In both the real-estate market and the court of public opinion, a house can be made and broken on its bathrooms alone. They are, after all, the most trafficked rooms in the house—and often look the part when it comes to wear and tear. Their straight-shooting functionality can also make them feel less inventive or personal than the rest of the house. But that doesn’t always have to be so. While some might argue the merits of an extensive overhaul to give your most important spaces a refresh, sometimes all that’s needed is a quick, easy cosmetic treatment.
Such was the case for this guest bath in a Bridgehampton, New York, beach house , which was cleverly upgraded by New York City designer Fawn Galli. “This bathroom lacked real character,” says Galli, who is known for her colorful, pattern-friendly approach to interior design. “The family is really energetic, and we wanted to bring in a playful and youthful aesthetic while still maintaining some of the classical architectural elements you see at the beach: beadboard, white porcelain fixtures, hex flooring.”
The bathroom before: dull and lifeless.
All Galli needed to do just that was a tongue-in-cheek, animal-themed wallpaper by Abnormals Anonymous . “We thought it was graphic and fun while still being serene enough for the bathroom,” she says. The paper itself achieves the look, while the luxe gold-foil detailing elevates the beach-friendly blowfish pattern in a way that balances the room’s more traditional elements. “I think it’s worth taking risks, especially in rooms that are used by guests, where it’s great to create impact moments,” says Galli. “I hear that this room is one of the house’s spaces that gets the most compliments.”
If you’ve got a great bath with good bones but little personality, Galli suggests installing wallpaper for a unique look. “It’s amazing how a wallpaper can transform a tired room into a vital inspiration moment,” she says. But if you’re enlisting a contractor to help you get the job done, the designer suggests caution. “When we first saw the wallpaper installed, we realized it was upside-down. We had to rehang it,” she says. “Overexplain everything, even if it seems self-explanatory. No one wants a belly-up fish in their bathroom.”
The bathroom now features Abnormals Anonymous's playful Mr. Blow wallpaper.