Bathrooms
Step Inside A Petite Bathroom Inspired By The Pacific Northwest
Published on August 20, 2021
For a young Vancouver couple’s newly built house, the ensuite bathroom needed to feel rejuvenating. Their last house was bold, punchy and full of personality and, this time, they wanted a more sophisticated look. They had a wish list of luxe elements to include: a water closet, double sinks and soaker tub. Jamie Banfield was the perfect person for the job — for him, elegance and timelessness are always top of mind. However, the room was fairly small, so the challenge was incorporating the dream items without crowding the space. This required a few clever design moves, such as stealing square footage from an adjacent closet to make room for the shower alcove, and turning the tub on an angle to fit it in. A serene palette and layered lighting help create a relaxing feel for the owners, who welcomed a new baby during the design process.
“Rejuvenation kept coming up,” says Jamie. Inspired by the Pacific Northwest locale, he added hints of cool blue-purple and natural stone to bring the outdoors in. To give the room a seamless look and spa-like feel, the flooring continues into the shower alcove, and the rain showerhead is nearly flush with the ceiling.
Jamie also made sure to incorporate texture. “You can lose texture quickly in bathrooms,” he says. “You’re putting in all this glossy tile and glass, smooth counters and polished faucets. Here, we added texture with the shower tile, which has an organic flair, the backsplash pattern and the repetition of the grout.”
In the end, the young family got everything they were hoping for and more. The ensuite is the perfect place to soak away stress and feel refreshed. Scroll down!
Blur The Lines
For a seamless look, the room’s flooring continues right into the shower; for minimalist appeal, a recessed wall at the end hides the fixtures when standing at the vanity.
Be Thoughtful With Lighting
“Anytime we’re working with a vanity, we want three different types of lighting,” says Jamie. “We have sconces in front of us, light casting over the room from a ceiling fixture so we can understand color, and natural light washing from the left or right. The placement of the vanity with respect to the window was critical.”
Chose Subtle Details
Double sinks are perfect for homeowners who may need to freshen up at the same time. Polished nickel faucets add a hint of warmth to contrast the cool-toned vanity. “I like using polished nickel because it’s not as sharp as chrome, or as warm as gold or brass,” says Jamie. “It softens the room.”
Make The Most Of The Space
The tub is angled slightly so that it fits, and the placement has the benefit of adding visual interest. Leaving the window unadorned lets the natural light wash in. “He predominantly showers and she likes baths, so we brought in both features,” says Jamie. For a romantic, moody soak, she can turn on the pendant and leave the rest of the lights off.
Build In Sleek Storage & Add A Little Privacy
A niche built into the shower wall is a sleek alternative to hanging storage or clunky baskets. A glass wall — frosted for privacy — separates the water closet and shower. The wall niche spans both spaces.
Jamie’s Bathroom Reno Tips
1. Consider Costs. “Chances are you’ll spend double what you think you’re going to spend,” says Jamie. “People assume that bathrooms are a weekend project, but there’s so much behind the work that we don’t even think about. You’re looking at the price of a new counter, but you’re not thinking about the cost of taking out the old counter, putting in the new one and buying a new sink and faucet. We want these pretty things, but we need to understand how they connect to the budget.”
2. Keep It Clean. “It’s not just because of Covid — clean has been coming up more and more,” says Jamie. “Find materials that fit what clean means to you. Maybe it’s porcelain tile because it’s easy to clean, or maybe it means everything has a drawer.”
3. Focus On Function. “Make sure you knock out any emotions when selecting elements, and figure out how they’re actually going to work,” says Jamie. “You might like cabinets that don’t have handles but, realistically, if the cabinets are touch-latch and the homeowner leans on the cabinets all the time, they’re going to push the doors open. The look of the cabinets is one thing, but function is important, too.”
4. Go For Looks That Last. “In terms of bringing personality to the space, it’s all about knowing which rules to break,” says Jamie. “For example, mirrors are easy to replace later on, but if you invest in a pink counter, that’s going to be more permanent.”
Janis Nicolay
House & Home Kitchens + Baths 2021
Jamie Banfield