60-Square-Foot Bathroom Gets a Kid-Friendly Update

After: While much of the room changed, the layout stayed the same. Keeping the existing plumbing rough-ins helped control costs, freeing up room in the budget to have the two water walls tiled from floor to ceiling. The expanse of soft green tiles not only prevents water damage but also adds a compelling visual impact.

“Replacing the toilet was the one thing they’d done to this bathroom before we renovated, so we kept it,” Sonnenberg says. Reusing it was another way to keep the budget in check. The standard-height toilet sits lower than a comfort-height model, making it easier for newly potty-trained toddlers to use.

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“Everything in here is in keeping with the style of the home,” Sonnenberg says. He and the homeowners collaborated with Warner to find the right finishes. Square ceramic tiles in earthy green hues offer a subtle nod to the Tudor Revival era. The beaded-wood mirror frame, white-glass light fixture and champagne-brass plumbing fixtures add vintage charm. While the duck prints add a playful touch, the timeless material palette suits all ages and will allow the bathroom to grow with the kids.

A compact white oak vanity with a natural finish maximizes the small footprint. Its top drawer is fully functional, and is U-shaped to accommodate the sink’s P-trap. The other two drawers are deep enough to accommodate bottles and larger items such as extra towels.

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“I suggested we integrate a built-in step stool so that the kids could feel more independent washing their hands or brushing their teeth,” Sonnenberg says. Thoughtful design by the cabinetmakers at Kitchen Appeal ensured that the step would be both functional and safe.

With heavy-duty hinges, the wood top supports a weight of 75 pounds. Wheels underneath make the drawer easy to slide out, and they retract automatically once it’s fully extended, to prevent rolling. “We also added that little baseboard detail at the bottom to keep the wheels hidden,” Sonnenberg says. The wooden platform is easy to flip up, enabling the drawer to hold items such as towels and extra toilet paper rolls.

Floor tile: Polestar collection, Unicomstarker

The versatile new shower head can be mounted or used as a handheld wand, which is especially helpful for rinsing bath suds and cleaning the tub.

Plumbing fixtures: Trinsic in champagne brass, Delta; wall tile: 5-by-5-inch Renzo Jade ceramic tile, MSI Surfaces

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Because the soaking tub has slim edges that aren’t wide enough to hold bottles, they needed another solution. “The walls were kind of busy, so I suggested using a ledge instead of a niche,” Sonnenberg says. The quartz-topped ledge with an ogee edge runs along the wall above the standard 60-inch soaking tub, tying in with the vanity countertop and echoing the home’s original architectural details.

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