The challenge: The 1920s Cape Cod had one bathroom on the second floor, which was shared by the homeowners and their three children. The couple wanted a new private bathroom adjacent to the master bedroom, but without adding square footage.

The team: Architect Meriwether Felt, www.meriwetherinc.com, 612-746-5444 and Morningside Builders in Edina.

The solution: Felt used existing attic space and a closet with a sloped ceiling to create a new bathroom. "We lifted up the roof and popped in a dormer in the corner of the house," she said. Thanks to the dormer, the bathroom has a window to draw in morning light and a standard 8-foot ceiling.

Ocean blues: "The homeowner has spent time in Europe and loves the blues of the Aegean Sea," said Felt. Sea-inspired hues are found in the tile patterns on the walls and inside the shower. White wall tile is covered with a soft blue wash. Floor tiles laid in a diagonal pattern with white accent tiles create a pinwheel effect. "It was designed on a dime, but is still unique and special," said Felt.

Creative use of compact space: Although the bathroom is small, Felt's design provided room for a corner bench and generous-sized shower. The retro-look console sink gives the bathroom a feeling of openness. Since the bathroom doesn't have a linen closet, a wire basket stores fresh towels.

The new bathroom is small but functional. "Even though it's only 60 square feet, it feels fresh, familiar and comfortable, and is roomy enough for two people to get ready in the morning," Felt said.

BEFORE exterior

Black and white: Felt painted the casement window frame white and the interior black for a "graphic punch."

Repurposed mirror: The homeowner's antique mirror above the sink adds Old World charm.

Most bang for the buck: "I tell people roofs are cheap to amend," said Felt. "Don't be afraid to do it."

Lynn Underwood • 612-673-7619

SHARE YOUR EVERYDAY SOLUTION To submit a project for consideration, please send uncompressed JPEG images of the element or space, before and after photos if available, and a brief description of the story behind the project to Angie McKinley: mckinley@aia-mn.org.

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Everyday Solutions appears once a month in the Homes section as a showcase for projects, by AIA Minnesota member architects, that solve a homeowner's everyday design challenge. The program is a partnership between the Star Tribune and the Minnesota chapter of the American Institute of Architects.