of the shower.
The pipework behind the tub has been boxed in, creating a useful narrow shelf. It’s been tiled and trimmed with brass edging for a smart finish.
Tub: Arezzo
The pipework behind the tub has been boxed in, creating a useful narrow shelf. It’s been tiled and trimmed with brass edging for a smart finish.
Tub: Arezzo
After: The painting the owners loved, which is by Nadia Attura, now hangs above the tub.
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos for ideas
Find a bathroom designer
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos for ideas
Find a bathroom designer
Sponsored
DC Area's High-End Custom Landscape Design Build Firm
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their daughter
Location: Southeast London
Size: 67 square feet (6.2 square meters)
Designers: Eleanor and Jessica Pile of House of Norica
“The bathroom hadn’t had much love, so the key thing was for it to feel welcoming, fresh and really usable, as this is the family’s only bathroom,” Eleanor says.
As inspiration for the colors, the owners had a painting they loved and wanted to hang in the space. “That helped bring the scheme together, “ Eleanor says. “They were also really keen on natural tones and introducing different textures into the space.”
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz