By Amy Statuto
Everyone knows that you can judge the quality of a restaurant by what their bathrooms look like. The same, I feel, holds true for the bathrooms in someone’s home. The bathroom holds a unique opportunity to really stretch your design savvy and be a little creative. It can hold that little element of surprise and since it is not a main room in the house that is out in the open for all to see, you can be a little more adventurous as well. It can be treated as a little jewel. An opportunity to be as daring as you desire.
The first thing I ask clients when designing a bathroom for them is what look are they going for. How do they want to feel in the space. Are they looking for a spa like atmosphere or something dark, sexy and sophisticated? What activities, besides the obvious of course, are they hoping to accomplish here? Is it a space where they can relax and take long hot baths after a stressful day at work? Or do they need a family bathroom good for bathing their children and getting them ready for bed. Are they going to be putting on make-up in there and getting ready for a big night out? All of these activities will affect the overall design of the space.
For main bathrooms lighting is key especially where applying make-up is concerned. The best lighting for makeup are lights that are on either side of the mirror. Lights placed above the mirror cast shadows and can make one look tired and dreary. Powder rooms can be darker since those are most likely used for one activity only and one doesn’t usually spend too much time in there. Child friendly bathrooms require a good tub that is to not too deep so it is easy to lift them in and out. Storage is always key in any bathroom. The most obvious location for storage is under the sink or in a closet. However, another less obvious location is to create a niche in the wall between the 4” studs in the wall. This is a great way to create a place for shampoos and soap in shower areas, for toothbrushes and toothpaste near the vanity or for bath salts and candles in the tub area.
Whatever the look you are going for, remember to map out your look and layout first. Put together a budget. And most importantly, have a little fun. •
