Blue Bath

One of the problems with many home decorating magazines is that they display photos of rooms in houses much larger and more elegant than anything an average reader will ever be decorating. Even for professional decorators, many projects involve improving rooms that are challenging, by being too dark, too small, or by having oddly-slanted ceilings.

The bathroom we've chosen is faced with all three challenges, and yet the decorator has created a bright, interesting room that really comes together.

Let's look at this room with the Sheffield Guidelines to Interior Design, function, mood, and harmony.

First, the principal function of a bathroom is clear: it's there to take care of one's basic hygienic needs. And in those terms, this bathroom clearly can do its job, with all the necessary facilities.

There is even an extra countertop and cabinet, in the left rear of the room, which is perfect for applying cosmetics, as the natural light from the skylight provides the right illumination, and the area is set off from the tub and sink.

• Tip: Whenever you look at the function of a room, try to seek out the more subtle functions as well. For many people, the bathroom also provides one of the only places in the home that assures utter privacy. While the kids are clamoring in the living room and the phone is ringing and the TV is blaring, this bathroom offers a pleasant place to hide and relax for a few moments.

That function of relaxation is evidenced quite practically in the tub. Notice, first of all, the choice to have a full bath instead of a stall shower. A stall shower would have provided more room, but then the luxury of the tub would have been lost. And this isn't just any tub; this one is complete with a pillow molded into the tub, promising ultimate comfort and relaxation.

Notice too, how the soft, natural light is used here, which not only speaks to the function of the room as a place for relaxation, but also speaks to the mood of the room. The mood is relaxed, tidy, and feminine without being fussy. The obvious source of the gentle light is from the oblong skylight over the commode, but the wall of glass bricks at the tub also lets in a huge splash of light without sacrificing privacy. This milky, filtered light contributes to the dreaminess of the room.

Finally, the room's harmony further contributes to the mood. The color choice of blue plays on the idea of the bath as being a place of water - and we all know the relaxing properties of water, whether you're sitting by the surf on a quiet beach, picnicking beside a waterfall, or soaking in a tub at home.

The tile floor, which continues up the side of the tub, the countertop, and the shower curtain all play with the shades of turquoise, and then the green plant on the counter provides yet another sea-side color, the deep green of seaweed. But notice, too, that while there is a subtle water theme here, it isn't over-played with a lot of knickknacks that would detract from the clean, almost spare look.

Overall, this room is a soothing, cooling retreat from the cares of the world, a bathroom to which anyone would be glad to retreat for a moment's peace.