Room of the Day: Bathroom With Midcentury Modern Flair
A renovation updates the room in keeping with the spirit of the California home’s 1950s architecture
“It needed a makeover,” interior designer Natalie DiPiazza says about the state of this hall bath. The new homeowners had fallen hard for their house’s midcentury modern architecture but needed to update it to meet their needs. So while this bathroom project was a gut renovation, the new design kept the spirit of the style alive and well.
“We considered finding a piece of midcentury modern furniture to repurpose as the vanity, but building something new wound up being the better option,” DiPiazza says. She designed this piece herself, giving it angled, tapered legs and an angled shape. “Midcentury modern design has a lot of geometric and angular elements,” she says. She also chose a wood with a distinctive grain and stain that has a midcentury modern look. After looking at many samples, she went with an alder wood and found a warm stain that was not too blond, not too dark.
“The homeowners knew they wanted gold finishes to get that midcentury look,” the designer says. They went with the Vibrant Modern Brushed Gold finish from Kohler on the fixtures.
Faucets: Purist, Kohler; counter: Pure White, Ceasarstone
Faucets: Purist, Kohler; counter: Pure White, Ceasarstone
The sides of the vanity angle back toward the wall; the piece is not flat. The pendant lights have a somewhat triangular shape, and the mirror brings in a big circle.
The shelf over the toilet is a vintage piece the homeowners found themselves.
Toilet: Studio, American Standard
The shelf over the toilet is a vintage piece the homeowners found themselves.
Toilet: Studio, American Standard
An accent tile in the shower brings in the blue color and lively graphic pattern the homeowners love. The big squares in the field tile and hexagonal tiles in the floor bring in more geometric elements.
Shower fixtures: Purist in Vibrant Modern Brushed Gold finish, Kohler; large hexagonal floor tile: Daltile
Shower fixtures: Purist in Vibrant Modern Brushed Gold finish, Kohler; large hexagonal floor tile: Daltile
“I love this glass shower door. It has a curve at the top, and it’s hinged to swing all the way open,” DiPiazza says. This makes it easy to turn on the faucets or bathe a little one, while the clear glass makes the room look open and large.
Accent tile: Illica, Wayfair
Accent tile: Illica, Wayfair
Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their young daughter
Location: El Segundo, California
Size: 65 square feet (6 square meters)
Designer: Natalie DiPiazza of Custom Design & Construction
BEFORE: The bathroom was beyond dated, with its pink-orange tile countertop, laminate floors and small bathtub.