Space of the Week: This European-Inspired Bathroom Has a Perfectly Tiled Feature Wall

The best bathrooms are an escape, and this one manages to take the homeowner halfway across the world every time she steps inside. "The client really loved the idea of bringing in some European influences through interesting colors and patterns," says designer Ginny Macdonald, founder and principal of the eponymous firm. "The inspiration that she mentioned was that of a modern European hotel."

When Macdonald first glimpsed this space on a leafy street in a Los Angeles suburb, it didn't exactly feel like a getaway. The property was built in 1947, and while the bathroom had been updated in the intervening decades, it still had plenty of room for improvement. A soffit above the vanity appeared to close it in, and the white-and-blue tiles surrounding the tub were as outdated as the ones on the floor. "The existing layout was quite awkward and lacked any form of storage," Ginny adds, prompting a new configuration. "The main objectives were to add a new walk-in shower, a closed-off water closet, a double vanity—and if possible, a freestanding tub."

Macdonald moved the entrance door and took a few square feet from the adjoining bedroom to enlarge the bathroom's footprint, creating enough legroom for a separate shower and tub. "Since this is the primary bath, we didn't want to go too wild with the colors we chose," she says. "We also wanted to play into a mid-century vibe, since the house has that feel to it." Porcelain travertine was installed on the floors, adding texture alongside cream tiles stacked on three walls. A white oak vanity was chosen as a natural element, and it floats in front of a feature wall comprised of verdant triangle tiles. "There are three windows in the room that look out to an array of green trees, so the color was the perfect complement to those," she says. "Opting for black metal accents in the plumbing and hardware adds depth to the serene space."

It's been two years since the project was completed, and the owner has been able to get away to Europe (without leaving home) countless times since. "Increasing the size of the bathroom without compromising the bedroom allowed us to provide the whole wishlist, and do so with function and style," Macdonald says.

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