ABOVE The tub is the first thing you see when you enter the room. The tub and faucet are by Signature Hardware and the Roman shade fabric is by Lee Jofa. Homeowner Skye fell in love with the Visual Comfort chandelier and had to have it. “It still makes my heart flutter,” she gushes. Photos by Summer Ennis Ansley
In 2014, Skye and Michael Blair settled their family of five (and dachshund Rhysie) into a new home in Spanish Fort. The couple are both busy engineers, and extra time was in short supply, but they began to renovate the house themselves little by little. “The home had the basic builder package with lots of wasted space,” Skye explains, so she wanted to overhaul as much as possible. “When it came to the kitchen and bath, though, I knew I needed help, so we brought in the big guns.”
Mobile’s design duo March + May, made up of sisters Rachel Anderson and Natalie Roe, were called in to transform the space.
“We wanted to fit a bigger shower and bigger tub in the same floor plan,” Skye says, “and to use the unused space with a smarter layout. And, of course, we wanted it to be beautiful.” Something about which March + May are experts.
“Skye had a wish list for the project — and a tight budget to work with — but the result was a total transformation,” Anderson says. “A vanity was a must, so we made sure to add that in.”
Custom-framed art and a pop of color on the fresh new cabinetry pulled the look together. The Blairs might still dash in and out in the mornings on their way to work, but the evenings now beg them to linger in their refreshing space designed to rejuvenate.
BEFORE AFTER
Bathroom Makeover
BANG FOR BUCK
A great way to save money on a renovation is to use basic sheet mirror, trimmed out and painted to match the cabinetry. Sconces by Gabby Home are mounted on top. The installer can cut holes for the electrical, allowing for a seamless installation of the two. This also maximizes the amount of mirror, making the space seem even larger!
METALLURGY
More often than not, March + May say they mix metals in spaces. It is important, however, to consider the undertones of the metals when mixing them. In this space, they combined polished nickel plumbing (which has warm undertones) with the brass finish of the lighting (also a warm undertone). This allows for the two finishes to be complementary.
POP OF COLOR
The Blairs’ old bathroom combined several neutral shades, and nothing showcased the homeowners’ vibrant and colorful personalities. A white bathroom just wouldn’t do! March + May set out to create a classic look that would last the years but also provide a punch of joy for the Blairs as they get ready for their day or unwind while getting ready for bed.
ARTFUL TOUCHES
The two works of art above the dressing table are prints that March + May custom framed. Artwork will elevate a bathroom and can inspire the color scheme for cabinetry. If your budget doesn’t allow for original art, look for works on paper or prints that can fit in a standard-sized frame.
Oval Blue Room // Van Courtland Blue // Niebla Azul // Caldwell Green // Silver Marlin
More Blue and Green Picks from March + May
OVAL BLUE ROOM
The most blackened of Farrow & Ball’s blues, this subtly aged hue is named after the oval-shaped rooms of the late 18th century.
VAN COURTLAND BLUE
An old-world blue, this Benjamin Moore color feels coastal and pairs well with whites and grays.
NIEBLA AZUL
Hints of green undertones add to the sophistication of this blue by Sherwin-Williams.
CALDWELL GREEN
Any room will feel refined with this cyan-green color, part of Benjamin Moore’s Historic Color collection.
SILVER MARLIN
This gray by Sherwin-Williams is perfect for softening spaces that receive little to no natural light.