A home renovation may only involve a smaller project, but that does not preclude incorporating a bigger design concept beyond mere functionality and updating materials. For a bathroom transformation in an older New Westminster property, the homeowner had a unique and highly specific request that defined the remodel plan: She envisioned reclining in the bath, a glass of wine in hand, while staring up at the stars.
Redesigning the Bathroom Layout
Fulfilling that brief meant not just reworking the floor plan but making the bathtub the focal point of the space. Though an average-sized bathroom at 80 square feet, the room felt smaller because it was long and narrow. For Rebecca Foster, principal and lead designer at Align Interior Design, the solution was to reposition the tub at the end of the room against the outside wall. The existing tiny window was enlarged and centred on the wall, and a new skylight was installed to open up the ceiling, allowing natural light to flood the space by day and offering private stargazing at night.
Architectural Focal Point
To emphasize the tub as the focal point, Foster added an arch to frame it. The idea came from an inspiration image the homeowner found, but Foster modernized the arch to integrate with the home's mid-century modern style. "We wanted to make sure that all your attention was drawn through that arch to the window at the back and the skylight," Foster explains. "Ultimately, when you walked into the space, we wanted it to feel like natural light was flooding into the space and that bathtub just felt so inviting."
Beach-Inspired Colour Palette and Textures
For the colour and texture of the materials, the overreaching theme was a calming, beach vibe. Considering the mid-century style of the home, Foster eschewed any obvious coastal motifs. Instead, she mixed textures and hues evocative of water and sand. A feature wall of aqua zellige tile was placed over the natural-wood vanity and at either end of the tub, while white shiplap was used on the wall opposite the vanity. Creamy tiles on the floor, accented with polished nickel hardware and plumbing fixtures, complete the look.
- Aqua zellige tiles positioned on opposite sides of the tub
- Warm white tiles on the back wall and tub apron
- Floor tile reminiscent of a tranquil, sandy beach
"The back wall is just white zellige because we loved the texture of it and how it felt, very much like the flooring, like a sandy beach," Foster notes. "We have got layers of texture. We have got the shiplap which is vertical texture. We have got floor tile positioned in a diagonal to give that texture."
The result is a serene, spa-like bathroom that fulfills the homeowner's dream of stargazing from the tub while maintaining a cohesive design with the rest of the house.
