You remember that feeling when you’re waiting outside the bathroom and it’s as though someone is directing a symphony using all the water in the world? That’s pretty much my life. My eight-year-old says he’s “only brushing his teeth” – I’m positive he’s training for underwater demolition. I’ve come to understand now that bathrooms are essentially supposed to be flooded.
When we purchased our home in Chorlton approximately three years ago, the kids’ bathroom was basically designer-chic-peak-developer style – and not in a good way. It was all beige, all cheap, and I’m fairly certain whoever designed this area has never been within five feet of an actual child. The vanity was installed at some bizarre height that functioned for no human being; the counter was some type of synthetic marble that reflected every single drop of water; and please, do tell me about the white grout. White grout in a kids’ bathroom is equivalent to purchasing white furniture for a mud-wrestling arena.
At that point, I understood we would need to redesign the entire bathroom — however, I had no clue how difficult the process would be. Apparently, creating a space that will withstand daily kid chaos yet also present itself well enough that adults won’t immediately retreat is similar to writing software code that is both elegant and completely bug-free. While possible, you’ll inevitably develop numerous errors during the process.
My initial spectacular mistake occurred when I believed painting every aspect of the bathroom white would equate to a clean/bright appearance. What a joke. After about ten days, those beautiful white grout lines resembled a crime scene. I spent far more hours attempting to remove unknown orange stains (Seriously?! What are they doing in there with orange products?!). At that time, I came to realize I needed to entirely reimagine my design strategy.
Kid-proof design was where the flooring became my education. Ultimately ended up with these very large porcelain tiles in a warm gray tone with adequate texture to conceal soap scum — however, not enough texture to become an archeological dig site when cleaning. Additionally, I used dark charcoal grout. A complete game-changer. Obviously still gets dirty — EVERYTHING GETS DIRTY WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN — but at least it does not shout every spill as though it’s reporting major news.
Storage was another section where I had to creatively apply solutions. The awful mirrored medicine cabinets were placed too high for my children to access their items; therefore, I essentially had to serve as a full-time bathroom butler — and the cabinets were far too shallow to hold anything truly useful. Removed the original cabinets and added floating shelves. One shelf was placed low enough for my children to access their toothbrushes, cups, and increasing assortment of bath toys that seem to exponentially grow whenever I am not observing. The upper shelf contains my excellent hand soap, backup supplies, and those lovely towels that only appear when we have guests.
However, the key factor that transformed everything was installing two individual 24-inch vanities with a small storage unit situated between them. Now each child has their own space. Their own mirror, their own drawer, and their own area to create chaos without disturbing the other child. The significant decrease in bathroom disputes alone justified the additional headaches associated with installation.
Countertops were where I nearly lost my mind. Spent weeks researching various quartz styles, reading reviews, questioning virtually every choice. Quartz made sense — nonporous, resistant to stains, appears expensive enough that others believe I know what I am doing. However, after I began obsessing regarding edges since children and sharp corners are not compatible found a quartz product with slightly rounded edges and this minimal speckled pattern that simply hides water spots. The price tag exceeded my estimated costs by a considerable amount; however, three years later it remains almost brand-new regardless of its daily abuse.
The color of paint resulted in an overall diplomatic discussion among family members. The kids fought extremely hard for “rainbow walls,” while I desperately desired a color scheme that would prevent me from feeling as though I was trapped inside a children’s television program. Eventually decided upon soft sage-green for three walls with one accent wall in a darker teal. Exciting enough for the kids to feel as though it is theirs; and adult-sufficient enough that I do not cringe every time I enter the bathroom. Additionally, apparently sage-green possesses magical qualities that cause handprints to disappear. Who knew that existed?!
Mirror selection nearly drove me insane. Children require mirrors that allow them to view themselves clearly; however, bathroom mirrors are abused beyond recognition. Discovered these circular mirrors with simple black trim — one above each vanity — and they have endured everything from toothpaste catapults to my youngest son’s short-lived sticker-decorating period. The circular configuration provides a less formal appearance compared to standard rectangular-shaped bathroom mirrors; additionally, the lack of sharp edges eliminates potential hazards when kids act enthusiastically.
Lighting proved to be significantly more complex than anticipated. Vanity lighting models that are often showcased in magazines look fantastic online but produce severe shadows that hinder children from seeing what they are doing. Installed simple wall-mounted sconces beside each mirror — plus a ceiling light fixture equipped with a dimmer switch. The dimmer is vital — bright for when they need to actually see what they are doing; soft for bedtime rituals when you wish to avoid blinding them.
The shower renovation was likely the most extreme changes we completed. Maintained the existing tub/shower combination due to baths continue to exist — however, fully replaced all shower tile with subway tile and — having learned from my prior mistakes — utilized dark grout. Painted half-way up the surrounding walls with white subway tile; painted the remaining sections. These built-in corner shelving units are functioning far superior than any of the hanging shower caddie units we attempted.
Inexplicably, I learned through trial-and-error that hardware quality actually matters when children are involved. Those inexpensive chrome towel rods I initially selected? Failed to last for longer than four months before my children’s aggressive towel-hanging destroyed them. Decided upon proper brass fixtures with a brushed finish that conceals fingerprints; ensured all mounting brackets were screwed directly into studs since children do not delicately position towels onto hooks — they assault them as though they are attempting to ring a bell.
Speaking of towels — Here’s something nobody warns you about: hooks perform vastly better than towel rods when dealing with children. Children do not fold items — nor do they neatly arrange objects. They hang items anywhere it is easiest for them — and if there is not a suitable location available, the floor becomes the towel storage system. Six hooks in total were installed throughout the bathroom; plus additional hooks for washcloths and miscellaneous items requiring hanging.
This entire renovation process lasted approximately seven weeks and undoubtedly cost more than I originally allocated (Doesn’t it ALWAYS!). Nevertheless, the day-to-day anxiety-relieving benefits greatly outweigh the excessive expenses incurred. No longer do I wince during bath time when it becomes loud. No longer do I spend countless hours scrubbing unknown stains from surfaces created to endure only minor wear-and-tear. This bathroom exists today and meets the needs of its users — kids included — while allowing them to maintain creative chaos!
My mom continues to believe that I’m slightly crazy for dedicating so many resources toward “just a bathroom.” However, my dad quietly confessed that it looks very professional. Honestly speaking — when your primary concerns shift from “What is this stain?” To “Why is there a toy dinosaur stuck in the sink again?” you understand you’ve done everything correctly
