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Before & After: Tiny Bathroom Gets the Dwelement Treatment!

Mar 08, 2010

Dwelement is different from many interior design businesses. I present plans and then give homeowners the ability to put it all together on their own schedule, as their budgets allow and without paying high prices and product mark-ups. The concept has been well received by DIY fans and regular people who want professional ideas but don't want the expense or commitment of working with a conventional interior designer. And working from photos, it allows me to work with clients anywhere in the world, or right down the road.

So I drove down the road to Bellaire when Bev and Terry asked for my help with their small bathroom renovation. The bathroom is primarily Terry's domain, but with its central location is also used by guests. The couple wanted a masculine look that was up to date but blended with the rest of their rustic riverside home.

The existing 3/4 bathroom functioned pretty well but needed a style update. So the plan was to keep the existing layout and redo the flooring and fixtures. Here's a look at the "before":

We talked about function and style preferences, and I put a plan together for a bathroom with a crisp but natural feel. I started by choosing the tile and the rest of the look followed from there. American Olean Porte Leona porcelain tile in Noce with Universal Brick accent strip has a clean and earthy look that's classic enough to have a long life. The upper walls pick up the brick color in the tile with Sherwin-Williams' Reddened Earth (SW6053). I also specified a neutral paint (Versatile Gray, SW6072) as a more conservative option, but Bev and Terry liked the bold reddish brown, and I'm happy they chose it!

I gave Bev and Terry another option by specifying both a pedestal sink and an enclosed vanity cabinet. We discussed the pros and cons of each, and they opted for more storage with a vanity. (Most of the renderings here show the pedestal sink option with a cabinet on the facing wall for storage.) Once the major decisions were made, work began and everything came together to create a simple but bold bathroom that fits the couple's style and functional needs.

Here's a peek at some of the 3D Views I prepared to help my clients visualize the results. There's no guesswork when you can see the space before you spend a dime.

Plan view

Section planes, or cut-away views, make visualizing a small space easier. It's like removing a wall.

Even small details, like the stone shelving with bronze brackets, are shown in the 3D views.

I did a rough rendering of the alternative vanity option, which the clients ultimately chose.

Here's the bold "after":

A grey granite top settles just beneath the row of accent tiles, and a handsome rubbed bronze faucet is a focal point. I chose square lines for many of the fixtures to create a masculine feel. The undermounted sink is as low-maintenance as it gets.

The vanity is a simple stock unit from Lowes. Its Shaker lines blend with the cabinetry in the adjacent kitchen.

The shower is shown to full effect with a frameless glass door. (Beautiful tile installation by Wayne Strang Tile& Stone, Traverse City.)

This is one of my favorite features: granite shelving above the toilet replaced a dated oak cabinet. Kudos to carpenter Steve Poel for developing a sturdy hanging solution for these heavy but statement-making shelves.

This example illustrates a couple of key points that distinguish my working style from that of conventional interior designers.

You don't have to give your space over to a professional's preferences.

My approach to design is often collaborative. I enjoy giving homeowners choices and helping them understand the merits of each option. The result is a room that fits the homeowner's style, but perhaps with solutions they couldn't have imagined on their own. They feel more invested in the design when it's clear that they have played a part in its development. When a client understands the reasoning and artistry behind a design, they're more confident making future choices for the space.

You don't have to pay for anything but my design advice.

Once I handed over the plan, Bev and Terry were happy to manage the contractors and do the shopping themselves. The plan included live links to all of the products I chose, and I recommended a local tile installer and gave them a local source for the tile I'd specified. They paid no mark-ups on the products, and saved a lot of money by taking on the nuts-and-bolts aspects of the job themselves.

Download the Inspiration Board for this bathroom with live links to all the products here:

Bev & Terry's Handsome Simplicity

Do you need a "second set of eyes" on your room remodel? Maybe you only need help with a few small decisions. No design dilemma is too small for me. I can help you understand your options and lead you to the best decision, saving time and money down the road. Just email me, and I'll figure out the best, most affordable way I can help you solve your design problems. —Diane

TAGS: bathroom renovation remodel before and after pictures photos tile edecorating e-decorating edecor interior designer decorator traverse city bellaire michigan

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