by Tracy Kemp | photos by Dave Pluimer
Where do we go when we seek sanctuary in our home? Many of us have a den or a reading nook or perhaps a cozy corner of a loft. But with so many of us working from our homes these days, that den or cozy corner may now be our workspace. This means the hustle and bustle we used to leave behind when we got home from work is now with us inside our home all day.
We might not automatically think of our bathroom as a possible sanctuary, but ACo designer Kayley Vargo, says it can be with the right colors, lighting, and the perfect aesthetic to match your inner calm or happy place.
“People spend a lot of time at home, even more so in recent years. So, it’s important to have spaces within your home that feel like a sanctuary. Areas that help you love where you live and feel joy being in your home,” says Vargo.
One aesthetic Vargo used with a client recently is Boho Chic, where she mixed bold colors with textural details and soothing neutrals.
“Boho Chic is fun because it brings rich colors into the space with patterns and textures”, Vargo says.
In fact, this Bohemian style of blending new and old is one of the hottest design trends these days. The colors and design create an energetic and playful space where the hustle and bustle can’t intrude.
This recent master bathroom redesign combined luxury tile around the tub and shower with pewter grout, plus mixed metal hardware and fixtures. The DuChateau luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring used is durable and easy to clean, and adds instant resale value.
“The warm, wood look LVP flooring helps ground the space with a nice contrast to the bright whites and blues,” Vargo explains. “The gold accents in the cabinetry hardware and lighting gives it a nice pop and we mixed metals throughout the room.”
But ACo’s Boho Chic design doesn’t simply create a serene sanctuary after a hard day at the home office; the redesign also adds space and functionality, something else we all need more of these days.
The ACo team reconfigured the layout to add room for a linen cabinet and rearranged the vanity to be more functional in its existing space. The old shower and tub were taking up a lot of square footage but not maximizing their functionality. Now, the spacious new shower has double showerheads, a handheld as a third, and cleanable niches designated for shower products. A freestanding tub with another hand-held fixture adds a stylish touch.
ACo works with clients from concept to finished design, even when there may be no initial concept. Sometimes clients have inspiration photos from Pinterest or magazines but often they have no clear direction and are looking for guidance.
Vargo says their job as designers is to understand what their clients are drawn to so they can see their vision, even when that vision isn’t clearly defined. When clients see their ideas visualized with ACo’s 3D renderings, it helps bring it all together.
As for the recent Boho Chic bathroom remodel, Vargo says, “I would say we accomplished exactly what the clients wanted. I know they are thrilled about the end result, as am I.”
Visit the Project Gallery at liveaco.com for more design inspiration, and connect with a designer for a complimentary in-home consultation.
