This bathroom was the final space to be designed for this client by me. We did space planning and furniture when they first moved in, a couple years later we did a full kitchen remodel and now we finally did the bathroom. This wasn't a full remodel so we kept some of the items that were in good condition and updated the rest. First thing we focused on was the shower, with some existing functional problems we made sure the incorporate storage and a bench for this walk in shower. That allowed space for bottles and a seat. With the existing vanity cabinet and counter tops staying I wanted to coordinate the dark counter with adding some dark elements elsewhere to tie they in together. We did a dark charcoal hex shower floor and also used that tile in the back of the niches. Since the shower was a dark place we added a light in shower and used a much lighter tile on the wall and bench. this tile was carried into the rest of the bathroom on the floor and the smaller version for the tub surround in a 2"x2" mosaic. The wall color before was dark and client loved it so we did a new dark grey but brightened the space with a white ceiling. New chrome faucets throughout to give a reflective element. This bathroom truly feels more relaxing for a bath or a quick shower!

This small 3/4 bath was added in the space of a large entry way of this ranch house, with the bath door immediately off the master bedroom. At only 39sf, the 3'x8' space houses the toilet and sink on opposite walls, with a 3'x4' alcove shower adjacent to the sink. The key to making a small space feel large is avoiding clutter, and increasing the feeling of height - so a floating vanity cabinet was selected, with a built-in medicine cabinet above. A wall-mounted storage cabinet was added over the toilet, with hooks for towels. The shower curtain at the shower is changed with the whims and design style of the homeowner, and allows for easy cleaning with a simple toss in the washing machine.

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

By Thrive Design Group

Tile wainscot and floor with grey shaker vanity.

main bathroom

This North Vancouver Laneway home highlights a thoughtful floorplan to utilize its small square footage along with materials that added character while highlighting the beautiful architectural elements that draw your attention up towards the ceiling. Build: Revel Built Construction Interior Design: Rebecca Foster Architecture: Architrix

Updated hall bathroom.

The client came to us looking for a bathroom remodel for their Glen Park home. They had two seemingly opposing interests—creating a spa getaway and a child-friendly bathroom. The space served many roles. It was the main guest restroom, mom’s get-ready and relax space, and the kids’ stomping grounds. We took all of these functional needs and incorporated them with mom’s aesthetic goals. First, we doubled the medicine cabinets to provide ample storage space. Rounded-top, dark metal mirrors created a soft but modern appearance. Then, we paired these with a wooden floating vanity with black hardware and a simple white sink. This piece brought in a natural, spa feel and made space for the kids to store their step stool. We enveloped the room with a simple stone floor and white subway tiles set vertically to elongate the small space. As the centerpiece, we chose a large, sleek tub and surrounded it in an entirely unique textured stone tile. Tactile and warm, the tile created a soothing, restful environment. We added an inset for storage, plenty of black metal hooks for the kids’ accessories, and modern black metal faucets and showerheads. Finally, we accented the space with orb sconces for a starlet illusion. Once the design was set, we prepared site measurements and permit drawings, sourced all materials, and vetted contractors. We assisted in working with vendors and communicating between all parties. This little space now serves as the portfolio piece of the home.

The guest bath design was inspired by the fun geometric pattern of the custom window shade fabric. A mid century modern vanity and wall sconces further repeat the mid century design. Because space was limited, the designer incorporated a metal wall ladder to hold towels.