Room of the Day: See What Dazzles the Kids in This Bath
A classic blue-and-white nautical theme and a surprise ceiling create a fun atmosphere for siblings
Despite their diminutive size, kids sure can cause a lot of wear and tear. That was the case in this bathroom shared by a 4- and a 6-year-old. Though functional, the space needed a style refresh to upgrade the worn-out and underwhelming beige tile on the walls and floor. Interior designer Rhona Chartouni tackled the project, introducing durable materials and kid-friendly design with a nautical theme that includes a custom-painted night sky on the ceiling.
Before Photo
AFTER: Chartouni kept the layout the same but overhauled the fixtures and finishes. The house sits on the water, so she proposed a blue-and-white nautical theme. While adding some spunk, the timeless maritime style won’t feel dated as the kids grow up.
Instead of going with a humdrum white ceiling, Chartouni hired an artist to paint a custom nighttime sky scene. Semigloss paint holds up to the humidity, and for added fun, the stars were painted with a glow-in-the-dark transparent paint.
On the far wall, centered with the striped tile “floor runner,” is a hard-wired motion-sensor nightlight, so the kids don’t have to turn on the bright overhead lights in the middle of the night. Above hangs a decorative battery-powered anchor light.
Decorator’s White CC-20 paint in gloss finish (walls): Benjamin Moore; Bellwether K-837-0 bathtub: Kohler; Supernova series tub spout: Dornbracht; Clubmaster three-jet shower head and shower arm: Hansgrohe; DuraStyle 215701 toilet: Duravit; PUK 4WW nightlight: Delta Light; anchor: Target; towel bar: Kartners
On the far wall, centered with the striped tile “floor runner,” is a hard-wired motion-sensor nightlight, so the kids don’t have to turn on the bright overhead lights in the middle of the night. Above hangs a decorative battery-powered anchor light.
Decorator’s White CC-20 paint in gloss finish (walls): Benjamin Moore; Bellwether K-837-0 bathtub: Kohler; Supernova series tub spout: Dornbracht; Clubmaster three-jet shower head and shower arm: Hansgrohe; DuraStyle 215701 toilet: Duravit; PUK 4WW nightlight: Delta Light; anchor: Target; towel bar: Kartners
Before Photo
BEFORE: A grab bar encroached in the bathing space, and there was very little storage. To compensate, the homeowners used a small side table outside the bath.
AFTER: Chartouni removed the grab bar and added a shower niche and towel racks for additional storage options.
When she envisioned the white-and-blue palette, she had a particular shade of blue in mind. But finding the perfect blue in tile became as challenging as hunting for a sunken treasure. Originally, she had planned to install standard-shaped square or rectangular tile in a stripe or herringbone pattern, but the only tile she could find in the desired blue was penny round tile. “After much brainstorming, the idea came to me to create the stripe pattern using these tiles,” she says. For textural contrast, the white penny round tile is a matte finish, while the blue tile is shiny.
The shower head is attached to a flexible hose and slides up and down on a shower arm to accommodate the height of the user.
Retro Rounds tile in Bold White Matte RR02 and Denim Blue RR10: Daltile; towel rack: Kartners
When she envisioned the white-and-blue palette, she had a particular shade of blue in mind. But finding the perfect blue in tile became as challenging as hunting for a sunken treasure. Originally, she had planned to install standard-shaped square or rectangular tile in a stripe or herringbone pattern, but the only tile she could find in the desired blue was penny round tile. “After much brainstorming, the idea came to me to create the stripe pattern using these tiles,” she says. For textural contrast, the white penny round tile is a matte finish, while the blue tile is shiny.
The shower head is attached to a flexible hose and slides up and down on a shower arm to accommodate the height of the user.
Retro Rounds tile in Bold White Matte RR02 and Denim Blue RR10: Daltile; towel rack: Kartners
The mirror features an integral magnifying mirror, shown in the LED-lighted ring. A custom vanity base in dark blue supports the horizontal stripe theme, and it nixes hardware pulls in favor of notched-out grooves that function as finger pulls.
Chartouni had the cabinet paint custom-mixed in a lacquer finish to match the blue hue of the tile. The white Corian countertop with integral sink is easy to clean and looks bright and fresh.
Mirror: Eurofase; Supernova series sink faucet: Dornbracht
Chartouni had the cabinet paint custom-mixed in a lacquer finish to match the blue hue of the tile. The white Corian countertop with integral sink is easy to clean and looks bright and fresh.
Mirror: Eurofase; Supernova series sink faucet: Dornbracht
This floor plan illustrates the layout of the bathroom and its striped tile installation running down the center.
Construction: Estrutura
More
5 Ways With an 8-by-5-Foot Bathroom
Bathroom Workbook: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?
Other Resources on Houzz
Shop for bath products
Find a bathroom designer
Construction: Estrutura
More
5 Ways With an 8-by-5-Foot Bathroom
Bathroom Workbook: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?
Other Resources on Houzz
Shop for bath products
Find a bathroom designer
Sponsored
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple in their 30s with three young children
Location: Key Biscayne, Florida
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters)
Designers: Rhona Chartouni of Eclipse Designs and decorative painter Andrea Zadunaisky
BEFORE: The aging fixtures, beige color palette and somber materials weren’t inspiring for an adult space, let alone a space for children.