Room envy: A bold wallpaper adds glam to this Kennesaw bathroom

Interior designer Kelly Kole used the Thiabaut pattern on only one wall so as to not overwhelm the space
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Photograph by Emily Followill
Photograph by Emily Followill

Interior designer Kelly Kole gutted the circa-1997 builder-issue bath in her Kennesaw house to add a little glam to her life. The inspiration: a dramatic blue-and-white Thibaut wallpaper, “Donegal,” that she spotted at the High Point Market a couple of years ago. “I fell in love with it immediately, and even now, I stare at it all the time,” Kole says. “It has a watercolor quality to it and gorgeous, subtle shades of blue.”

A little goes a long way
Kole used the bold wallpaper on only one wall so it wouldn’t overwhelm the room. Keeping other walls neutral prevented the pattern from getting too busy and looking dated. It also helped contain the budget.

Into the indigo
Playing off the wallpaper, Kole chose a blue shower floor tile (“Savoy” by Ann Sacks) and had it applied in the niche as well. “It’s the color of the sky and water, so it’s perfect for a bathroom.”

Tiny perches
A teak bench in the shower and a glazed ceramic stool by the tub add textures, plus practical tabletops.

Pattern play
A cobalt blue rug with an oversized Moroccan pattern contrasts in scale with the wallpaper and tile.

Light on the feet
The designer originally considered a limestone floor but decided to save money with porcelain tiles that have a subtle veining. The semipolished finish makes them less slippery.

Jewelry for the bath
An angular, high-end faucet by Brizo is the perfect foil for the feminine wallpaper.

Designer tip: Pièce de résistance
A freestanding tub with modern lines balances the vivid wallpaper. Kole chose “Collette” from Signature Hardware. The acrylic tub is lightweight—important when it’s upstairs.

This article originally appeared in our April 2015 issue.

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