Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client came to us in a bit of a panic when she realized that she really wanted her bathroom to be updated by March 1st due to having 2 daughters getting married in the spring and one graduating. We were only about 5 months out from that date, but decided we were up for the challenge. The beautiful historical home was built in 1896 by an ornithologist (bird expert), so we took our cues from that as a starting point. The flooring is a vintage basket weave of marble and limestone, the shower walls of the tub shower conversion are clad in subway tile with a vintage feel. The lighting, mirror and plumbing fixtures all have a vintage vibe that feels both fitting and up to date. To give a little of an eclectic feel, we chose a custom green paint color for the linen cabinet, mushroom paint for the ship lap paneling that clads the walls and selected a vintage mirror that ties in the color from the existing door trim. We utilized some antique trim from the home for the wainscot cap for more vintage flavor. The drama in the bathroom comes from the wallpaper and custom shower curtain, both in William Morris’s iconic “Strawberry Thief” print that tells the story of thrushes stealing fruit, so fitting for the home’s history. There is a lot of this pattern in a very small space, so we were careful to make sure the pattern on the wallpaper and shower curtain aligned. A sweet little bird tie back for the shower curtain completes the story... Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Basement Bathroom

Soft, quiet feel with an exciting custom-made glass mosaic shower floor focal point. Large format Nano glass white tile on the shower walls, niche and floor contribute to the serene feel of the space. Custom shower niche, vanity and full height linen closet take full advantage of the space limitations.

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.

Guest bath with vertical wood grain tile on wall and corresponding hexagon tile on floor.

curbless shower with splash wall

entry view

This light bathroom features a recessed medicine cabinet, a white floating vanity, square marble tiles and a glass shower enclosure.

Avec Interiors, together with our valued client and builder partner 5blox, rejuvenates a dated and narrow and poorly functioning 90s bathroom. The project culminates in a tranquil sanctuary that epitomizes quiet luxury. The redesign features a custom oak vanity with an integrated hamper and extensive storage, polished nickel finishes, and artfully placed decorative wall niches. Functional elements harmoniously blend with aesthetic details, such as the captivating blue-green shower tile and the charming mini stars and cross tiles adorning both the floor and niches.

Upstairs jack and jill bathroom featuring dolomite marble hexagon floors, accent back shower wall with a blue crackle mosaic, subway tiles on the side walls, and a sliding barn-door style glass door.