Faced with transforming an outdated bathroom into an inspiring space for her son, a designer decides the sky’s the limit.

Every time designer Sarah Walker stepped into the guest bathroom of her family home in Oakville, Ont., its distressing all-green colour scheme would cloud her senses. “It was honestly a time capsule of the late ’60s and early ’70s,” she says. “The previous owners threw every mismatched design detail they could into the room. I think we counted seven different shades of green.” Finally, in 2013, after four years of tolerating the clashing decor, she and her husband, Graham, couldn’t take it any longer – it was time to refurbish. The couple decided to transform the space into a beautiful bathroom for their 13-year-old son, Noah, to complement his new bedroom, which would soon take form across the hall.

The result
Sarah is thrilled with how the space turned out, especially the look of the wallpaper, since it connects Noah to beauty and art every single day. “When you’re tucked away in a bathroom, it’s one of the only times you’re by yourself,” she says. “So why not have your head in the clouds?”
 

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Before and after: Dreamy, contemporary bathroom

Bathroom problem: Before

An unsightly green bathroom.

Image by: Style at Home By: Brittany Devenyi Source: Ashley Capp

Before and after: Dreamy, contemporary bathroom

Bathroom layout: Solution

Refresh the interior with contemporary fixtures and eye-catching wallpaper.

Image by: Style at Home By: Brittany Devenyi Source: Ashley Capp

Before and after: Dreamy, contemporary bathroom

Bathroom renovation: After

Looking past the bathroom’s busy aesthetic, Sarah knew the layout itself was functional: The shower, vanity and toilet were already well placed, which meant she was able to focus on finding decor inspiration instead. “The etched-look cloud wallpaper was the perfect starting point,” she says. “It’s as if the bathroom is a portal to a dream world. The entire influence felt right.” Since the wallpaper required book matching, Sarah had it professionally installed. Next up was the chevron-patterned flooring, which Graham carefully cut and laid himself. “He deserves the husband of the year award for that one,” Sarah says with a laugh.

Image by: Style at Home By: Brittany Devenyi Source: Ashley Capp

Before and after: Dreamy, contemporary bathroom

Reno on a budget

The sleek chrome faucet and nautical-style sconces were budget finds. “The lights have a timeless look that’s not completely ubiquitous, and the mercury glass shades give a sophisticated glow,” says Sarah.   For a seamless look, Sarah wrapped a piece of wallpaper around the wall plate, making sure the pattern matched up perfectly.

Image by: Style at Home By: Brittany Devenyi Source: Ashley Capp

Before and after: Dreamy, contemporary bathroom

The design decisions

Whether showcasing unexpected hues or rich textures, the most remarkable rooms are often the ones that have taken a dramatic leap of faith. “I love a sense of quirk and fantasy,” says Sarah. “Powder rooms or smaller baths like this are a brilliant opportunity to depart from what you’d normally do and be a little more daring.” With that in mind, the designer painted the ceiling and trim a striking charcoal hue and introduced warmth through a custom exotic wood-veneered vanity that perfectly juxtaposes the cool grey statement wallpaper.

Image by: Style at Home By: Brittany Devenyi Source: Ashley Capp

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Before and after: Dreamy, contemporary bathroom

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