Water babiesteenage bathroom by Cheryl Kees Clendenon

A young person's bathroom is not always the largest room in the home. Often a designer will have to balance a light, playful aesthetic with the need to evoke a heightened sense of space.

This teenager's bathroom with a modest footprint was created by Cheryl Kees Clendenon. The designer says she took several approaches to give it a more spacious appeal.

"The homeowners wanted the bathroom to be pretty, but as their daughter was growing fast it couldn't be excessive.

"In response, I designed the space in a palette of blues and white, with touches of pink. The two-tone look downplays the limited size and provides an inviting decor.

"Materials and textures are important in smaller spaces. They offer an easy way to introduce visual layers, and consequently a feeling of space, without dramatic pops of color."

Blue Macaubas granite contributes a combination of texture and color, with veining that brings in pattern. This stone was used on the countertop, backsplash, sidestand and floor and in small, slip-resistant tiles in the shower.

"Framing the window in this material was tricky. To achieve the required curve, we cut the stone into small pieces and edged it around," says the designer.

Other textural interest comes in the form of unusual stretched honeycomb lattice tilework that lines the shower stall, while a glass shower enclosure adds to the impression of space. Pewter faucets provide another interesting, understated finish.

To give the room a feminine air, Clendenon chose a curvaceous vanity mirror topped with a crown motif. Wall sconces have a soft appeal, but avoid a fantasy theme that would not work so well later on, the designer says.

"The blue stonework is set off by the blue in the glass cabinetry door knobs, which provide tiny splashes of intricate detailing."

Clendenon chose the freestanding vanity sink for its attractive look, but it also provides an important practical advantage it is very easy to keep clean.

"Soft and subtle, this bathroom is fit for a princess now and will continue to work its charm in the years to come," says Clendenon.

Story by: Trendsideas