Article by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Jody Beck.
As one of the most frequently renovated rooms in the house, bathrooms are usually in desperate need of more light, storage and style. Sadly, the size of a room doesn’t directly correlate with the labour required in the renovation equation. This pint-sized room packs a powerful renovation punch and can often require a full roster of professionals. However, bathrooms are right up there with kitchens for maximum resale value and for this carefully curated transformation, the return on investment is significant.
A James Bay couple turned to Josée Lalonde and her team at Josée Lalonde Design to create a bathroom that would echo their west coast surroundings and complement the rest of their home’s aesthetic. It was the creative collaboration of Lalonde and Interior Designer, Melanie Henson that transformed this uninspiring bathroom into an intimate and tranquil retreat for rejuvenation.
The original bathroom was cramped and dated, not to mention a notable departure from the rest of the home’s feel. Lalonde adds that the client’s wish list included an aerated spa tub (that would be suitable for the tall husband), heated floors, walk-in shower and improved lighting with contemporary fixtures.
The couple envisioned including natural, spa-like materials into a contemporary space that they could both enjoy. In order to embody a west coast feel, Lalonde and Henson integrated earthy materials with a warm, rustic appeal to create a space to relax and recharge. “We removed a closet from the adjacent bedroom in order to incorporate a freestanding spa tub and spacious shower. There was no way we could have done it without acquiring more space,” states Lalonde.
The Bali series tile evokes a natural petrified wood look that speaks to the natural surroundings of their James Bay neighbourhood. Suspended delicately above the tub, the shape of the pendant lights are reminiscent of rocks you would find on a local beach near their home. Of course, you can’t create a west coast contemporary look without adding authentic warm wood tones, so the designers enlisted Thomas and Birch to build a custom walnut vanity as the bathroom’s focal point. The wood grain in both the tiles and the vanity merge to create an overall unifying and harmonious effect.
Combining the elements of colour, texture and tone to create a unified composition for this small but impactful bathroom, Lalonde and Henson incorporated chrome fixtures to add a dash of shine and sparkle. Kalia shower head and slide bar was chosen for its elegance and durability. The soft curves of the over-counter cheviot sink and round mirror temper the lines of the angular space. High-performance Cambria blackwood quartz adorns the countertop to help ground the walnut vanity and balance the white accents.
Throughout the process, the couple reported that “we truly captured what they wanted and needed. It is so primordial as a designer to be able to listen, understand and create exactly what your clients want. That is true success,” concludes Lalonde.
