Before & After
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Before & After: A USA Bathroom Makeover Fit for a Teen
See how an interior designer and an architect created a beautiful new bathing space for their teenage daughter
If you’re a teenager whose mother is an interior designer and whose father is an architect with strong DIY skills, you’re likely to wind up with a lovely bathroom. That was the case for 14-year-old Abby Brakefield, a teenager in Milwaukee, USA.
Before: The family had been renovating the home for two years and redesigned this bathroom towards the end of the process. The bathroom had a typical layout within the 180 x 300-centimetre space – toilet and bath/shower on one side, vanity on the other. While the bathroom was functional, the dated finishes darkened the space.
“Our faux Colonial house was built in the mid-1980s and a lot of it looked like this,” says Megan. “It was very dark in spite of all the windows and great light because of the way it was finished.” And two clunky soffits were bringing down the 240-centimetre-high ceilings.
Megan set out to lighten up the space and tailor it to her daughter in a versatile way. “This was designed 100 percent for Abby in a way that was cohesive with the style and quality of the rest of the house,” she says.
Is your bathroom in need of a makeover? Find a local bathroom designer on Houzz
“Our faux Colonial house was built in the mid-1980s and a lot of it looked like this,” says Megan. “It was very dark in spite of all the windows and great light because of the way it was finished.” And two clunky soffits were bringing down the 240-centimetre-high ceilings.
Megan set out to lighten up the space and tailor it to her daughter in a versatile way. “This was designed 100 percent for Abby in a way that was cohesive with the style and quality of the rest of the house,” she says.
Is your bathroom in need of a makeover? Find a local bathroom designer on Houzz
After: Megan had the room’s oppressive soffits demolished and fully renovated the space. But she retained the casings around the doors and windows to keep that cohesive feel with the rest of the house.
“I’d always wanted to try some version of pink and green,” she says. “This wall colour is pinky-beige and the vanity paint is grey-green. I’d been playing around with the vanity colour for a while and this project gave me a chance to use it.” By bringing in the subtle pink through the wall colour and accessories, Megan made it easy for any future owners to change up the colour scheme.
When running her design ideas by Abby, Megan was thrilled that her daughter gave a favourite floor tile the thumbs-up. “Every time I was in the Tile Shop I admired this marble hexagonal tile,” says Megan. “I had picked up a sample but hadn’t had a chance to use it on any of my projects. It has all this beautiful variation in it, it picked up a little bit of the pink and green hues, and the hexagonal shape is classic. It was the jumping-off point for the design.”
With the floor tile and colours selected, the next decision Megan made was the vanity design. Cleve drew up the cabinetry plan, which includes a dressing table area in the centre. “I had used this arched profile once before on a client’s project and I loved it,” says Megan. “It softens the space and isn’t overly specific or typical. And using inset cabinetry rather than overlay gave it a high-quality look and a European feel.” Note the way the base of the vanity lines up perfectly with the existing skirting boards.
Another thoughtful detail is the Art Deco-style vent cover in the floor (pictured above). “I usually try to make these disappear into the floor, but here it was so in-your-face that it was a chance to turn it into a design opportunity,” says Megan.
“I’d always wanted to try some version of pink and green,” she says. “This wall colour is pinky-beige and the vanity paint is grey-green. I’d been playing around with the vanity colour for a while and this project gave me a chance to use it.” By bringing in the subtle pink through the wall colour and accessories, Megan made it easy for any future owners to change up the colour scheme.
When running her design ideas by Abby, Megan was thrilled that her daughter gave a favourite floor tile the thumbs-up. “Every time I was in the Tile Shop I admired this marble hexagonal tile,” says Megan. “I had picked up a sample but hadn’t had a chance to use it on any of my projects. It has all this beautiful variation in it, it picked up a little bit of the pink and green hues, and the hexagonal shape is classic. It was the jumping-off point for the design.”
With the floor tile and colours selected, the next decision Megan made was the vanity design. Cleve drew up the cabinetry plan, which includes a dressing table area in the centre. “I had used this arched profile once before on a client’s project and I loved it,” says Megan. “It softens the space and isn’t overly specific or typical. And using inset cabinetry rather than overlay gave it a high-quality look and a European feel.” Note the way the base of the vanity lines up perfectly with the existing skirting boards.
Another thoughtful detail is the Art Deco-style vent cover in the floor (pictured above). “I usually try to make these disappear into the floor, but here it was so in-your-face that it was a chance to turn it into a design opportunity,” says Megan.
Before: The cabinets and busy pattern on the vanity top made the room feel dark and dated.
After: A quartz vanity top with subtle grey marble-like veining and polished nickel faucets and hardware are classic choices that won’t go out of style.
“I had picked one of my go-to quartzes, but then my contact at the stone yard told me they had another similar option that was much less expensive,” says Megan. “I headed out there with my floor tile sample and it was a great match. The veining is really gentle and the vanity between the counter and the floor tile breaks things up so it’s not too busy. It’s so good to have great contacts who know what you’ll like.”
All the plumbing fixtures in the bathroom are by Brizo. “They do a great job of taking something a little traditional or with a vintage vibe and pushing it forward a bit, like the cross handles on these,” says Megan of the tapware.
“I had picked one of my go-to quartzes, but then my contact at the stone yard told me they had another similar option that was much less expensive,” says Megan. “I headed out there with my floor tile sample and it was a great match. The veining is really gentle and the vanity between the counter and the floor tile breaks things up so it’s not too busy. It’s so good to have great contacts who know what you’ll like.”
All the plumbing fixtures in the bathroom are by Brizo. “They do a great job of taking something a little traditional or with a vintage vibe and pushing it forward a bit, like the cross handles on these,” says Megan of the tapware.
Tall, narrow mirrors with polished nickel frames flank the window. “There wasn’t that much space on either side of the window and the ceilings aren’t that high,” says Megan. “I didn’t want to clog things up with mirrors that were too wide.”
Cute globe sconces were another item the designer had been wanting to use for a while but hadn’t had the chance to. “The lighting in here was so unflattering before,” she says. “These emit light all around rather than straight down and it’s such a nice light.”
Cute globe sconces were another item the designer had been wanting to use for a while but hadn’t had the chance to. “The lighting in here was so unflattering before,” she says. “These emit light all around rather than straight down and it’s such a nice light.”
Before: The toilet was tucked into an alcove behind the shower prior to the family’s renovation.
After: Megan placed the new toilet in the same location, but she removed the chair rail that broke up the space.
Before: Originally, the bathtub/shower combo had sliding doors and the bathtub was low.
After: Megan chose a bath that was higher and slimmer than the existing one. A clear glass door maintains the open and light feeling of the space.
“The glass panel is on hinges and swings open. We ordered it online and Cleve installed it,” says Megan. “I always love using a glass panel whenever I can because it keeps things feeling larger, more open and brighter.”
Browse more beautifully designed bathrooms
“The glass panel is on hinges and swings open. We ordered it online and Cleve installed it,” says Megan. “I always love using a glass panel whenever I can because it keeps things feeling larger, more open and brighter.”
Browse more beautifully designed bathrooms
“I didn’t want to do the typical white subway tile in here,” says the designer. “This tile has an artisanal look that’s so pretty. It had the right subtle variation that leans warm and cool. And it worked well with the floor tile.” The zellige-inspired glazed ceramic tile is handmade in Spain.
Abby loved the results but didn’t have much time to enjoy them. Soon after the renovations were complete, Cleve got a new job in New York City and the family relocated. “I love the way the bathroom turned out but I don’t know if I would have gone quite this high-quality if I’d known we were going to be moving,” says Megan with a laugh. Now the family is embarking on new creative adventures in its urban digs. And the designer has put some products she’d always wanted to use to the test, which will benefit her clients in the future.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this bathroom? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Love before-and-after transformations? Get your next fix here with this Before & After: A Kitchen That Anchors a Vast Open-Plan Area
Abby loved the results but didn’t have much time to enjoy them. Soon after the renovations were complete, Cleve got a new job in New York City and the family relocated. “I love the way the bathroom turned out but I don’t know if I would have gone quite this high-quality if I’d known we were going to be moving,” says Megan with a laugh. Now the family is embarking on new creative adventures in its urban digs. And the designer has put some products she’d always wanted to use to the test, which will benefit her clients in the future.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this bathroom? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Love before-and-after transformations? Get your next fix here with this Before & After: A Kitchen That Anchors a Vast Open-Plan Area
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Megan and Cleve Brakefield and their teenage daughter, Abby
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Size: 5.6 square metres
Designer: Megan Brakefield of Brakefield Design Collective
Abby’s mother, Megan Brakefield, ran a few designs past her teenage daughter for approval before beginning renovations on her bathroom, and her father, architect Cleve Brakefield, also pitched in. The project gave Megan the opportunity to test out some favourite finishes and colours she’d never had the chance to use on her clients’ homes. The result is a bathroom that’s light, bright and well-suited to the teen who uses it.