Make Your Bathroom Design Pop with Clever Tips from Andrea West

Do you ever wish you could just live in your bathroom all day? It may sound strange, but after you have a look at these deep soaking tubs and vibrant tile designs, you’ll understand where I’m coming from. Today on the blog, I had the great pleasure of chatting with award-winning interior designer Andrea West. After reading this interview, you may want to call her the queen of bathroom renovations. Learn her top tips and tricks on how to design your bathroom to look like her renowned, statement-making bathroom masterpieces. Here’s what Andrea had to say! 

All photos in this article were provided and designed by Andrea West and Andrea West Designs.

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Hi Andrea! Can you tell me a little about your background and how you got interested in design?

Hi Kathy! Well growing up, I was always constantly rearranging my room and helping my mom and grandma decorating their homes. As soon as I learned Interior Design was a profession, I job shadowed a local designer and knew it was the career for me from the get-go. I immediately applied for design school, and worked as a builder part time while putting myself through the design program.

I love that interior design is the perfect balance of technical skills with artistic creativity. Most importantly, it also enables me to work closely with people and have the opportunity to build lifelong relationships. 

Photography by Nicole Gerulat

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When did you first launch/start Andrea West Interior Design? Where are you based? And where do you offer your design services?

I officially launched Andrea West Design three years ago when my husband and I moved for grad school. Because we were constantly on the move, I created a way to design and work with clients that didn’t depend on location. While we are based out of Utah, we have structured our design process so that we can service anyone that needs design help both local and long distance!

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How would you describe your design style?

We are known for our unique mixture of design styles, with taking clean contemporary lines and softening them with statement pieces and lots of color and personality. I love using high contrast and edgy pieces and of course mixing metals!

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Bathroom Design Tip #2. Tile Is Your Friend

Add character to your bathroom with accent tile. I love playing around with patterned tile since it draws attention to a focal point. 

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What would you say is your general design process from conception to completion?

What makes our design projects so successful are the clients we are designing for, and so we use a very collaborative design approach when designing our projects. We use concept images and digital software to convey our design ideas, and have design proposal meetings to walk through every detail of the design. This is where we bring in physical samples of the designs so that we can touch and see the materials. These are always my favorite meetings because we get to show them the design style we capture for them, and get to see the excitement of the possibilities our clients are starting to see come together.

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And what would you say is your favorite part of the design process?

I really love every part of the design, from meeting clients for the first time to proposing the ideas and seeing their excitement. But if I were to choose my absolute favorite part of the design process, it would have to be at the very end after the final installation where we do the final reveal to the clients. To see the look on their faces when they see the transformation knowing we nailed the design, is priceless.

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Bathroom Design Tip #3. Add Some Greenery

I love incorporating plants (whether real or faux) in my client’s bathrooms to add pops of nature and color. A couple of potted plants can go a long way!

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Where do you draw inspiration from?

I like to draw inspiration from everything around me, whether it be from traveling and seeing beautiful pieces of architecture or seeing the latest fashion trends. But my favorite place to draw inspiration that is also the most important are from the client. We can make any space beautiful, but it’s the personality and specific design needs of each individual client that really gives the design life and personality. 

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Do you have a favorite space to design?

I’ve always had a love affair with tile, and so designing bathrooms and kitchens has always been a love of mine. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of kids rooms which have also been fun because we can be a little more bold and unapologetic with our design selections. 

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Do you have any advice or tips as per your design style?

I like to draw inspiration from everything around me, whether it be from traveling and seeing beautiful pieces of architecture or seeing the latest fashion trends. But my favorite place to draw inspiration that is also the most important are from the client. We can make any space beautiful, but it’s the personality and specific design needs of each individual client that really gives the design life and personality. 

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Name one designer active in the industry right now who inspires you.

I absolutely love everything that Genevieve Gorder touches–she has a way of mixing worlds and patterns that makes every room unique and memorable. I also love that she combines price points that are both affordable and high quality into her designs, which we also strive to do with our own.

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Bathroom Design Tip #5. Include Cozy Touches

Your bathroom is also your sanctuary, so it’s best to make it as comforting as possible. Adding texture can convert your bathroom into a cozy and inviting space, like this sheepskin rug. 

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What is the biggest challenge you face as a designer? How do you attempt to solve that challenge?

My biggest challenge is finding the perfect work/life balance as I am a mother and work-from home designer. We are constantly growing and attracting more and more clients, and because I love what I do so much I want to take on every single design project that comes our way.

However, I have been the most inspired ever since I had my baby and have designed my best projects yet, and so I know that the time I take for my family and for myself personally is what keeps me inspired and creative.

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Bathroom Design Tip #6. Open Up the Space

A shower curtain can make a bathroom’s space feel divided and small. Try opting out of a curtain, and install modern glass doors. This immediately opens up the bathroom, giving it a fresh appearance.

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Photography by Travis Richardson

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Is there anything else about Andrea West Design we should know?

I always like to share that I am a mother first, and a designer second because as we are designing these spaces for our clients, we are designing a space for their families to live and elevate their level of living through meaningful and beautiful selections. Because we take it from a family-first approach, it gives us an inside understanding on how to design these spaces so that they are not only beautiful, but function and are achievable for everyone. 

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Kathy Kuo Home Design Services