DESIGNED BY TOC design CONSTRUCTION BY TOC design & Construction inc. PHOTOS BY : Tania Scardellato I was fortunate to have a young family approach me in desperate need to renovate there only 3 piece bathroom. This space was In dire need of a remodel, with old brown wall to wall tiles and a dated bulky yellow brown single sink vanity. Storage was a must, lighting a necessity, and proper accessibility to the shower bath area. We had a tight budget to respect, but a full gut of this bathroom was required. And a good thing too, once we started doing the demolition we noticed that mildew and rotting floors and walls had accumulated throughout the years. Doing it right the first time is no joke when dealing with water and electrical issues. We discarded all reminisce of old and built from scratch, new walls, new plumbing, new electrical ,new insulation and a new window, a new fan that actually exhausted outside ( I say this laughing as you would be amazed at how many fans are installed but don’t exhaust outside, and you the client would never know unless you go inside the attic space. Once all the hard stuff was done, the rest is just a matter of smart design. If you have a small bathroom here are some tips to guide you. 10 tips for making a small bathroom feel larger Is your tiny bathroom cramping your functionality and style, leaving you longing for the enormous bathrooms gracing the pages of design magazines? Even if your bathroom is a fraction of the size, all it takes is some design savvy to make the most of the space you have. Consider these 10 smart tips that will help your bathroom look, feel and function like those larger contenders. 1-Get creative with corners Space is at a premium in small bathrooms, so it's important to maximize every inch. Corners, for example, provide extra space for shelving, storage units and even hooks. Get creative and install unique design solutions that are not only functional, but also eye-catching. If you love the airiness of floating cabinets, add baskets or decorative boxes under for extra storage. If you are installing floating cabinets insure that they are installed securely to studs or plywood at wall. 2- Let solid colors shine Busy patterns have a shrinking effect and make small bathrooms seem even smaller. Conversely, light natural hues make a space feel more open. If you're itching to get creative with design, experiment with textures but keep overpowering patterns to a minimum. Tone on tone is the best to achieve this. 3 - Maximize your bathtub A bathtub takes up a significant portion of the room, but modern, compact options with curved basins, can make the tub feel larger when in use, all while conserving space. 4 - Select a smaller faucet A faucet is jewelry for the bathroom. And just as accessories can overpower an outfit, a big bulky faucet isn't flattering in a small bath. Single-handle designs conserve counter space, while a wall-mount installation frees it up all together and can create quite the wow-factor, if the budget can accommodate the required changes to plumbing behind the wall. 5 - Make vanity storage simple If you're in a storage war with your small bathroom, you're not alone in the battle. Toiletries and personal supplies without a place to call home only add clutter and chaos. Store smart with a space-saving vanity, the dual sink vanity shown here, looks quite simple, but in reality it has 4 sets of full extension drawers, and the vanity tower adds extra storage without overpowering the use of space. 6 - Show off the shower Shower curtains may be pretty, but they interrupt the visual flow of a bathing space and make it feel significantly smaller. In bathrooms with small footprints, opt for a clear glass sliding shower door that doesn't require the clearance of one with a hinged design. Or as shown in this design and for fraction less expensive a half hinged panel installed on a fixed tempered glass panel. If you're embarking on a big remodel, create the illusion of more space by using same tile in the shower that's used throughout; instead of seeing them as two separate zones, the eye will read them as one. 7 - Discover the treasure of hidden storage Work with a contractor, and you just might find some serious storage potential hidden behind your walls. Whether it's utilizing space between the studs for shallow shelving or a creating a small linen closet by annexing space from an adjacent room, even small additions can make a big difference. 8 - Focal Point Tile is a beautiful, durable addition to any bathroom. For dainty spaces, consider installing tile at a diagonal to accentuate the focal point or as in this bathroom I used an oversized textured pattern to bring depth to the space at the window wall. 9 - Choose the right lights Strategically install light to reflect and brighten a small bathroom to make it appear larger. Recessed lighting is an affordable solution for tiny rooms, offering ample light while taking up little space. Wall sconces alongside a mirror also reflect off the walls and make a room feel bright and airy. I always recommend going with LED lighting at 2800 to 3000K. 10 – Accessorize This is your time to shine in your decorating skills, have fun with your towels, you can change the color scheme daily just by adding pops of color in your accessories, make sure to get items that serve a dual purpose, like baskets, boxes they can always be used as hampers, storing of towels and even a nice display for your guest.

Mark Scowen, Intense Photograpghy
Traditional master bathroom in Auckland with black cabinets, a claw-foot tub, a shower/bathtub combo, glass tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink and raised-panel cabinets.

This remodel went from a tiny story-and-a-half Cape Cod, to a charming full two-story home. A second full bath on the upper level with a double vanity provides a perfect place for two growing children to get ready in the morning. The walls are painted in Silvery Moon 1604 by Benjamin Moore. Space Plans, Building Design, Interior & Exterior Finishes by Anchor Builders. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography.

This is an example of a traditional master bathroom in Houston with marble benchtops, subway tile, a shower/bathtub combo, a console sink, mosaic tile floors, an alcove tub, black walls and black and white tile.

Architectural Photography by Simon Kennedy http://www.simonkennedy.net/

AT6 Architecture - Boor Bridges Architecture - Semco Engineering Inc. - Stephanie Jaeger Photography
Inspiration for a modern 3/4 bathroom in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, blue tile, pebble tile floors and light wood cabinets.

Paul Dyer Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in San Francisco with mosaic tile floors, an undermount tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a wall-mount sink, a hinged shower door and a floating vanity.

The use of mirror doubled the size of the feel of this small ensuite bathroom. It is taken right down to the work top to eliminate the need to break up the space with tiles for a backsplash.

A modern traditional hall bath with Frosty Carrina countertop, mounted lighting, beveled mirror, ledge tile and chair rail, under mount rectangular sink, hexagon floor tile. Photo Credit: Patterson Photography

Kids bathroom of a Burns Park, Ann Arbor, MI home. Blue vertical tile in the bathtub/shower with custom built in cabinetry for storage.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional kids bathroom in Detroit with an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, porcelain floors, a pedestal sink, grey floor, a shower curtain, a single vanity and planked wall panelling.

A budget-friendly family bathroom in a Craftsman-style home, using off-the-shelf fixtures and fittings with statement floor tile and metro wall tile.
Mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in London with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, subway tile, white walls, ceramic floors, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts master bathroom in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, beige walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, grey benchtops, a single vanity, a built-in vanity and decorative wall panelling.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary bathroom in New York with furniture-like cabinets, distressed cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, beige tile, porcelain tile, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, a sliding shower screen, black benchtops, a single vanity, a freestanding vanity, timber and wallpaper.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern master bathroom in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, cement tile, white walls, cement tiles, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, turquoise floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and panelled walls.

Design ideas for a large beach style master bathroom in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, a freestanding tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, subway tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, a drop-in sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, grey benchtops, a shower seat, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Carolyn Patterson
Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean 3/4 bathroom in Los Angeles with furniture-like cabinets, white cabinets, a claw-foot tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, subway tile, grey walls, cement tiles, an integrated sink, tile benchtops, grey floor and an open shower.

Photo of a small eclectic kids bathroom in Cornwall with white cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a wall-mount toilet, green tile, ceramic tile, green walls, ceramic floors, quartzite benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

The smallest spaces often have the most impact. In the bathroom, a classy floral wallpaper applied as a wall and ceiling treatment, along with timeless subway tiles on the walls and hexagon tiles on the floor, create balance and visually appealing space.

A blue pinstripe of tile carries the line of the tile wainscot through the shower while the original tub pairs with new, yet classic plumbing fixtures.