After a dozen or so years in her St. Louis home, Dawn Weinhardt, co-owner of Weinhardt Party Rentals, was ready to freshen up around the house, starting with an outdated master bath. A head-to-toe makeover in the summer of 2017 took the room from dim and dull to bright black and white. It’s now a modern gray-tone bathroom with a mix of just enough femme frill and mild machismo to make the space a haven for just about anyone seeking a quiet retreat.
Dawn had already purchased a black vanity that caught her eye, so when Candice Wideman of Youtopia Designs took up the project, the design came together around that starting point. "I liked that she wasn't afraid of blacks and whites," says Candice. “She also wanted something that was somewhat feminine with some masculine qualities.”
Wanting to get away from the browns and greens of the existing room, Dawn assembled an inspiration book that was heavy on neutrals. “I like lighter and brighter, so we picked grays and whites. I like a very clean look,” she says.
Candice gutted the entire room, taking down a short wall by the toilet and absorbing an underutilized bar in the living room to extend the shower and toilet area by approximately 20 square feet. Sleek marble flooring has replaced the original tile, and a more functional closet, complete with shelves and drawers, now sits where wire racks once were. The black vanity top and textured black tile behind it brought in a rugged element, while soft, feminine wall sconces softened the look. In order to let the backsplash truly shine, the designer hung a pair of mirrors from the ceiling over the his-and-hers sinks instead of wall-mounting them.
To achieve the “light and bright” look Dawn desired, Candice installed strategically placed can lighting throughout the room. In addition to a physically larger room, a glass shower lends the space more visual openness.
The revamp has given Dawn a lively, comfortable and functional room that is neutral in more ways than one. “It’s just new and fresh,” she says. “It’s better than I could have expected.”
Resources
Interior Designer: Youtopia Designs, 314-556-9811
Remodeler: Striking Renovations, 636-294-1004
Bath/Plumbing: Ferguson, 314-522-3300
Tile/Granite/Flooring: The Tile Shop, 314-778-5256
Window Treatments: Discount Draperies, 636-345-0760
