KITCHENS/BATHS: By Eva Ditler • Photography by Donald Mirra
Connect the Dots
Storage and style are brought together in a Mission Hills bath...
Homes built in the 1940s often have common challenges when it comes to their bath-rooms: there's only one and that single space tends to be small.
When Mission Hills homeowners asked Kristy Kropat for help with their 1940s teeny bath, they wanted to maximize storage without sacrificing style — and they wanted to do it for under $25,000.
"Although the owners preferred a modern style, it was important to stay true to
the architecture and character of the home," says Kropat. "Therefore the bathroom de-sign encompasses classic and timeless black and white design with a slight modern twist. Instead of using a tradition-al black and white tile pattern, small penny-round tiles of white, grey and black marble and granite cover the floor and a band of all-black penny-round tiles accent the beveled white subway tiles in the shower and on the vanity wall."
The beveled subway tiles continue to the ceiling on the vanity wall to make the bath feel bigger and give more height to the wall. White tile, white walls and white Carrera marble countertops also contribute to a spacious feel.
"The original vanity did not take full advantage of the very narrow, long space," Kropat says. "I designed a custom vanity that is only 17-inches deep (except around the sink) that contains six good-size drawers and a shelf under the cabinet."
More storage was created with a custom medicine cabinet recessed into the wall. The mirror contains three separate areas of storage behind it, providing ample space for all the family's small bathroom necessities.
