Bathroom

Bathroom renovation: An inexpensive refresh

Bathroom renovation: An inexpensive refresh

Bathroom renovation: An inexpensive refresh Author: Style At Home

Bathroom

Bathroom renovation: An inexpensive refresh

While photographer Virginia Macdonald absolutely loves the colour blue, she doesn’t love it on a toilet, a bathtub or a vanity sink. Unfortunately, she had to put up with just that in the cobbled-together second-floor bathroom design of her 1930s semi in the trendy Toronto neighbourhood of Leslieville for 10 punishing years – literally, punishing. Thanks to the hip-wader tub (awkwardly deep due to a step in front), “I couldn’t take a bath without having to do some serious yoga and gymnastics at the same time,” says Virginia.

practical-magic-bathroom-before.jpg
A practical makeover: The before
When she finally got around to transforming her only upstairs bathroom into the sophisticated and relaxing oasis she’d pined for, Virginia knew just who to call on for help: good friend and Style at Home contributing design editor Samantha Pynn, who was delighted to come to the rescue. A major expansion, or even a plumbing switch, was ruled out pretty quickly. "I dont spend that much time in here," explains Virginia. "For one or two people, it was big enough. I wanted a drastic makeover but without having to knock down walls." Practical-magic-bathroom-fullbat.jpg
New colour and curtains
For the finishes, Samantha picked an eye-catching pennyround floor tile and a sophisticated marble countertop to provide a clean, neutral backdrop for the show-stealer: a stunning custom-made floral turquoise shower curtain. “With this design, Virginia can give the bathroom an inexpensive refresh by simply changing the colour of the paint and the shower curtain,” she says.   practical-magic-bathroom-showerw.jpg
Shower tiles
Subway tiles are a classic, timeless choice, says Samantha. Instead of wrapping the entire room from floor to ceiling, they were stopped halfway up on one wall to bring in more colour with paint and give homeowner Virginia Macdonald the option of hanging a fun piece of art. practical-magic-bathroom-bfvanit.jpg
Vanity and doorway: The before
The cabinetry was custom designed to anchor the two off-centre elements: the window and the mirror. Shaker doors and minimalist hardware preserve the clean lines, directing the eye straight to the fabulous shower curtain. Thanks to the large window, no additional lighting was needed. The ceiling light and wall sconce were replaced with new schoolhouse-style ones to match the tiles, says designer Samantha Pynn. practical-magic-bathroom-vanity.jpg
Vanity and doorway: The after
A handy neighbour helped solve Virginia’s cumbersome-door challenge: at her request, he transformed two panels from one closet door into a mini double door. The frosted glass inserts further open up the small room. practical-magic-bathroom-fixture.jpg
Sink and fixtures
The Art Deco-inspired faucet complement the 1930s feel of the tiles. practical-bathroom-mirror.jpg
Fresh bathroom accessories
Virginia not only has more bathroom storage now but also a polished stage to accessorize as she likes – often with her favourite bath products. A unique gilded vanity mirror steals the scene.

Prepare for your own refresh with our top 10 bathroom renovation tips.

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Bathroom

Bathroom renovation: An inexpensive refresh