Repeat shapes:Rectangular cabinetrycalls for rectangularmirrors and sconces,square cabinetry forsquare mirrors andsconces, and so on.

Fora spa ambiance,

Coddington coveredthe vanity’s front with

mosaic tile that complementsthe rest of the room’s Carrera

marble tile, ‘20s-stylesubway tile and vintage-

inspired fixtures.

Withsinks, eschew

form for function.Coddington advises

using white porcelainsinks, which are easy to

clean and never goout of style.

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TOO OFTEN FORM AND FUNCTION

DON’T WANT TO LIVE TOGETHER: the oldwire hamper that glowers in your bathroom’sback corner doesn’t think it needs to hide itsugly face behind custom chestnut cabinets. Oryour ivory pedestal sink with its hand-carvedfloral trim reproaches all your attempts toplace storage baskets around it.

You can reconcile form and function bypaying attention to symmetry and simplicity,repeating shapes and purchasing well-madepieces of good material. “Interior design is allabout balance,” says Melanie Coddington, aSan Francisco-based designer who describesher aesthetic as “girly modern style.” Sheencourages her clients to balance their desirefor luxury with their day-to-day needs so theycan create their dream bathrooms.

SEE SHOPPING GUIDE, PAGE 96

Balancing ActTo create a

vintage feel, opt forexposed plumbing.

Choose vintage-inspiredfixtures made of modern

material to completethe look.

Everyelement of this

shower echoes its basicsquare shape: the tile floorwith square jade accents,rectangular basket-weave

tile, square niches, a squareglass curb and even a

square drain.

Fora streamlinedlook, ask your

builders to use as fewchrome clips during

installation aspossible.

Learn the secret to a luxurious, livable bathroom. B Y E L A I N E K . P H I L L I P S

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D A V I D D U N C A N L I V I N G S T O N

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64 W E L L S T Y L E D H O M E B E D R O O M S & B A T H S 2 0 1 3 • b e d r o o m s a n d b a t h s m a g . c o m

Unsurewhether to install

a double sink?Coddington says go for

the double, taking care tomake the space balanced

but not overlysymmetrical.

Inthis vanity area,

a glass-block window,soap dish and vase of

fresh flowers interrupt thenear-perfect symmetry,

which allows the custom-made space to feel

comfortable.

Spacethree flush- or

semi-flush-mountedwall sconces evenly

around the mirrors toprovide even

lighting.

Notonly does a

window betweentwo mirrors balancethe space, but it alsomakes the lighting

more flattering.

“Interior design is all aboutlooking for

balance.”StorageSolutions

Melanie Coddington revealsfive tricks for stylish andeffective bathroom storage.

1. Use wall space efficiently.Install above-sink mirrors thatcover shelves fit for smalleritems and open with the touchof a latch; these mirrors takeup minimal visual space whileproviding extra storage in apreviously unused space.

2. Disguise storage pieces asfurniture. In one bathroom,Coddington included “a wholeseparate free-standing storagebuilt to look like a chest ofdrawers. But when you touchthe latch, it pops open toreveal a deep space whereyou can store tall bottles ofbeauty products like hairsprayor shampoo.”

3. Stow items you use onlyonce a day out of sight. Oneof Coddington’s favorite tricksis installing a pull-out drawercustom-made for a hairdryer,complete with a power outlet.

4. Build a roll-out or tilt-outhamper into your cabinetryto hide dirty clothes.

5. Adjust your storage choicesto fit your lifestyle. Forinstance, one of Coddington’sclients wanted a luxuriousbathroom, so the designer leftthe vanity’s under-sink areaopen for storing rolled bathtowels. But after using thebathroom for a few months,the homeowner realized thather initial vanity choice didn’tprovide sufficient storage. Togive her client more storageand preserve the desired “spafeeling,” Coddington placedlarge striped baskets in the vanity.

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Bold & BeautifulExtra! Coddington offers her top tips for a quick-and-colorful bedroom makeover.

• Forget accent colors; use white and only one other hue for the entire room. “If I added redor orange to the bright turquoise bedroom,” Coddington laughs, “it would’ve been pretty crazy!But the blue-and-white palette always works.”

• Infuse your room with color by accessorizing well. Painting your walls may be cheap, but itdoes take time and effort. So for a quick fix, choose bright accessories to pop off your manufac-turer white walls.

• Switch out your accessories seasonally. This spring try a natural grass cloth lampshade, a floral or patterned throw and a colorful Indian dhurrie rug.

• Transform an everyday item into art. When Coddington decorated the turquoise bedroom, thehomeowner had one of her daughter’s dresses framed. Coddington hung it on the wall in thedressing room for a personal, nostalgic touch.

Coddington’s skill with monochromatic colorschemes shines in this 13-year-old girl’sbedroom. The bright turquoise works as a girlybut sophisticated alternative to bright pink,balancing the more masculine hardwoodfloors and keeping the room light and airy.

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