SUBTLE FEMININE GRACE
Creating graceful retreats where clients relish spending their time is key to a successful remodel. In this project, located in Hanford, California, two bedrooms were transformed to create a Primary Bathroom oasis and Laundry Room retreat. This client requested a peaceful space to enjoy getting ready each morning and a convenient space to do laundry. To begin, the Laundry Room was relocated from the opposite end of the house to adjoin the Primary Suite to create ease and convenience.
In the Primary Bath, a warm, creamy marble floor is mixed with the “design enthusiast favorite” zellige tile on the walls. Different patterns and shapes are swirled through the space, using similar color tones to create harmony. Warm taupe cabinets are adorned with organic shaped, brushed brass hardware, and topped with a classic white quartz countertop.
Lighting is always an integral part of the bathroom. In this space, general illumination is achieved with recessed can lights, while wall sconces flanking the mirrors add more ambient lighting. Above the jetted bathtub is a scalloped strie glass light fixture with understated metalwork, in a polished nickel finish. Custom-commissioned framed mirrors incorporate the polished nickel and brushed brass metals used throughout these rooms.
All spaces should be pleasant, including the Laundry Room. This area showcases how to use soft and subtle colors. The cabinets are painted a pearly mint and sit atop a multi-tone hexagon tile floor. Custom-designed built-in cabinetry around the washer and dryer creates abundant storage space. As a final touch, the incorporation of delightful sunflowers and a gentle olive tree truly represent the cherry on the cake for this project, which exudes tranquility.
By using similar bright and warm color tones, a cohesive design is created between the two spaces. Using different but soft color hues is what makes each space distinctive while blending seamlessly. The rooms reflect not only the beautiful property the house sits on but also the client’s warmhearted and bright personality. Complementing a client’s taste with a designer’s eye is what adds the extra intentional spark that makes a space unique.
Composing the right balance of color, texture, shape, and materials enables a space to be exceptional. Often, clients want to mix things up but aren’t quite sure how to achieve the look they desire. This is where an interior designer’s value comes in—their specialty is knowing how to mix elements to create cohesive interiors that clients are sure to love. Being involved in all aspects of the design and construction process of a remodel, such as this, ensures that a client’s vision becomes reality. Every space, even workhorse rooms like bathrooms and laundry areas, can be a retreat with subtle feminine grace given the right elements.
Interiors Contributor Katie Mendrin
Photographer Ellie Koleen
Katie Mendrin
Interiors Contributor
Katie heads Katie Mendrin Design, based in Fresno, California, and specializes in residential and commercial interior design. Applying 17 years of experience and focusing on a client-centered approach, she offers a balance of creativity, collaboration, and forward-thinking. The designer strives to create holistic, innovative, and cohesive environments. Katie thoroughly enjoys taking each client’s vision, mixing in her twist, and creating the perfect space for clients to enjoy.
Ellie Koleen
Photographer
Ellie is a lifestyle, wedding, and brand photographer based in Fresno, California. An artist behind the lens, her trademark airy, light-filled style and masterful camera angles make her work easily recognizable. She uses her love for all things design related as inspiration for her work, and you can find her traveling any opportunity she gets to capture stories for her clients. The Fresno Bee named Ellie Best Photographer for five consecutive years in a row.
