Use designer tips to create a beautiful, livable bathroom
Designer Sara Lynn Brennan shares her secrets for creating serenely beautiful and livable bathrooms.
Creating a bathroom that is functional and livable yet has style
that is fitting for your home can be elusive. Too precious and perfect, and you’ll find yourself knocking things over, bumping your head or stressing over spills. Too practical and sterile, and it’s an unsatisfying bore. Further compound the problem by trying to please both guys and gals in your home, and you may throw your hands up in defeat.
BRING IN A PRO
Designer Sara Brennan of Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors confronts this dilemma routinely in her design work. Many of her clients express a preference for a space with a timeless color palette and true functionality but that offers character and comfort.
Sara begins each project with a brain-storming session with her clients to discuss priorities, preferences and budget. “Creating timeless and livable spaces is a priority for me” says Sara.
Sara has cultivated wonderful working relationships with her trade partners and general contractors over the years, and they play an integral role in providing accurate and prompt estimates. Once estimates are completed, Sara proceeds with selection of materials, presents her color palette and design concepts to the client for any revisions or edits, and then the magic begins. Sara prefers to choose all of her foundational elements in the same session to be sure color tones and patterns work cohesively.
“A common thread
among all my spaces is my signature
Romantic Transitional
style.”
“When I see a space, I immediately
look for some kind of focal point,
wow
a element. If there isn’t one,
we must create one.”
PRACTICAL AND PRETTY
Sara is known for her Romantic Transitional style, where she uses a blend of both masculine and feminine touches. Her signature move is to anchor each space with something darker, more masculine to ground the design and provide a foundation to build on. Commonly, this is the vanity, flooring, bathtub or shower tile.
Sara often incorporates walk-in, double-headed showers that include bench seating whenever possible. From cleaning up children, assisting fragile elders or scrubbing the family pet, this type of design works well. Including cubbies within the shower walls for storing supplies or displaying attractive accessories reduces the need for bulky caddies or unwanted clutter.
In addition, Sara utilizes available wall space with convenient and striking towel racks and hooks. Adding an extra mirror at the vanity is another thoughtful touch to make prepping for the day simple.
Sara recommends always finishing off your project with special touches that easily elevate the design. Distinctive light fixtures, upholstered benches, fresh greenery, lush towels, woven baskets, interesting trays or vessels, simple window treatments and cushy rugs all help soften the room. Sara even adds a mini coffee bar whenever possible for that extra bit of enjoyment.