For a small bathroom space, think vertically
Designer Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey is the owner and lead designer of Alexandria-based SCW Interiors. She has had a lifelong passion for design with nearly 20 years of professional experience in the industry.
Cavin-Winfrey recently had a lot to say about the perfect bathroom in what was called the “six do’s and don’ts for decorating a bathroom that won’t embarrass you in front of guests.” These included: don’t put a rug in your bathroom; do stock both bar and liquid soap; don’t think of toilet paper as an accessory; do minimize products; don’t use plastic bags to line bathroom trash cans; and do use hooks for bath towels, not bars.
Cavin-Winfrey answered queries about bathroom organization, design and style as well as other decorating dilemmas.
Q Do you have any tips for those of us with five-by-fivefoot bathrooms with no closets? A I have small bathrooms in my home, and my advice would be to take advantage of your vertical space. (Recently) we were planning a small bath space and discussing using a train rack that hangs high enough to store your towels and includes hooks along the bottom rung. Another thing to consider is a frameless glass door on your shower. This will immediately make the space feel larger and diffuse the light. If you have any wall space behind your toilet, install a recessed medicine cabinet. We recently designed a very small bathroom where we placed a medicine cabinet over the sink and a second one over the toilet with a sconce in between, which allowed the husband and wife to have everything they needed on one wall. Another space-saving tip we implement all the time: Reverse the swing of the door or, if possible, install a pocket door. Both of these save an incredible amount of space in a small bathroom.
Q Yes or no to wallpaper in the bathroom? We put wallpaper up years ago and need to redo it. Should we add new wallpaper or just paint? A If you are asking wallpaper or paint, I always say wallpaper. There is so much more visual interest and texture to wallpaper that you cannot accomplish with paint. I tend to think paint is not a problem solver, whereas wallpaper can take a space from blah to bright in an afternoon.
Q I was planning on going modern in my upcoming bathroom redo with a bold and aggressive mix of patterns and colours, but after a weekend with friends watching some Indian movies, I was struck by the amazing patterns and colours in their culture. I thought about incorporating some of these ideas into my bathroom, but I am wondering whether that might be visual overload, especially with the gold fixtures I would probably use instead of the platinum. What are your thoughts? A You are speaking my language, and I am completely transported by your wonderful imagery. I do think you have to be careful in a bathroom. Investing in materials that are not easily replaced such as tile, cabinetry and faucets that are too wild could be a mistake. I am a big risk-taker, but I try to limit the risks to items that are easier to replace should I tire of them, such as lighting, wallpaper and accessories. There is an amazing textile designer, Lindsay Cowles, who does wallpaper patterns in wonderful exotic colours and modern/tribal patterns. This to me would be the perfect balance to the more predictable items in a bathroom. Her website is lindsaycowles.com. Another fun accessory I have used is Moroccan lanterns, mirrors and screens in bathrooms. These add tons of personality and are still flexible.
Q In remodelling a master bathroom, is it necessary to add a free-standing tub, or are drop-in tubs still acceptable? A Tubs are very personal. I would never have a master bathroom without a bathtub, because it is my favourite pastime. I would advise against a drop-in tub because of the lip flange that it creates, which can make getting in and out difficult as we age. An undermount tub is great solution and provides a ledge that is smooth for users to sit on and swing their legs around to enter the tub. When planning for a tub that has a stone or tile surround, you will have to make sure you have an access panel for the plumbing, which can be unsightly.