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Daydreaming of a new main bathroom? Dreamy, luxurious bathrooms are one of our favorite spaces to design! They are also the majority of our “design rescue” calls.  Ideally, you want to bring on a professional interior designer from the moment you decide to renovate. However, we know there are some homeowners that have experience with construction or are avid DIYers. Often times they want to tackle this project alone; we understand that, too!

 

So HOW do you properly remodel a bathroom? There are so many tips and recommendations that we would like to share with you. First, we’ll start with selecting tile as this is the primary material in bathrooms and will absolutely set the tone for the entire room. To help ensure you know exactly how to select the perfect tile, we are sharing the six steps that our design team follows. 

 

1. Determine the Design Style

Before you start shopping for materials you need to know what you are shopping for and the design style that you want to achieve. How do you want the bathroom to look and feel? Consider that your master bathroom is an extension of your bedroom. This is a wonderful opportunity to create a cohesive and beautiful space, one that feels like a luxury hotel suite. 

ACHIEVE THIS LOOK! In the case of our featured photo, the homeowner wanted to have a Parisian styled master bedroom suite. I remember the excitement I felt when she shared that with me because Parisian style is one of my all time favorite cities to travel to and I’ve fallen in love with this design style! 

 

A luxurious bathroom in Parisian style will absolutely feature a freestanding tub as shown above. An actual vintage claw-foot tub would be spectacular if you can procure one, but you can also find reproduction tubs. The claw feet lend instant charm to any bathroom. Pair it with a chic, small side table and you not only add style, but also functionality. 

 

Vintage furniture like the armoire shown in a crackled finish and chicken wire door fronts gives a nod to the old world quality of craftsmanship. And an oil-rubbed bronze crystal chandelier above the tub (but not centered to allow for clearance for you as you get in and out) and in the center of the room are what Parisian styled dreams are made of.

 

Imagine the times you’ll spend luxuriating in your claw-foot tub under a dimmed chandelier and cup of tea! 

 

2. Identify Inspiration Photos

Now that you have an idea of where you would like to go, search for inspirational photos. The internet is an amazing place specifically for those looking for design and remodeling inspiration. Check out sites like our Pinterest and Instagram accounts to kick your thoughts and ideas into action. A tip that will help you during your search is to include the keywords that you would normally think of when you think about the style, color and room that you are designing AND to add the words “interior design” to your search. Those two words will make a world of difference in the images and inspiration that pops up for you!! 

 

3. Identify Options for Feature Tile

Now you’re ready to shop!! Once you have determined the look, feel and have your inspiration photos, it’s time to get out there and shop!! No need to purchase just yet, simply walk through your local decor and tile stores to search for some more specific inspiration. Start by looking at tile and countertop options since these typically cover a large portion of the bathroom. Check out your favorite tile samples and take them home to see which will capture your imagination and work best in your space. 

 

4. Sleep On It, Then Decide

This is where you take the materials home and live with them for a few days. See which one speaks to you and what you can see yourself loving for many years to come. Think of walking into your beautifully remodeled bathroom, what do you see? Is it the shower wall, a full wall or the mirror with a backsplash? Consider this when deciding which of the samples you selected is the perfect feature tile. 

 

5. Select Supporting Players (OR Is it a symphony?)

We almost always design bathrooms that feature a tile or stone that will be the star of the show!! This approach to design is like a jazz musical piece. The saxophone to be exact. The saxophone is the star and all others are supporting roles. 

 

So if you’ve found a material worthy of being the feature like this glass tile that we used in this NKDG Carmel Valley Project, then start with this piece and use it to dictate all of the additional selections you will need to make. (Read to the end for the full list of selections you’ll need to make)

 

HOWEVER, if your design style dictates that the materials are part of a symphony, like Parisian inspired bathroom on the cover, then the material selections you will make are going to be a little more tricky. I know, it seems counter-intuitive, but when you have a monochromatic color palette, you will want to be very careful to vary sizes and patterns in a way that brings interest, harmony, and rhythm to the space. 

 

If that’s the case, one easy way to make sure you have enough interest is to be sure to use a small, medium, and large format tile. We used 11 different tiles in that bathroom, many of the same material, but varying sizes and trim pieces. 

 

6. Double Check List of Materials

Keep in mind you want the sizes to vary, color undertones should complement one another. Is the tile or countertop dramatic? Think of the space like a movie, the inspiration is the main character and the others are the supporting cast. Is the inspiration more lowkey? Approach the space as a symphony, everything should build on one another. You can create rhythm with scale, texture, and color!

 

MATERIAL LIST

1. Countertop
2. Backsplash
3. Main floor tile
4. Shower floor tile
5. Shower wall tile
6. Accent tile
7. Trim tile for an accent area
8. Shower curb
9. Edging detail/tile for each area

 

RECAP

1. Determine the design style
2. Identify inspiration photos
3. Identify options for feature tile
4. Sleep on it, then decide
5. Select supporting players
6. Double check list of materials

 

This article covers only the tile selection, but there are many steps to designing the perfect master bedroom and we will be sharing about those in future articles. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram. Until next time!