Nia Bowers
Image Credit: California Bath & Design
A bathroom renovation might begin with a homeowner simply deciding that it’s time for a change. The end result, though, is almost never simple. The choices made regarding the layout, plumbing, lighting, storage, and how the room will actually be used on a daily basis are all behind any new vanity, walk-in shower, or stone countertop.
This is particularly the case in Los Angeles since no two houses obviously demand the same kind of approach. The design approach needed for a traditional home in Beverly Hills is likely to be different from that required for a modern house in another part of the greater Los Angeles area. Factors such as architectural style, available space, and the habits of the residents all have an effect on what is appropriate.
California Bath & Design, the bathroom design and remodeling studio based in Beverly Hills and catering to the wider Los Angeles area, takes each project into account by considering these differences from the start. Instead of first selecting a specific type of tile or fixture, the company looks at the room as a whole.
Image Credit: California Bath & Design
When considering the arrangement of a bathroom, it is important to note that even if the bathroom has attractive finishes, it can still seem uncomfortable if the vanity obstructs the flow of space, the shower occupies more room than it needs, or storage has been given little thought. There are certain situations in which moving a door or altering the shower can make the room appear much more open without having to increase its size.
The practical side of the renovation matters just as much. A bathroom must accommodate the routines that take place in it, from getting ready in the morning to storing towels, skincare products, and hair tools. Lighting should be both useful and attractive, while cabinetry needs to provide enough storage for everyday essentials rather than simply displaying well in a showroom.
Showers require that same level of planning. Although the clean, simple look of a modern walk-in shower can make the work behind the finished surface easy to overlook, details such as drainage, waterproofing, slope, glass placement, fixture positions, and storage niches all need to be addressed beforehand. When these elements are properly planned, the finished space feels simple and uncluttered because everything has a clear purpose.
Image Credit: California Bath & Design
Although the choice of materials is dealt with later, it can still have just as great an impact on the character of the final space. Each material, such as natural stone, porcelain, cabinetry, hardware, and lighting, has its own attractive qualities. The difficulty lies in getting them to seem as if they belong to the same room rather than as a number of separate items.
California Bath & Design looks at those choices as a whole, which results in a consistent color scheme for the floor, walls, wet areas, and countertops. By doing so, the materials will match the architecture rather than dominate it. Moreover, it enables homeowners to produce something unique without having to rely on each and every item being a statement piece.
Increasing recognition is being given to this kind of restraint in the design of luxury bathrooms. While high-grade materials still have a role to play, buyers are becoming more interested in bathrooms that are not only visually striking but also comfortable and practical. A custom vanity is more valuable if it includes the appropriate amount of storage. A big shower works better when its proportions and the way water is managed have been carefully thought out. Lighting that is good when the room is photographed should also be effective at 7 a.m.
Image Credit: California Bath & Design
Long-term usability may also be included in the initial design, with features like low-threshold or curbless showers, built-in seating, and careful clearances being able to boost accessibility without affecting the general character of a room. For homeowners who intend to remain in a property for many years, such choices can add value that goes well beyond the cost of the first renovation.
A successful bathroom renovation is actually the outcome of a number of smaller decisions combined together. The materials are important, but the floor plan is as important. The fixtures are important, but their position is also important. Moreover, a beautiful room is considerably more of a success when it keeps functioning well after the work has been completed.
California Bath & Design applies this point of view to bathroom remodeling in Beverly Hills and in the wider Los Angeles area. The company designs bathrooms that seem thought out rather than merely renovated by taking into account the architecture, the materials, and the way the space is used on a day-to-day basis.