All-white is too intense. We need some fun.

As part of a renovation of an older house in Rothwell Heights, architect Linda Chapman was given the task of redesigning a bathroom to be shared by a pair of teenage sisters. The client originally asked for an all-white minimalist bathroom, but Chapman suggested that they play around with a bit of colour. “All-white is too intense. We need some fun,” she told the client. She then went on to suggest green glass tile accents for the bathroom floor and the walls of the shower — simple and unfussy, these little hits of colour imbue the bathroom with personality. Because the bathroom is shared, Chapman designed it with a clear delineation so that there would be no arguing. There are two sinks, two sets of shelving, and equal drawer space for each girl. The result is both elegant and whimsical. The homeowners later punched up the colour quotient a bit more, adding a stripy multicoloured shower curtain and pretty orange and green accessories for the girls’ shelves.

Design: Linda Chapman Architect | Contractor: Kemp Construction | Shelving: Muskoka Cabinet Company | Cabinetry: Muskoka Cabinet Company | Counter: ‘Blizzard’ CaesarStone, installed by Marble Unlimited | Sink: American Standard, Mondeau Bathroom & Kitchen | Faucets: American Standard, Mondeau Bathroom & Kitchen | Shower head: Grohe, Mondeau Bathroom & Kitchen | Toilet: Caroma, Mondeau Bathroom & Kitchen | Bath: American Standard, Mondeau Bathroom & Kitchen | Flooring: The Tile Centre | Lighting: Marchand Electrical Co. Ltd.