Inspiring Design: The Bathroom Issue

INSPIRING DESIGN

The Bathroom Issue

WELCOME WELCOME

It's a new year and a new edition of Inspiring Designs! This time, we're focusing on bathrooms. We just got back from KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) and are full of interesting information.

Bathroom remodels tend to be very technical, so a lot of designers avoid them, but they can also bring stunning finished products. Let's take a journey and see what you might need to know.

Enjoy!

We appreciate your support of our small business!

(My assistant made me pose in this room at the furniture market, since I apparently dressed to match)

Colors Of the Year Colors Of the Year the

It's that time of year again!

Every year, multiple companies put out their color of the year. They look at past trends and guess what will be popular in the upcoming year Whether they're right or not, it definitely has an effect on both the fashion and design industries So, let's take a look at Pantone's guess for the color of the year, 2022 Let's see what the company itself has to say:

"Pantone’s Color of the Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750, vibrates with vim and vigor It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength

Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative

© Tollens

This year’s Color of the Year is powerful and empowering It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a standout statement PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all."

PANTONE

Pantone

Time to Compare

As attention-grabbing as it is, Pantone's focus is on design overall, which includes fashion as well as interiors Because of that, their view is a bit different from what interior designers see. Our side-by-side comparison of Pantone, Sherwin-Williams, and Benjamin Moore does a good job showing what we mean Pantone's colors are beautiful, but don't fully show the trends for interior design.

So, let's see what is going on in some of the major paint manufacturers!

While Pantone has the boldest tones, they aren't the only ones holding pinks up for inspection.

Whether you want something bright and bold or soft and subtle, there is a pink for you

Twenties

Are your old favorites back en Vogue?

hey say that what goes around comes around, and nothing co ey say that what goes around comes around, and nothing co be truer. Check out these popular trends for bathroom design! Has be truer. Check out these popular trends for bathroom design! Has an old favorite of yours come back into style? an old favorite of yours come back into style?

Vanities

Wood tones are back! Yes, that's right. While this has been seen in kitchens, it also frequently appears in bathrooms. In addition, walnut has become popular again for all areas of the home. This particular vanity was highlighted on Houzz as one of their most popular.

Mirrors

These have come a long way in the past decade, and there are so many options out there, particularly if you want to integrate technology. What hasn't changed recently is that people want sleek styles. While they may choose more decorative vanities, hardware, lighting, or faucets, the mirrors tend to be very minimalistic. That isn't to say they are boring, just simple in design.

To the right, you can see a perfect example. This is a simple, circular mirror. The metallic frame is pretty but has basically no detailing, so it works with a variety of styles. It isn't as simple as it appears, however, as it's equipped with dimmable LED lighting and a defogger.

Lighting

Lighting is a form of art when it comes to bathrooms. People want something sleek but elegant. Watered glass (to the left) has become more popular than seeded, steampunk influences can still be felt in the mix of old and modern (to the right), and color blocking allows simple designs to feel both modern and interesting, as seen above.

Black and gold are still the most trendy colors for Black and gold are still the most trendy colors for fixtures in bathrooms. This counts for mirrors, lighting, fixtures in bathrooms. This counts for mirrors, lighting, cabinet hardware, and plumbing. cabinet hardware, and plumbing.

Faucets

The mix of old and new isn't just seen in lighting. The most popular faucets right now seem to follow that same trend. While contemporary and modern are still highly popular, vintage styles are not only present, they are often mixed with one of the other two.

The faucet on the right has the same spout as the contemporary with the cross-style hot and cold handles more commonly found in traditional designs

- L B M

"What I have learned is that design is a true art and science in understanding peoples’ behavior to create functional spaces that really do have meaning. Interior designers may decorate, but decorators do NOT design!!"

Bonus: Many of these are modular so you don't have to worry about unusuallysized walls

Small space? Annoyed with knocking into the cabinet door when it's open? Try a lift door.

Want a long mirror & more storage? A fulllength medicine cabinet may be the best option

Good lighting is essential, but it can still be sleek Just have it built in

M i r r o r s & C a b i n e t s

Mirrors have come a long way in the past few years, and there are a lot more options than just solid, framed, or medicine cabinet. Check out a few of the interesting features you can add to your en suite!

Want to really bring in some tech? Try smart mirrors or refrigerated cabinets! Too much? Then get one with outlets built in!

Not everyone wants an obvious storage spot. So, you could go with a framed cabinet or a hidden one

SignitureHardware

Robern

Robern

Artforma

Robern

Integrated

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The worst lighting t but all tha bathroom

Tired of losing your makeup at the back of the drawer? Not only do these drawers fully extend, the light above it will ensure that nothing goes unnoticed

Deep cabinets are no longer a worry when they are well-lit.

Lit shelving is still popular, but it has only gotten easier. The shelves are normal, with no bulbs and no heat to deal with, just light strips in the frame

B a r r i e rF r e e & C u r b l e s s

Not every shower needs a door. Let's see the advantages of going barrier-free

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF SHOWERS...

...but not every one is right for every home. Generally, I've found that barrier-free and curbless are great options, and here are some reasons why.

Trip hazards are a big problem. Whether it's a curb or a full bath, getting in and out of the shower can be a dangerous prospect. Barrier-free showers are curbless, allowing you to get in and out without chancing a fall or a broken toe.

There have been countless studies that show most household injuries occur in the bathroom, and quite a few of those happen in or around the shower or tub. It only worsens as you get older, so we do our best to minimize these dangers for our clients. While this style of shower doesn't necessarily fit every space, it does make it easier for those who need a bit more help. Accessibility is a big concern for people, particularly those who are setting up their homes for aging in place or those with physical infirmities. As a bonus, curbless and barrier-free showers are easy to set up for wheelchair access!

Is accessibility not a concern for you? That doesn't mean this style isn't worth your time. Barrier-free, in particular, can work well in spaces where doors would create more problems than they solved This shower was too difficult to deal with when it had a standard door, but it works perfectly as a curbless

CAN YOU HAVE BARRIERFREE WITH A CURB?

Absolutely, you can! For this bathroom remodel, we used a barrier-free shower with a curb to keep the water more contained.

How does Barrier-free work?

Barrier-free and Curbless showers work a lot like traditional showers.

Basically, all showers have a floor that is slightly tilted to direct the water to the drain. The diagram is slightly exaggerated, but it gets the point across. The angle is usually so slight that you don't notice it. Drain

Linear Drains can be closer to or hidden in the shower wall to allow more space. Notice how the slope is more gentle in the diagram shown below, compared to the one above?

Think about that coming from all four directions. If you have vertigo or other problems, a linear drain might be a safer option than the more traditional options. You do need a certain amount of space to make it work properly, but it is definitely a good option for many people. Drain

A COHESIVE PLAN IS NOT SIMPLY LINES DRAWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER.

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE MAKES A HOUSE A HOME AND A MORTGAGE AN INVESTMENT. Pay to get a good plan. Then stick to the plan.

---Damned Good Designer

S z S z Constraints Constraints i i E E

One way to make a small bathroom more functional is through careful use of light This powder room is tiny. In fact, the door had to be removed so we could get these photographs. So, why doesn't it feel claustrophobic? Because every detail was designed to make the most of the light The wallpaper is metallic, the sconces have crystals that help reflect more light, and there is a skylight that makes everything so much brighter

Light wasn't a problem for this downtown bungalow The real issue was fitting everything into such a small space, although that was a part of the home's charm. Instead of wishing for a larger space, we made it happen By stealing a little room from the closet on the other side of the wall, we could shift the toilet back While that meant that the homeowner could no longer brush his teeth and use the toilet at the same time, it made the room much more functional

We also added what storage we could where it wouldn't cause problems. By putting the cabinets in the corner with the toilet, we could put in a beautiful pedestal sink If we'd used a standard box cabinet for the sink, moving around in that bathroom would have been impossible

It probably seems silly to talk about functionality with a medium-sized space, but there are a lot of things to consider...

A lot of times, people overstuff a room because they feel like more is more. In this bathroom (above and right), we actually needed to get rid of some storage to make it functional. The L-shaped vanity made it nearly impossible to get into the shower, and the original tub was terrifyingly short as well as hemmed in by a pony wall By getting rid of the excess, we were able to open the space enough for a barrier-free shower and a soaker tub

The challenge for this bathroom (below and right) was its unusual shape It wraps around a corner, making a lot of the usable space, quite frankly, disappear Added to that, the cabinets weren't working well at all. They were outdated and caused more storage problems than they solved. We installed all new cabinets, a new linen cupboard, and a curbless shower, making the space functional for the aging couple

For some large bathrooms, the size itself is the problem. Not all products are made for a large bathroom, and it can leave you feeling like there is too much space On the other hand, it could be quite large, but the builder crowded it with too many things so that it would appeal to the most buyers. Let's take a look at what happens in both of these cases

The bathroom pictured to the right had precisely that problem. A new shower and a little seating area made it feel spacious instead of oversized

The bathroom pictured here was massive, and the homeowners wanted to spruce it up They needed new counters and new floors but didn't want to change out the cabinets. They also needed to deal with the shower Because the builder had included a corner tub, the shower was tiny and difficult to deal with. By removing the tub, we were able to expand the shower and leave space for a seating area in the corner. Despite what you might think, that extra room to move around made it feel spacious instead of empty

The bathroom pictured here was actually medium-sized when we started, but it was a cramped medium. Like the remodel above, we freed up a lot of space by removing the tub In fact, we had so much room that we were able to shift the shower into a barrier-free option The cabinets were replaced, and the water closet got bi-fold doors to increase the ease of use. This room was changed from okay into something that the couple could safely age into.

Like many large bathrooms, these both ended up with a lot of empty space in the middle We used that best by leaving it alone. Sometimes you just need to enjoy not crashing into your partner when you get ready in the morning

MAKING A FRESH START

Moving to a new home is stressful. Trying to make your life fit into a different mold, one that it isn't designed for, is even more stressful. Sometimes, it takes a new set of eyes to see what needs to happen, and that is where we come in.

This couple had just purchased a new house and were in the process of getting things ready to move in, but they wanted to make sure that it was perfect for them from the get-go.

THE LIVING ROOM

While we worked on the whole house, some rooms got more attention, and the living room was one of them. The house came with the stacked stone fireplace and faux wood beam, which gave us a great jumpingoff point. From there, we leaned into the natural elements, relying on textures and using subtle colors that reflect the California landscape to make the space warm and inviting.

PIANO ROOM

The other half of the living room was dubbed the piano room. We helped advise the client when he was torn between two options for pianos and then had a custom-made cushion added to the bench to tie it into the rest of the space.

ENTRY

The configuration of this house is a bit odd, so the clients wanted to add definition to the entry. We chose a thin cabinet with glass doors to hold and showcase some of the client's heirloom china, then added some sculptural candle holders and a bright pop of color with the artwork above it.

The stairs were a bit of a conundrum. They had a curiously sharp turn and were too small for much, but a large mirror really helped make it feel less barren.

TV ROOM

Small rooms need purpose, too! This area was a bit awkward, both in size and purpose, but we gave it some new life. Ironically, we did so by cutting down other usable space and adding cabinets and floating shelves for storage and display. As the client wanted this to be a TV room, we kept the seating minimal and movable with a swivel chair.

BEDROOMS

We worked on both the master and guest bedrooms. The guest was all about relaxation, continuing the theme of soft colors and textures. The master, though, was more a reflection of the clients, with bold colors mixed with natural wood tones and dark metals. Both rooms were designed to complement a piece of artwork that meant something to the couple.