Bathroom Renos: Before and After

• By
• Amy Mair

Bamboo, floating shelves and dry stack Carrera tiles create a calming space in this busy family bathroom

Two functional main-floor family bathrooms get makeovers that up their fabulous factor

Two friends Ingrid and Haley recently redid their tired, outdated bathrooms to splendid effect.

In each case the homeowners had undergone a large-scale reno on an older home and saved the bathroom renovation for last. 

Both women also wanted something beautiful and functional for their young, growing families.

Here's what they ended up with.

Industrial Design Meets Calming Space

Before and after: A bamboo shelf and vanity add a calming feel to an industrial redesign

Ingrid is a serious style maven who pores over design websites in her spare time and has a home and wardrobe to match. She is also a hands-on mom and has an effortless way of pulling things together. She loves modern, industrial design and all things calming.

Ingrid’s worked alongside interior designer Margot Jagger to create a contemporary, yet hardworking space.

Her favourite feature of the bathroom is a floating bamboo shelf. It is a bit unexpected and extends over the sink and toilet creating a sense of flow throughout the small bathroom.

Even though the bathroom serves as a main floor powder room for guests, Ingrid installed a full-sized shower to hose down her golden retriever and three kids after a day at the park without having to traipse upstairs.

An existing off-centre, square window located along the dry stack, Carrera tile shower wall was left as is, but a niche was added to mirror the diminutive opening. It echoes the window in a playful way and creates balance.

Love the caged light from Blue Owl that Ingrid selected for over the custom, bamboo wood vanity and square sink from Robinson Lighting. Instead of having the light hard wired, an electrical socket was installed in the ceiling. It infuses the space with an industrial element that mimics features in the nearby kitchen. It also enables Ingrid to change the light on a whim.

Laquered Cabinetry and Chandeliers

Before and after (inset): Treed wallpaper brings the outdoors in and a bright yellow vanity livens up the dark space

Haley is a dietitian and active mom of two girls. When it came to her main floor bathroom, Haley was inspired by a photograph of a path through the woods that she spied in a friend’s powder room while living in London, England. Her husband is an outdoor photographer and there was also an interest in pulling the outdoors in.

Interior designer Tracey Ford worked with Haley to create a fun, whimsical space by juxtaposing black and white wallpaper of barren trees with a canary-yellow, high gloss, floating vanity. “The comfort of the forest combined with the flash of vibrant colour makes you feel like you are on a retreat,” she said.

A set of glass pulls and a chandelier relocated from the original dining room provide added drama.

Haley removed a shower in the bathroom and added a window as a natural light source. She is still looking for a side table, chair or otherwise perfect piece of furniture to complete the space.

Interior designer Tracey Ford can be reached at traceyford@me.com.