A Colorful Beach-Inspired Bathroom for 3 Young Children
This Virginia bathroom’s resort vibe is playful enough for kids and sophisticated enough for grown-ups
Thibaut’s Patara Ikat wallcovering calls to mind ocean waves without hitting the theme too hard. The color is just right for the palette Causey envisioned. The pattern matches her clients’ vibrant personalities. And the vinyl material stands up to moisture and toothpaste mishaps.
Blue’s complementary mate on the color wheel is orange, making the combination of wallpaper and floor tile boldly pleasing. The Moroccan-inspired shape of the tile adds another global element that works well with the ikat-inspired wallpaper.
“I always like to add some whimsy to a room,” says Causey, who allowed herself to dip into the beachy theme with a cheerful fish print. “Another thing I noticed in their bathroom — toys for the bathtub and books would pile up,” she says. “So I thought, ‘Why not make a place for those?’” A stainless steel mailbox near the toilet is unexpected and provides a place to stow them.
Floor tile: Fireclay Tile
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Blue’s complementary mate on the color wheel is orange, making the combination of wallpaper and floor tile boldly pleasing. The Moroccan-inspired shape of the tile adds another global element that works well with the ikat-inspired wallpaper.
“I always like to add some whimsy to a room,” says Causey, who allowed herself to dip into the beachy theme with a cheerful fish print. “Another thing I noticed in their bathroom — toys for the bathtub and books would pile up,” she says. “So I thought, ‘Why not make a place for those?’” A stainless steel mailbox near the toilet is unexpected and provides a place to stow them.
Floor tile: Fireclay Tile
Shop for ikat-effect wallpaper on Houzz
A long shower niche in a blue accent tile outlined in orange adds a splash of color to the white shower surround. Extending it from the top of the tub to the ceiling made it even more dramatic (the top portion is flush with the surround). The shade of blue matches the blue baseboard tiles Causey used as a transition between the wallpapered walls and the floor.
“We had renovated the parents’ bathroom with a tub that the kids love, and their hope was that giving them a nice tub in their own bathroom would lure them away from the master,” Causey says. The oldest child prefers showers, the youngest still takes lots of baths, and the middle child uses both. A clear glass shower enclosure on a track makes the room feel open yet prevents the water splashes on the bathroom floor that are inevitable when shower neophytes use a curtain.
Although the room has a fun, eclectic vibe, the designer was careful not to go overboard. A large-format white tile surround and polished nickel accents provide balance.
Browse Moroccan tile in the Houzz Shop
“We had renovated the parents’ bathroom with a tub that the kids love, and their hope was that giving them a nice tub in their own bathroom would lure them away from the master,” Causey says. The oldest child prefers showers, the youngest still takes lots of baths, and the middle child uses both. A clear glass shower enclosure on a track makes the room feel open yet prevents the water splashes on the bathroom floor that are inevitable when shower neophytes use a curtain.
Although the room has a fun, eclectic vibe, the designer was careful not to go overboard. A large-format white tile surround and polished nickel accents provide balance.
Browse Moroccan tile in the Houzz Shop
After: Creating enough space for three kids to store bathroom supplies and hang towels was a big part of the challenge. Causey ripped out the linen closet and created a built-in with a deep drawer on the bottom for clean towels and toys, a towel hook for each child and additional storage on top. The piece also serves as a bench. The designer placed two additional hooks on the back of the bathroom door.
The wood on this built-in and the vanity is cerused oak with a dark finish. Causey wanted to evoke the look of driftwood in a modern way that wasn’t too literal.
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The wood on this built-in and the vanity is cerused oak with a dark finish. Causey wanted to evoke the look of driftwood in a modern way that wasn’t too literal.
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Before: The uninspired vanity had insufficient lighting and storage around it.
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After: The new vanity floats off the floor, allowing the orange tile to extend underneath. Overhead, a hand-woven, abaca-wrapped mirror frame puts a beachy touch front and center. Mirrored medicine cabinets on both sides of the vanity provide additional storage. The sinks, faucets, hardware, medicine cabinets and Silestone countertop have a clean and polished look.
Improving the lighting was an important part of the remodel. Three globe sconces add a modern touch over the vanity, and three mirrors bounce the light around. Recessed lights in the shower and near the toilet also illuminate the room.
Takeaways
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Improving the lighting was an important part of the remodel. Three globe sconces add a modern touch over the vanity, and three mirrors bounce the light around. Recessed lights in the shower and near the toilet also illuminate the room.
Takeaways
- Your fashion style can provide home design inspiration.
- A dramatic shower niche can pack a powerful design punch.
- There may be a better setup for you than a linen closet in a bathroom.
- Sometimes hooks work better than towel bars.
- Multiple mirrors help brighten bathrooms.
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Read bathroom guides
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Three young children
Location: Kings Park, Virginia
Size: 85 square feet (7.9 square meters)
Designer: Maria Causey Interior Design
Wallpaper inspired by ocean waves, wood that resembles driftwood, and floor tile the color of a fiery sunset compose the palette for this beach resort-loving family’s kids’ bathroom. Interior designer Maria Causey had worked with these clients for years and had a great sense of their playful style. “Inspiration started with the word ‘resort.’ That word stuck in my head,” she says. Causey got the idea for the color palette after noticing how excited her client was about a new orange-and-blue outfit she was wearing during their meeting to discuss the bathroom.
Although the bathroom was for their three elementary school-age children, the parents did not want the style to be “too kiddy,” Causey says. “They mentioned that their kids often comment on sophisticated design, like when they see an interesting tile or other pretty things at a resort.” She thought the bathroom’s style could help enrich their budding design tastes.
Functionally, Causey needed to improve the storage and lighting in the dark room. “When I saw the space before, there were just towels strewn everywhere and one towel bar,” she says. “And I knew I needed something on the walls that could stand up to toothpaste.”
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