by Jan Rutgers
Mouldings are often not the first thing a Kitchen & Bath Designer may think of when updating a bathroom, but maybe it should be.
Not every bathroom needs a to-the-studs renovation to transform it.
If your client’s bathroom has good bones consider turning to mouldings for a cost effective update.
This large principle bathroom featured free standing fixtures and open shelving for display and storage.
While there was nothing mechanically wrong with the space, it lacked style.
It needed some details to make it the relaxing sanctuary homeowners desire.
This was the perfect principle bathroom to update with trim and mouldings, but before the trim details were decided a more appropriate color scheme was needed.
The original blue grey color scheme felt too cold and the contrast was too much between the white fixtures and dark walls.
Color Scheme
The new color scheme for the space has less contrast and evokes a much more serene feel.
The white plumbing fixtures and white toned porcelain floors would remain and be built on.
Existing polished chrome faucets would stay and new coordinating wall scones would be installed.
Benjamin Moore CC-40 Cloud White was chosen as the base color for the room with BM OC-730 Opal as the secondary color.
A metallic silver was included as an accent since the existing fittings including the tub’s feet were in cool metals.
Profiles
Since the existing fixtures and fittings had curvy traditional lines, the moulding collection specified followed that lead.
The mouldings chosen featured multiple bulbous shapes, coves and details featured in classic trim profiles.
To produce the design the following pieces were used:
- 7 1/4″ Baseboard
- 3 1/2″ Casing
- 6″ Architrave
- 4 1/2″ Chair Rail
- 1 7/8″ Panel Moulding
The combination of these 5 elements produced were perfect for this serene master bathroom update.
Design Drawings
Producing a set of working drawings puts everyone on the same page.
Confirming proportional details ensures the final space will work.
Once everything has been finalized out on paper the fun can begin!
The Details
The design began by wrapping the room with wainscot consisting of chair rail installed at 36″ from the floor.
A substantial baseboard was the next piece specified and the collection’s panel moulding was installed proportionality between the pedestal sinks and on either side of the windows.
The windows were cased in a 3 1/2″ wide casing and topped with an architrave.
The lower portion of the window trim was produced by flipping the baseboard upside down, trimming it and installing it to complement the architrave.
The same casing, this time mitered, was used to frame new mirrors above the pedestal sinks.
The wainscot treatment was painted in the cloud white while the area above features the opal hue.
A wallpaper that complimented the opal paint was inserted between the panel moulding frames.
This layering added a nice custom detail.
To increase the functionality of this space, wall scones were installed in the center of the vertical panel moulding frames either side of the mirrors.
The metallic silver paint for the mirror frames were the perfect accent on this wall.
Shelving Unit Transformation
The open shelf in the original design felt a bit bare.
Applying trim was the perfect way to upgrade this niche.
First the chair rail was installed along the front of the existing shelves and then bookended with casing installed vertically.
To terminate the casings a standard plinth block was specified with baseboard running between them.
To top off this unit the 6″ architrave was installed.
These simple cost effective moulding pieces completely transformed this shelving niche.
When complete, this master bathroom was completely transformed.
A few well chosen accessories and the room was Instagram ready!
This makeover demonstrates the Art of Design, which will be covered in-depth in my upcoming workshop called Integrating Mouldings and Millwork into your Kitchen Design Business.
If you would like to receive updates on the launch of the workshop please join my email list here:
I would also love to hear your thoughts on using mouldings this way. Is it something you would consider? Please leave me a comment below.
Jan Rutgers has been designing kitchens and products for over 25 years and is a recipient of Kitchen & Bath Design News’ Top Innovators in 2020 for the Kitchen & Bath Industry. She has designed more than 1000 kitchens learning valuable skills with each one! Her experience in Kitchen Design, Millwork Manufacturing and Product Development has led her to create VESTABUL SCHOOL OF DESIGN where she educates and mentors people passionate about the Kitchen Design Industry.
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