Remodel within the Bathroom Footprint

Blue Bath Special

A gloomy bath sheds its claustrophobic character without losing a single wall.

Question: What do the words “polished,” “open,” and “W Hotel” have in common?

Answer: They were all on the list of aesthetic criteria that Terilynn Perez used to describe what she wanted in her remodeled bath. Rounding out the list were modern, light, and unique. A glance at the “before” photo explains the inspiration for this list. Architect Eric Dumican had one other criterion to consider as he pondered potential solutions: Don’t move any walls. And oh yes, given the bath’s location inside the house, windows weren’t an option.

Dumican’s plan for the new bath kept all the fixtures and walls in the same place, with an operable skylight over the shower funneling daylight into the room. The central lavatory space is flanked by translucent sliding doors; one leads to the shower room, and the other to a walk-in closet. Made of 1-in.-thick acrylic panels, the doors are sandblasted on one side. When closed, the shower-side door is a luminous plank that lights up the serene blue walls.

Methodical and orderly, rectilinear details such as the square glass tiles in the shower, the inset tile baseboards, and the powder-coated steel vanity bring polish, light, and a modern touch to this recast bath. Unlike the original blocky base cabinet, the new vanity floats above the floor, its shape echoed by the soffit above.

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Cool Slate, Warm Wood

Foggy-gray tile and stone are the backdrop for a splendid Douglas-fir cabinet.

“Give it the spirit of Japanese architecture, but don’t create a literal copy.” That’s the essence of what Wayne Lovegrove’s clients requested when describing how they wanted to transform their suite bathroom. With its sloped ceiling, generous skylight, and view of an evergreen forest, the original bath had plenty of attributes. But style and substance were not among them. The existing economy-grade materials, too-low counter, and fixtures were to be completely replaced. To maximize investment in quality design and materials, there would be no structural or plumbing-location changes.

Lovegrove’s design began with the subtle organizational underpinnings that characterize traditional Japanese homes. The floor is a grid of custom-cut slate tiles centered on both the sink and the toilet. The cabinet, made of vertical-grain Douglas fir, features doors and drawers with delicate reveals between rails, stiles, and panels. The counter, raised now to a comfortable height, steps down to become the windowsill. It is a schist slab, double thick at the edges for a sense of solidity. The new bath captures the calm richness of traditional Japanese architecture without having an overt Japanese style.

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Mission Modern

A remodeled bath opens up with longer sightlines and calm, uncluttered finishes.

The owners had two goals in mind when they decided to upgrade the guest bath in their ’70s ranch house. First, they wanted to lose the dated vinyl flooring, glowing fluorescent valance, and cheesy yellow tile, and fashion a bath more in keeping with their collection of Mission-style furniture. And second, they wanted a tub that made it easier to bathe the grandchildren.

Designed by Anthony Anderson of MAK Design+Build, the new bath makes the most of its modest 55 sq. ft. Anderson fixed the bathtub problem with an extra deep, drop-in tub detailed with a curb that makes a comfortable place for a grandparent to sit or lean. The tub is deep enough for the kids to splash around in a bubble bath without inundating the surrounding area. And the hinged glass splash guard swings out of the way, making access to the tub controls a lot easier than with the original sliding doors.

Instead of the chunky base cabinet in the old bath, the lavatory now sits atop a console-style quartersawn oak cabinet reminiscent of a Mission-style table or desk. The custom oak-framed mirror, with raised plugs at the corners, completes the composition.

Design: Anthony Anderson

Builder: MAK Design+Build, Davis, Calif.; www.makdesignbuild.com

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From Fine Homebuilding #207