Savvy house hunters know that buying the right home often means looking past the seller’s decor choices and seeing potential. Homeowners Tracy Cameron and Roland Susko fell in love with the 6,900-square-foot Surrey, B.C., house they bought in 2007, despite the master bath requiring a serious update.

The second-floor ensuite was a late ’90s nightmare, with a sunken tub, green marble tile and brass fixtures. A toilet and bidet were also hidden in a strange little closet. With several windows and two skylights, the space had plenty of natural light, but the dark colour scheme seemed to weigh it down. The couple enlisted designer Victoria McKenney of Enviable Designs, who transformed the bathroom into a modern space with traditional lines, intriguing textures and touches of European glam. “We went for a cool, calm, clean look, with just a little bit of bling,” says Victoria.


Glam accents
An elegant chandelier takes a room from basic to beautiful.

Curve appeal
A curved tiled wall sets off this modern soaker tub.

Unfitted cool
Cabinetry with legs gives the feel of stand-alone furniture.
Vertical element
Textured tile installed in a vertical stripe creates a dramatic focal point. The strip of silver-embossed floral wall tile in the shower adds a touch of Baroque to the modern space. 
A few pretty jars
Apothecary-style glass jars paired with a delicate glazed porcelain flower are traditional touches that balance the modern finishes.
Decorative flourish
Backplates with a curvy design easily enhance the look of cabinet doors.