Room of the Day: Traditional and Modern Merge in a Family Bath
Four people, two aesthetics and one skinny space — yet it all worked out beautifully
Space in this bathroom, which measures just 6 by 10 feet, was at a premium. Especially because a couple and their two young sons all share it. In addition to making the most of every inch, interior designer Hannah Dee was tasked with finding a balance between the couple’s disparate design preferences — she has a penchant for more traditional design and he loves clean, modern style. While the fixtures and subway tile have a more classic look that respect the historic farmhouse’s architecture, the designer added some modern to the mix with contemporary and industrial accents.
“She really wanted a nice, deep tub where she could close the door, have a soak and get some peace and quiet,” the designer says of her client. “Because we had that extra six inches, we were able to fit in a full-sized tub.”
The blue tile adds a watery accent on the back wall, and Dee replaced a rotted window with a new vinyl one. She had it sealed with waterproof caulk, and the space behind the trim was waterproofed to prevent rot in the future.
Dee snagged the framed photo from elsewhere in the house. “They both have great taste in art and have a wonderful collection, particularly of photography” she says.
The designer added black stripe details strategically around the room for a fresh, graphic touch. There’s a tile stripe around the border of the floor and just beneath the chair rail, and she even found a shower curtain that repeats the stripe.
Bathtub: Archer, Kohler; shower curtain: West Elm
The blue tile adds a watery accent on the back wall, and Dee replaced a rotted window with a new vinyl one. She had it sealed with waterproof caulk, and the space behind the trim was waterproofed to prevent rot in the future.
Dee snagged the framed photo from elsewhere in the house. “They both have great taste in art and have a wonderful collection, particularly of photography” she says.
The designer added black stripe details strategically around the room for a fresh, graphic touch. There’s a tile stripe around the border of the floor and just beneath the chair rail, and she even found a shower curtain that repeats the stripe.
Bathtub: Archer, Kohler; shower curtain: West Elm
“I wanted to find a balance between the couple’s disparate styles, and while making it more contemporary still fit in with the style of the home,” Dee says.
She used classic subway tile in non-typical proportions of 4 by 12 inches for a more modern look. The glazed terra-cotta tile itself is more traditional in its handmade texture and suits the age of the house. “It’s not perfectly flat — the handcrafting gives it more character,” she says.
Similarly, the faucets have a simple, geometric look while the elegant Carrara marble counter provides a more traditional feel.
Subway tile: Porcelanosa; faucet: Delite Widespread Bathroom Faucet
She used classic subway tile in non-typical proportions of 4 by 12 inches for a more modern look. The glazed terra-cotta tile itself is more traditional in its handmade texture and suits the age of the house. “It’s not perfectly flat — the handcrafting gives it more character,” she says.
Similarly, the faucets have a simple, geometric look while the elegant Carrara marble counter provides a more traditional feel.
Subway tile: Porcelanosa; faucet: Delite Widespread Bathroom Faucet
“She’s very no-nonsense and he likes jazzy; he fell in love with this floor tile,” the designer says. The microbrick is a lively counterpoint to the subway tile. It’s a mosaic composed of different pieces of marble. The stripe Dee edged the floor with is made of 12-by-12-inch glass tile cut into thin strips.
Flooring: Bell Flooring (Philadelphia)
Flooring: Bell Flooring (Philadelphia)
Small details like these hooks make a big difference in a bathroom where space is tight. “It’s such a skinny space — we needed to save every inch,” Dee says. There’s a hook for each member of the family.
Just as she used the stripes to create a border on the floor, Dee added a stripe, this time in standard black ceramic, around the top of the tile. She then capped it off with a Carrara marble chair rail that matches the counter.
A medicine cabinet framed in a metal box adds an industrial touch. The light fixture combines industrial and vintage styles.
“I tried to build in as much storage as possible in the vanity,” Dee says. She had it custom made with three drawers down the side. While the style of the vanity is traditional, the hardware is contemporary.
Light fixture and medicine cabinet: Restoration Hardware
A medicine cabinet framed in a metal box adds an industrial touch. The light fixture combines industrial and vintage styles.
“I tried to build in as much storage as possible in the vanity,” Dee says. She had it custom made with three drawers down the side. While the style of the vanity is traditional, the hardware is contemporary.
Light fixture and medicine cabinet: Restoration Hardware
“I kept the faucets clean and simple,” the designer says. She used brushed nickel throughout the room.
“I was able to give them a really functional clean bathroom in a tiny space,” Dee says. “When we were done, my clients told me, ‘It’s the best room in the house!’ ”
Faucets: Signature Hardware
More: Key Measurements to Make the Most of Your Bathroom
“I was able to give them a really functional clean bathroom in a tiny space,” Dee says. “When we were done, my clients told me, ‘It’s the best room in the house!’ ”
Faucets: Signature Hardware
More: Key Measurements to Make the Most of Your Bathroom
Room of the Day
Who lives here: A couple and their two young sons
Location: Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Designer: Hannah Dee
The home is an antique farmhouse that the vibrant neighborhood grew up around, and the vintage WC sign was here when the family moved in. “There was a mishmash of funky additions, and I noticed that the wall between the master bedroom and the bathroom was really thick,” designer Hannah Dee says. When she broke into the wall, she found the remnants of an old chimney. She had it removed and the area around it rebuilt, and the precious six inches of depth gained was like hitting gold.