For this Toronto bathroom renovation was, quite literally, close to home for Nicole Bechbache and Sydni Hoffman, Co-Founders & Principal Designers at Stafford House Studio. The two-story property was built in the early 2000s, and Sydni’s parents purchased it from the builder when she was just 14. Now, she lives in the area with her husband and two small children, and her parents’ primary bathroom was due for an update.
Even with the familial connection, Stafford House Studio was the clear choice for the remodel. The pair takes a deeply personal approach to design, taking the time to truly assess their clients’ needs before delivering a timeless and elegant space they’ll love for years to come.
The existing layout worked well, but the finishes were quite worn and dated. Top requests included a soaker tub—Sydni’s mother takes two baths a day—and to create a more spacious feeling in the space. “So, we opted to remove the bulky drop-in tub with steps that span wall to wall,” Nicole explains. “It felt like a waste of space.” By removing the visual heaviness of the full wall shower partitions and adding more glass, the designers were able to achieve a more open feel. For the shower, Sydni’s dad weighed in. “A rain head showerhead was important to my dad. It was the only thing he asked for, and my mom allowed him to have his one request,” she says with a big laugh.
A 3-month remodel ensued. When you enter the space, on the right, is the beautiful free-standing Kohler tub. “We wanted this to be a special moment under the window where the tub can really shine,” Nicole explains. “It was really important to us to showcase the beautiful curves of this tub. The marble ledge that also acts as a windowsill allows ultimate functionality without having to be precious about it.” The fixtures are all by Kallista, and the paint is Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore.
The soft green tile by Ciot features a classic pattern, which took the installer weeks to complete because he was so diligent with tile layout, pattern and symmetry. “We decided to use the tile as a baseboard for simplicity, visual flow, and interest,” Sydni shares. “It’s something we love to do in bathrooms as a nice alternative to molding when appropriate. We continued the tile as a half wall detail throughout the space to maintain a more traditional and classic feel.”
Since it’s a shared space, they decided to maintain the half wall to frame the vanity while also ensuring the toilet had privacy. The vanity was fabricated by Carmel Kitchens & Baths. “We pulled the tone of the stain in the vanity from the red oak flooring that is original to the house,” Sydni explains. “We wanted the vanity to feel warm and rich and help soften the hardness of the rest of the elements.” To mirror the curves of the tub, they added subtle bead detail along with a bullnose countertop edge. “It was a strategic way to add softness and marry all the elements in a space where all the material is quite hard,” Nicole adds. They chose to mix metals here, with hardware from Rejuvenation. “We feel like the polished nickel hardware brightens up the vanity while the French gold softens the marble and provides richness.”
While Sydni’s parents lived in the home during the renovations, it made it all the more exciting. “They were super involved throughout the project and were able to experience all of the milestones as they happened in real time, which was very exciting for them,” Sydni shares. “They decided to only peek in on weekends, so they were able to have mini reveals all throughout the timeline. They are constantly letting us know how happy they are with the finished space. They spend so much time in this bathroom and the renovation has changed their lives for the better. Now they want to spend more time in here and really enjoy the space. They are thrilled with how it turned out!”
