A blue bathroom intervention

Sonia's family has lived in their 1920s-built house for about 15 years. Over time she lovingly decorated every room to suit her style - except the small, dated bathroom that had her feeling blue … really blue. To Sonia, this family bathroom was an eyesore with old blue fixtures, an awkward layout and constant clutter. But her daughter Taryn argued for years that the blue made it "retro" and "cool," and shouldn't change. So what's a mom to do? Call me for a little mother-daughter design mediation!

Now, I'll confess, I kind of liked the old robin's egg blue. But any "cool" factor was overshadowed by the cracked floor tiles, the chipped countertop, the rusted, non-functional baseboard heater and the little blue toilet (that needs three flushes to work); sadly, the list got pretty long. Sonia would cringe when guests saw the space so I agreed it was time for a room that would relieve stress rather than cause it.

This tiny cluttered space really needed a complete overhaul to become functional so my design had to make the most of every inch of space. Once the plumbing and drywall were done, and the old cracked tile replaced by marble in a misty green that picks up the paint colour, my crew was ready to tackle the fixtures and finishes to make this family bathroom the oasis of calm that Sonia longs for.

I wanted the elevation you see from the doorway to be breathtaking so I started with a spectacular wall of one-inch iridescent mosaic tile. The subtle shades in the tile reveal a beautiful, large-scale damask pattern that is truly a work of art.

Where there was a worn out blue bathtub and unusable hand-held shower, there is now a walk-in shower beside a deep soaker tub. The shower has a rain head, a very cool hand shower with a four-part head for a variety of water experiences and a spa-like teak grate over the water receptor. The frameless glass enclosure keeps the space light and airy while separating the shower bench from the tub deck. And when you step out of the shower, toasty towels are on an incredible wall rack that heats the whole room.

The deep, ivory soaker tub is set into a white quartz surround, creating a tub deck that is a perfect place for all salts and sponges. I also wanted Sonia to have a great view while she's enjoying a long, luxurious soak so I covered the tiny window with a soft fabric blind and pleated ivory linen valance to give the illusion of a tall, elegant window, and placed the most brilliant crystal chandelier directly over the tub.

If you can love a toilet, I sure love this one. The tankless, electric, "hatbox" toilet fits beautifully into the small space. With a glass-fronted cabinet above and more light maple cabinetry at the vanity, there is enough open and closed storage to make clutter a thing of the past.

The new vanity across from the tub and shower is as functional as it is beautiful.

The crisp, white quartz countertop holds a cut-glass vessel sink. With the faucets mounted directly onto the counter-to-ceiling mirror, the multifaceted sink is reflected throughout this multi-faceted room.

This rundown bathroom had a bad case of the blues. But with gorgeous modern fixtures, fresh colours and cool, clean accents, I turned Sonia's family bathroom into a refreshing and luxurious place she'll be proud to call her own. Now that's divine!

To see where Candice shopped for this episode, you can find the resource guide at divinedesign.tv.