Small bathroom solutions: Think vertically, creatively
Designer’s style and storage tips for creating a functional, flexible space
Designer Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey is the owner and lead designer of Alexandria, Va.,-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 dos 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.
“The perfect look and feel of a bathroom is one that meets the end users’ needs,” she said. “It’s different for everyone, but I think that a space that is functional and flexible is key. And your bathroom should be the cleanest room in your home.”
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 to use?
A Tubs are very personal. I personally 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 a 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.
Q Our first-floor powder room has no windows and is very small. Can you recommend a pedestal sink that would fit our transitional-style home? I’m not a fan of them, as we will lose the undersink storage, but I think it would make the room feel less crowded. Also, we were thinking of updating the flooring. We would like to use the same flooring in our foyer and have it flow into the powder room. Do you recommend this? I love the look of slate in a chevron pattern but am open to other options. We were hoping for stone, but I am worried that it would look too dark in a windowless area of the home.
A Small spaces can yield the best outcomes with careful planning. For a transitional powder room, I would direct you toward a console sink so that you have a small shelf to store hand towels and other essentials. I think fewer transitions in materials is always a plus in smaller homes. I, too, love slate and have used it in many homes in the chevron pattern as well. You will want to consider the size of the bricks you use, as well as the colour. Thankfully, there are a variety of slate colours, and it doesn’t have to be dark.