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Bathroom of the Week: Timeless Neutral Makeover in 83 Square Feet
Natural textures and neutral tones give a family bathroom with a shower-tub combo a lighter, softer and fresher look
This California family faced a common challenge: Its 2,000-square-foot house had just two full bathrooms, so guests had to share with three young children — and the current bathroom style wasn’t up to snuff. To come up with a design that would grow with the kids and be appealing to guests, the homeowners worked with designer Natalia Avalos, sharing inspiration photos they found on Houzz. Avalos preserved the footprint and layout 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.
After: Scroll to the bottom to see the new floor plan, which remained essentially the same. After removing the old finishes and fixtures and installing a new clear window, Avalos turned to giving the room the timeless, calming and relaxing feel her clients requested.
The herringbone-pattern floor consists of 4-by-12-inch tiles in soft, neutral tones that have a little bit of movement. Atop the floor is a neutral synthetic rug from the Amber Lewis for Loloi collection that has the look of a timeworn antique.
Avalos found a white oak vanity online that could be customized to have the reeded fronts her client requested. She topped it with a Blizzard white quartz countertop with a thick edge for a modern look.
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The herringbone-pattern floor consists of 4-by-12-inch tiles in soft, neutral tones that have a little bit of movement. Atop the floor is a neutral synthetic rug from the Amber Lewis for Loloi collection that has the look of a timeworn antique.
Avalos found a white oak vanity online that could be customized to have the reeded fronts her client requested. She topped it with a Blizzard white quartz countertop with a thick edge for a modern look.
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The vanity turned out to be everyone’s favorite element in the bathroom, Avalos says, and set the tone for the rest of the decor.
“We were inspired by the natural materials, the very neutral tone [and] the really pretty white oak that blends really well with the porcelain floor,” she says.
Faucet and towel rings: Trinsic in Champagne Bronze, Delta; sconces: Merri single and double, Hudson Valley
“We were inspired by the natural materials, the very neutral tone [and] the really pretty white oak that blends really well with the porcelain floor,” she says.
Faucet and towel rings: Trinsic in Champagne Bronze, Delta; sconces: Merri single and double, Hudson Valley
Most of the walls are white. But if you look closely you can see that Avalos opted for a bit of contrast behind the vanity. The warm neutral paint with gray undertones blends with the rest of the room but showcases the white countertop.
“It’s just one of those important details that I wanted to make sure was implemented,” Avalos says.
Paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams (ceiling and trim); Simply White, Benjamin Moore (walls); and Pale Oak, Benjamin Moore (accent wall behind vanity)
“It’s just one of those important details that I wanted to make sure was implemented,” Avalos says.
Paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams (ceiling and trim); Simply White, Benjamin Moore (walls); and Pale Oak, Benjamin Moore (accent wall behind vanity)
Above the toilet, Avalos hung a cabinet with a caned front that complements the rest of the nature-inspired design. Below it is a piece of art from Avalos’ personal collection, which was intended to be temporary. But the client liked it so much that she ended up purchasing it from her.
On the right, you can also see that Avalos replaced half of the solid wall between the tub and toilet with glass, a move she calls the most dramatic change in the room.
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On the right, you can also see that Avalos replaced half of the solid wall between the tub and toilet with glass, a move she calls the most dramatic change in the room.
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Before: Previously, the shower-tub combo had a light-blocking curtain and tile that ended partway up the wall.
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After: Now sun shines through the new glass partial wall into the shower-tub combo, the walls of which are covered to the ceiling with square ceramic tiles made in Spain, purchased from Arizona Tile. Avalos used tile of a single color — ivory — that has a lot of tone variation and a handmade look. She replaced the standard bathtub with a crisp tub 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 kids. A handheld shower would also have been nice for bath time and when cleaning — but hindsight is 20/20.
“At the moment they were trying to be very budget-conscious,” Avalos says of the homeowners’ decision to forgo a hand shower. “But then at the end they regretted that they didn’t do it.”
Shower trim and tub spout: Delta
The glass shower door swings in or out to open completely, which helps when a parent is bathing the kids. A handheld shower would also have been nice for bath time and when cleaning — but hindsight is 20/20.
“At the moment they were trying to be very budget-conscious,” Avalos says of the homeowners’ decision to forgo a hand shower. “But then at the end they regretted that they didn’t do it.”
Shower trim and tub spout: Delta
Fortunately, that was the only regret. The owners and Avalos are thrilled with the transformation.
A stool Avalos found at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire is a sweet 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 Avalos found at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire is a sweet 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; Avalos placed them at different heights for the kids.
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More on Houzz
Read more bathroom vanity stories
Browse and save bathroom photos
Shop for a bathroom vanity
Find home design and remodeling professionals
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Danville, California
Size: 83 square feet (7.7 square meters); about 8 by 10½ feet
Designer: Natalia Avalos Interiors
Before: The existing bathroom had a double vanity and, above it, a long mirror; here, you can see in its reflection the shower-tub combo 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 tub and toilet blocked much of the natural light coming in through the frosted window.
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