small spacesLiving In 500 Sq. Feet • The Bathroom
I know, it has taken me a while to post more juicy details about our pad's renovation. But don't worry. Today I'm giving you all the fun background on our itty-bitty (4’6” x 7’8”) bathroom facelift. For me, the bathroom is one of the most important spaces in a home. I remember when we went to see the apartment for the first time and took a glance at the bathroom , I almost fainted. It was sooooo 70's. The bathtub and toilet were olive green and the vanity white Formica. But wait, the best part: the toilet seat was black, yeap, BLACK! I knew right away everything had to go.
I think bathrooms should be feel fresh and calm. I believe light color palettes are the most soothing, especially when the bathroom lacks square footage. Consequently, we went for very light gray glass tiles for the walls and floor and white fixtures. Since we decided not to replace the bathtub, we had it professionally refinished in white — a faster and more affordable solution. To make the room appear larger, we chose a floating sink and built a cabinet under it for much needed storage where we keep our extra towels and toilet paper rolls. We also decided to go with a large horizontal mirror to visually elongate the space. For the toiletries, we bought two CD cabinets (perfect depth for small spaces) and mounted them stacked on the wall to create a tall storage unit.
To add some architectural interest to the bathroom, and have extra surface when getting ready in the morning, we installed a narrow shelf under the mirror. Since wall space was limited, so we had to use the back of the door to hang the towel bars. BTW, we get lots of out-of-towners staying with us throughout the year, so we picked three funky coat racks and placed them on the side wall to hang extra towels (also creating a cool-looking sculpture). And of course, since I like to change things around, I wanted to add new spark to the room. The easiest way to do it was by covering the floor with black and white striped carpet tiles from FLOR. They're very easy to install and can be replaced without any hassle.
Another trick I used to add height to the room was to hang and extra long shower curtain from the ceiling with a cubicle curtain track instead of a regular rod (you can find these extra long curtains in retailers like Bed, Bath & Beyond). At this point, there isn't much more to tell. The result speaks for itself: a small bathroom can also be stylish and efficient. The secret is to keep it simple and clutter-free. I have to say that I'm extremely happy with my little sanctuary :) If you missed the scoop on the kitchen and living space renovation, take a peek here and here.
Images © TheDesignerPad
If you're digging the look of our bathroom and would like to try it in yours, here are some items that will help you achieve it. Some are the same as the ones we used in ours, others are a very close and affordable options.
( 1 ) Anacapa Shower Curtain ( 2 ) Double Wall Clock ( 3 ) Malibu Cabinet
( 4 ) Flor “Side by Side” Carpet Tile ( 5 ) Wall Sconce ( 6 ) Tree Hooked Coat Rack
Reader Comments (19)
http://dagnybjorg.blogspot.com/
The bathroom sink is from Duravit, and I found a website that sells it. Here it is: http://www.plumbtile.com/plumbing-tile-product/DU-0450580009.html.
Cheers, Eduardo
The narrow shelf under the mirror is from West Elm. We bought it a white ago, so I'm not sure if they still carry that width.
Eduardo
My small ( and only ) bathroom has the same layout and to make more of the space i instaled a pocket door.
Cheers, Eduardo
thanks for your note. Actually, I designed and made the cabinet under the bathroom sink.The space I had to work with was not that big and was having a hard time finding the perfect piece.
xo, Eduardo
Yes I mounted the shelf after the tiles were installed. I used a drill bit especially for tiles so they wouldn't get damaged. Eduardp
Do you ever share your plans?
I'm still looking for something to fill a similar space under my bathroom sink and would love to know more about how you constructed that cabinet!