Bathrooms
Fresh Bathroom Reno Tips From Collective Studio
Updated on January 8, 2024
After years of sharing a closet-size bathroom and standing elbow-to-elbow at the mirror with her two school-age daughters, the owner of this midtown Toronto home enlisted Collective Studio’s Jordy Fagan and Alana Firestone to rework the cramped layout. She also hoped to find room, somewhere, somehow, for a second bathroom. “Our client wanted to create an oasis for herself and a separate bathroom for her daughters to be independent,” says Jordy.
After four months of planning and material sourcing, two months of construction began. Mom’s original bathroom was expanded and connected to her bedroom to create a proper (and blessedly private) ensuite. A tandem room at the back of the house, which is conveniently accessible from both girls’ bedrooms, was transformed into a shared bathroom for the kids. The bathrooms were designed to complement each other without being carbon copies. Muted colors and white oak vanities are the common elements, but the functions, and most importantly the moods, diverge.
Scroll down to get Alana and Jordy’s bathroom renovation tips!
Vary The Tile Layout
Instead of using different tile or colors in the principal bathroom, the designers played with pattern, shifting the same five-by five-inch tiles from a staggered format to stacked, halfway up the wall.
Balance Trends With Long-Term Needs
Instead of choosing pink marble for the counters, the client selected white quartz for better resale value. She also added a second sink. “The principal bath is romantic, with a touch of eclecticism,” says Alana, noting architectural elements like the graceful barrel arch that frames the vanity area. The limewashed walls and enclosed wet room, which houses a shower, tub and marble bench, were inspired by luxury hotels in Europe.
Add Custom Furniture
In the wet room, which houses the shower and tub, a bench in earthy pink Breccia Pernice marble is a graceful focal point and acts as seating, as well as a surface for bath products.
Keep It Communal
An integrated trough sink was sized to accommodate two single-hole faucets while conserving as much valuable counter space as possible in the girls’ new bathroom. The equal division of drawers in the vanity was also a key consideration for the two girls. By contrast, this bathroom is youthful and playful. There’s a suspended mirror, a pink vintage runner and durable floor-to-ceiling wall tile. “It’s organic, bright and even a bit quirky,” says Jordy.
Play With A Band
The walls in the girls’ bathroom are completely tiled for a clean, contemporary look. A thick band of glossy sage tile in the shower adds instant style and definition.
Keep reading to get elements of this look!
Niamh Barry
Kitchens & Baths 2022
Collective Studio