From Dated To Dreamy: A Spa-Inspired Bathroom Transformation With MSI
Objective: Full Primary Bath Remodel
Project Type: Residential
Products Used: Cecily Pattern Tile, Stella Biscotti, Kaya Calacatta Lucca
Designer: Tolin Designs
When a homeowner came to Tolin Designs hoping to remodel her full primary bath, she was looking to harmonize it with the rest of the home. After decades of knowing she wanted to one day fully renovate the room, she finally knew it was time for an upgrade. She wanted a space to relax at the end of the day; somewhere she could unwind in the comfort of a beautiful, pristine environment
Krystal Tolin, designer and owner of Tolin Designs, knew exactly what it would take to balance the warm, spa-like bathroom her client wanted with the soft, bright, charming touches that would blend with the rest of the lovely home. From dim corners, outdated accessories, and an abundance of brown, to a light, warm, elevated retreat, the designer was able to perfectly realize her client’s dream design using MSI’s products to easily mix and match flooring to shower surround to mosaic tile.
It was all about incorporating the beauty of the home, with its traditional charm, like the oak doors and trim, and enhancing it. “It’s a very pretty house—it’s got good bones; it’s got a classic feel throughout. We wanted to bring that into [the bathroom] a little, but update it at the same time,” said Krystal. “She told me things like ‘spa-like,’ ‘softer colors’—her whole home was warmer, so we were going to embrace the warmth in her bathroom.”
A Statement Mosaic Sets the Tone
It all started with one tile; when the homeowner was guided through several different tile options and ideas, there was only one that stood out to the homeowner.
“We really focused in around that Cecily tile—that was [the homeowner’s] favorite thing. We started designing all around that.”
MSI’s Cecily tile was the perfect place to start to accomplish that bright, open, luxurious bathroom they were aiming for. It was easy for the homeowner to fall in love with its creamy white marble-look backdrop and warm, light beige detailing, all tied together with its unique geometric pattern.
And it was essential in their goal in matching the bathroom to the rest of the home. “All those soft tones with that oak were perfect—especially with the brown specks in it. I think that was so helpful in tying everything together with that oak.”
Inspired from that one special tile, Krystal began designing the entire space. “It’s fun to pull different elements out of different [MSI] materials, like the roundness of certain things, or the geometry of certain things that make us look for certain lights or mirrors,” she said. “We definitely pull inspiration from them and just keep it going.”
Finding the Perfect Match
One of the most crucial pairings in a bathroom is in the shower. But once they had chosen the Cecily pattern mosaic tile for the shower floor, the next step was an easy decision.
“I love the Stella Biscotti because it was not white; it had cream and it had depth to it, but it still has that classic subway look that she wanted to keep,” Krystal said.
Stella Biscotti’s delightfully rustic texture and light, creamy base complemented so many of the elements in the renovation. “Everything all had browns within it, so that tied in well with the gold that we brought in with the fixtures. Everything just was really warm and true to the rest of her home.”
Tying it All Together
Finally, one of the last big choices that had to be made was the rest of the bathroom flooring. The foundation of the bathroom had to create a space that felt open, spacious, and luxe while harmonizing with the soft whites and warm browns of the rest of the design.
“She really just needed to lighten it up, so I thought that [Kaya Calacatta Lucca] 12x24 tile on the floor was great to really bring out the lightness, because it was dark tile before. The overall space feels much bigger than it was; that bigger tile made it feel more balanced in there.”
Not only that, but the natural Calacatta marble look in its durable porcelain format was ideal for that timeless yet elegant look. “I love the warmth of that tile. It’s just the right amount of those golds—those warm tones—without overkill. It’s really soft; it goes really well with most countertops. It’s a testament to what we were trying to do with her house; it wasn’t recreate her style, it was just to bring her style more to this day and age.”
Another key factor that influenced the designer’s creative decisions was the homeowner’s desire for a design that would stand the test of time.
“I’ve used [Kaya Calacatta Lucca] a couple of times; I really love that flooring. I think it’s always really a good blend of whatever trend is happening right now—it’s going to go with it; it’s going to be more timeless than other things.”
A Space Designed to Feel Like Home
At the end of the day, it’s all about the home feeling like home.
According to Krystal, “the big thing is just listening to what the client really desires. I love when it feels more like home to them—when they get excited about something. When she got excited about that Cecily tile, I was like ‘that’s it—we’re going all in, and we’re going to make this delicate and feminine and just this place she can retreat to.’”
No matter how beautiful your space is, comfort is central to the perfect bathroom too. MSI’s wall and floor tile are designed to not only be aesthetically appealing; they are also built to last. “You go in[to the bathroom] and you definitely feel like you’re in an elevated space, but you don’t feel like it’s too fragile that you can’t just relax,” Krystal said. “She just kept saying she wanted it to be timeless—she wanted it to feel like it could last a long time.”
What impacted Krystal the most was the customer’s reaction to the newly renovated space. “I get proud when they feel so much relief at the end,” she said. “When they tell me, ‘I’m just so relaxed, it feels like home, I can’t wait to get my shower...’ It’s just that moment when they’re happy to be home.”
“I’ve been really happy with just how well [MSI] coordinates different styles of products,” Krystal summarized. “To pull from different groupings and be able to find something that really goes well with it without it being so matchy—it’s really nice. I’m able to be creative and still show everything to the clients easily.”
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