Bathroom design: Hotel-chic modern

Bathroom design

STYLE AT HOME What was your vision for this bathroom design? SHIRLEY MEISELS Since this bathroom is part of a third-floor addition that overlooks the surrounding trees, I wanted it to feel like a bright and open getaway. The homeowners travel quite a bit and only live in Toronto for part of the year, so they wanted this space to have a luxurious hotel look.

Free-standing bathtub

SAH How did you create interest in the space without using a lot of colour? SM I think by letting the free-standing bathtub be the focal point in the room. The surrounding window with views of the beautiful trees adds plenty of natural light and also really helps anchor the space and make it feel more inviting.

Contemporary look

SAH What’s your advice for achieving a clean, contemporary look in the bathroom? SM I like to use a floating vanity – it instantly makes the room read as more modern. I also think less is always best, so choosing a vanity, mirror and fixtures that have little to no embellishment is a safe bet for creating a contemporary aesthetic.

Double vanity

SAH How did this bathroom need to function? SM I needed to fit a lot into a very tight space. The homeowners’ must-haves included a double vanity, a large soaker tub, a walk-in shower, a separate water closet and ample storage. I managed to piece it all together in the end, but every inch counted!

Modern elements

SAH You’ve incorporated a lot of spare, modern elements into the design. How did you keep the room feeling warm and inviting? SM Texture was really key to warming everything up. The unexpected use of the dark marble mosaic tile on the floor coupled with the veined porcelain tile on all the walls adds layers of intricacy and interest, contrasting the sharp lines and cool finishes of the minimalist fixtures.

Biggest design challenge

SAH What was the biggest challenge you faced with the design, and how did you overcome it? SM Being that it’s a third-floor addition, there were restrictions on the room’s height. The challenge was to work with the pitched ceiling and funky corners in a way that would make sense. My solution was to camouflage the odd niches in the walls with storage cabinetry. In some cases it’s functional and in others, such as behind the toilet, it’s false, to create the illusion of balance.