Sometimes major renovations in one room can prompt renovations in other rooms. An extra tile from a kitchen remodel could inspire a bathroom tiling project, for example, or a lime wall in the living room might look so cool you’ll want to try it in your entryway, too.
At Katheryn Haswell (@haswellhouse), a main-level reno created a great reason to renovate the downstairs bathroom—a space that was “beige and dated” and last updated in the 1990s or early 2000s.
“It was functional but lacked any character, with floor-to-ceiling beige tiles, brown mosaics and a terrible… ceiling,” explains Catherine. “The toilet was on a paved platform. It was a cold room, because it was on the outside wall and there was no radiator.”
A little professional work and a lot of DIY work made it look, feel and function like a brand new space. The window was blocked by builders working on an extension to the rest of the house, and Catherine and her husband Graeme removed the ceiling, replaced the upstairs beams and installed a new floor. (They hired a professional tiler to install the new blue and pink tiles, though.) Catherine and Graeme also did the plumbing themselves.
Colorful tiles keep things bright.
Since Catherine and Graeme had lost a window in this small bathroom, they wanted to make sure their tiles were light, bright and airy. Katherine says she fell in love with the floor tiles from a small photo online (they’re Ca’Pietra floor tiles); she chose pink wall tiles as a complement and installed them herself. “I wanted a herringbone tile on the wall, and blue and pink are the perfect combination!” she says.
An upgrade you can’t see? The blue tile floors are heated. “Let’s face it – you spend a lot of time in the bathroom and it’s not comfortable when it’s cold!” Katheryn says.
The owner of the house gave everything to pink paint.
“This was the first room I’ve ‘filled with colour,'” says Catherine. “It works so well in this small space, and before I wouldn’t have been brave enough to paint a door a color…it really changes the space so much. And that’s just color, so if you hate it, it’s easy to change.”
The bathroom is filled with luxurious details.
Apart from the paint, tiling and heated floors, the powder room has other little luxuries that Catherine and Graeme love. Katherine says the brass hardware is one of her favorite details, and she also loves the new vanity, although it was a little difficult to find one that was small enough to fit in the space.
“We added a standard sink and vanity instead of a small walk-in closet,” she says. “A standard sink and basin is great for a downstairs toilet — especially with a small child, so less water splashes on the wall. This means we can store toilet rolls and products out of sight.”
Katheryn’s best renovation tip is to “always think about how you’re going to use the room” before renovating. That, and “don’t be afraid to be bold with color in small spaces.” Those two quotes sum up her tiny pink and blue bathroom perfectly. For another beautiful bathroom in a similar color scheme, check out this “full of color and humor” project.