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36 | Kitchen & Bath Design News October 2014 Creative Small Bath Design • Designer: Bryanne Prichett, BRY design, Austin, TX Size of Space: 8'x10' Design Goal: This space – which previously was a small, uninspired hall bath and part of an adjacent bedroom – is a husband's master bath. He wanted a soaking tub, shower…and TV. Design Solutions: The client insisted on in- cluding a tub, as well as a shower, which meant Prichett had to look for something other than a standard-size tub. "I included a Japanese-style tub, 40"x40"x32", which he loves!" she says. The designer changed the width of the win- dow to gain enough space for the shower, which is about 54"x54". The TV, another request from the client, was concealed in a built-in cabinet above the toilet. Additionally, an outlet in a small cabi- net built into the wall near the sink conceals his toothbrush to keep clutter at bay. Additional Small Bath Design Tips: Keep tub decks small if space is at a premium and remove any extra 'lines' that impair your vision, such as framed shower walls and tile lines that harshly contrast with walls. "I also try to keep colors lighter as a whole to keep the space from closing in," she says. Small Bath Myths to Dispel: "Just because a bathroom is small doesn't mean you can't have it all!" she says in reference to tubs, TVs and high- end fnishes. 'Must Haves': Built-ins are a great space saver, says Prichett. "Shower niches built into the wall keep the shower tidy and add more open space," she reports. "I also do built-in niches/cabinets – with electrical outlets – in walls near the sink to hide unsightly cords from electric toothbrushes, razors, etc.," she adds. "These items can always be charg- ing, but ft nicely in the wall. "If there is room, I also include cabinet towers on top of countertops," she continues, "especial- ly when there are wasted corners on L-shaped vanities." Photo: Bryanne Prichett • Designer: Fardid Biglar, BiglarKinyan Design, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Size of Space: 6'x9' Design Goal: Since this bathroom was located in the basement, Biglar wanted to remove the stigma associated with subterranean spaces. As such, he fo- cused on creating a visually rich space. "To make it feel more exciting to use, I played up on various senses… for example, the feel of a raised wood foor, marble pebbles, etc." he says. Design Solutions: Biglar used a number of tech - niques to achieve his goal, including layering textures, establishing a focal point and extending materials beyond existing boundaries. "We utilized some smooth elements with those that have a bit of pat- tern or texture," he says, adding that he took into consideration visual weight as well. "You can highlight what you want people to see…identify the focal point. T h i s c r e a t e s depth. In this bath, the wall with the mirror has a lot more texture than the other walls. When you walk in, your eye goes to that wall, rather than to items that are closer. It gives the illusion that the space is deeper than it actually is. By stretching the textured material into the shower space, it also makes the space feel wider. The use of glass helps, as well." Additional Small Bath Design Tips: Don't incorporate too many design elements. "That can break the coherence," he says, adding that it also weighs down the space. "When you have a small space, you don't want to break it up too much…rather just enough to establish a focal point. Reducing the number of materials also makes the space easier to digest, making it more peaceful and serene. Limit the number of materials to maybe three or four." Incorporate unifying elements. "Small bathrooms are great spaces to be bold, but don't completely devi- ate from the style of the rest of the house," he says. Utilize bumpouts to gain function. "Consider pushing vanities or the toilet tank back," he says, adding that even 6" can ofer a lot of storage. "You can generate extra foor space and gain storage or countertop." Small Bath Myths to Dispel: Small bathrooms don't have to feel small, and they don't have to be plain. "Make it special," he says. "And look for oppor- tunities to generate more function, without weighing it down." 'Must Haves': Good lighting is critical, so is ad- equate counter space, storage and beautiful fnishes and details. "Choose fxtures that have clean lines and aren't fussy," he recommends. "Easy-to-maintain fn- ishes are also important because, in a small space, every bit of it will be used. Also, remember that you are a lot closer to fnishes and elements. Make informed decisions regarding things like tiles and how they're composed, cut and installed. Every bit of construc- tion matters because you are so close to everything. Finally, don't be scared to splurge on luxury fnishes… it won't impact the budget as much due to the small square footage." Photos: BiglarKinyan Design