Assessing a sloped ceiling bathroom as “An outdated attic-cave of a bathroom,” Delilah Collins of Denver-based Collins Design + Remodel minced no words when describing the original space she was called to rehabilitate. Collins, the current communications chair of the NKBA Rocky Mountain chapter, was challenged to add a new shower, increase storage and light and modernize the look of the bath.
There was no shortage of obstacles in the way of these goals. First was the spatial condition: the high point of the sloped-ceiling bathroom measured 6-ft. 10-in. while the low point was 4-ft. 4-in. The sink and toilet locations could not be changed, and the door to the 9-ft.6-in. x 6 ft. 6-in. room could not be moved. A brick chimney and a wall chase running through the planned location of the shower were the final complicating factors.
Solving the Space
Collins capitalized on the wall chase by using it to define an intimate, integral seat in the shower. To do this, she added a small wall that completes the alcove and also provides an anchor for the glass shower partition. The brick chimney was tiled over, creating a unified appearance.
A floating vanity is placed on the wall adjacent to the door to the bath, sized to accommodate the door swing. Opposite the vanity, a midcentury/Scandi style shelving unit echoes the angles of the room and sets the style of the space. A series of built-in storage cubbies runs up the wall closest to the toilet.
Color and Materials
To further the aesthetic theme, the designer used warm walnut and teak, brushed gold metals and simple white wall tile. She added highly textured, black brick floor tiles in a herringbone pattern to bring a lived-in feeling to the room and balance the otherwise minimalist environment. The result was a space that feels open and bright despite the restrictive ceiling heights and cramped footprint – no small achievement.
Sources for Solving a Sloped Ceiling Bathroom
Design & Construction: Delilah Collins, Colins Design + Remodel; Photography: Peter Loyd-Vuolo | PLV Photography; Cabinets: West Elm (vanity kit), IKEA (storage cubby), AquaTeak (shower shelves); Faucets, Shower Fittings: Delta; Lighting: Shades of Light; Paint: Sherwin-Williams; Tile: Daltile (wall), Fireclay (floor); Ventilation: Broan; Window: Anderson
