Bathroom of the Week: Soothing With a Little Twinkle (6 photos)
When this Victoria, British Columbia, couple were planning their new house, they knew they wanted it to be soothing. But they also loved the kinds of subtle details that add some twinkle and interest. “The trick to this was adding fine details that wouldn’t overwhelm the design,” says Jenny Martin, the couple’s interior designer. Their primary bathroom was the space where the soothing feeling was most important. Here’s how Martin created a pleasingly calm space that twinkles just the right amount.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Jenny Martin
The couple were new clients, so Martin dug deep into their personal style before beginning the design. “I discovered that they are very detail-oriented and they really appreciate fine details,” she says.
The bathroom’s design began with a large window with a mountain view. Martin paired this element with one of the homeowners’ must-haves, a freestanding bathtub that allows them to enjoy the view while taking a long soak. “The window works like artwork, and required a balance so that none of the other elements overwhelmed it,” Martin says. Soft ecru paint on the walls keeps the focus on the view. “This paint added warmth without a lot of color,” Martin says. A valance over the window conceals simple roller shades that provide privacy and filter the light.
Paint: Classic Gray (walls) and Snowfall White (trim), Benjamin Moore
Martin also added LED strip lighting under the vanity. The strip has a motion sensor, automatically providing soft light during late-night trips to the bathroom.
The cabinetry includes drawers flanked by pullouts that accommodate tall bottles. The drawers have dividers to keep products neat. The drawers and pullouts provide easy access to items stored in the back.
The wood extends all the way to the ceiling, and the mirrors are extra tall. The added height visually elongates this wall. Meanwhile, the feet on the vanity provide a view underneath it, making the room feel more spacious. “I gave a little nod to midcentury modern style through the shape of the legs,” the designer says. “This made the vanity feel younger and fresher.”
The countertop is Statuario Gold marble. Martin had it mitered to appear thicker than a standard countertop. “This added a little more visual weight,” she says. This larger presence works well with the tall mirrors and wood wall trim.
Another fine detail shows up around the flooring. Martin used coordinating porcelain on the baseboards.
She covered a wall-mounted bench in marble that coordinates with the shower wall tiles. And the shower floor slopes subtly toward a sleek linear drain that’s almost completely concealed by porcelain that matches the shower floor. LED tape lighting recessed above the shower wall washes light down the wall.
The door to the right of the shower stall opens to a water closet. Not seen in this photo is a heated towel bar, located to the left of the shower stall.
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