Sunday, May 13, 2012
The Boothbay Harbor, Maine cottage I've been working on has an upstairs bathroom challenge.
It's a small bathroom located in the attic eaves. But, being in the eaves, also is part of the charm.
At this point, I don't really have an overall before picture, but it has a tub and no shower, and the current sink is located in a corner. As most small bathrooms go, storage is an issue. I'm hoping we can come up with some hidden storage in the walls.
The challenge is creating good functional design, while keeping true to a summer cottage feel. This bathroom has exposed wood beams, and rustic charm.
The picture below captures one of the main features of the bathroom, the window that sits right above the tub. I particularly like how the wainscoting wraps around from the window edge. My clients' current sink cabinet is made from an old dresser. While this dresser below isn't a sink, it could easily be converted. The fresh, white wainscoting with the wood dresser is a great cottage combination.
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Another tub and window combination, but this time has a tile wrap on the walls from the window frame.
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This is a wonderful use of hidden storage. These open cubbie shelves look to be taken from in between the studs in the walls. It's a great trick if you don't have to deal with plumbing or electrical. The mirrored medicine cabinet is wonderful with its mirrored sides.
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One of the major questions in the Maine cottage is whether to pull the tub and try to install a shower. Below is a shower installed in an attic eave. Although in this shower, I would use a frameless shower door wall.
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I pulled this photo below because I liked the mix of white with the wood vanity mirror and tub caddy. Sometimes just an accent of wood will soften the starkness of the crisp white trim, tile, and floor. The lamp sconces are a nice touch too.
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More hidden storage in the eaves...
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While my clients' are not looking for this much formality (below), I like some of the elements, such as the storage cabinet. And if a shower doesn't work in my clients' bathroom, a handheld shower could be installed with the tub.
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A great dresser or side board retro-fitted to be a sink. The added storage baskets underneath give the empty space a wonderful fill and can be used for towels, extra toilet paper, or even things like a hair dryer.
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More furniture looking sink cabinets. More great storage underneath.
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I love the charm of this sink cabinet. And, such simple carpentry. This type of sink cabinet would be very cost effective. The most costly piece would be the material used for the countertop (in this case - marble). The curve along the backsplash sides really give it great detail. And, the sink skirt! So fresh and feels like summer time.
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The Maine cottage bathroom has a corner sink which is a challenge when considering storage and countertop. Mounting of a mirror and good lighting presents a challenge too. In order to pull the cabinet to a flat wall, plumbing would need to be moved and adds much cost. Corner sinks are not impossible to achieve both form and function, just needs good planning.
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Posted in:
Bathrooms,
cottages,
second home
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
I've been working on a master bath project and thought I'd share some of the progress. (Earlier posts on project are here and here.) Things are really starting to take shape. I was on site this morning to review some finishing details and took a few pictures.
Thought I'd start with the before....
(the Afghan rug was a starting point. My client and I were trying it out while reviewing the design plan.)
... and not the final after, but the progress after below.
Almost every surface will be changed out when we're finished. All the plumbing remained in place, so no sinks, tub, or toilet moved. This space is a nice size, not too large and not small either. But, it had a few fundamental issues. One of the biggest issues - all the doors! The bathroom is entered through French doors. To the left is a single vanity sink, then the closet door, the toilet room door (to the left of the tub) and then over to the shower door. To the right of the shower door is the second vanity and then a door to a linen closet. That's 5 doors and 1 shower door all in the same space.
The old floor, tub, and shower tile was removed, as were the sinks, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and lighting. My client wanted a mix of old world vintage along with a lush hotel feel. I used a wood flooring that had an old world feel, not too dark or too aged. Much more to come on this tub space. It's the first thing seen when entering the room.
The tub deck will receive carrara marble as will the sink tops and shower surround. I used Benjamin Moore's "decorators white" for the custom cabinet work. It's a wonderful white to pair with carrara marble.
These amazing French doors were installed yesterday. They are painted in Benjamin Moore's "black". All the door hardware is from Emtek.
Below..... before of one of the two vanities.
Hats off to my clients for letting me post these pictures.. they were getting ready to "move out" of their entire bathroom/closet and into their guest space. A bit of chaos while construction is underway.
.. the progression after...
The closet door was removed and a glass French pocket door was created. The right and left doors slide on top and will tuck behind a closet system (to be installed a bit later) when the doors are open. The new vanity will have drawer fronts with glass knobs.
Below... the second vanity... before.
Another problem door (linen closet) to the right of the vanity. The door open in front of the linen closet door is the left French door.
After...
I had the linen closet door removed. My carpenter and I created a space for the old linen closet, using the same opening. The upper portion will have open shelves. The base of the open shelves will have a carrara marble countertop as well. The space below is a pull out laundry hamper with 2 bins (to be lined with custom made canvas bags). The front of this hamper will have a faux drawer front. There will also be a full length dressing mirror to the right of the shelves and hamper. The French doors have such a great relationship to the open wall... all by changing out and re-working all those doors! Love it!!
The shower will have a carrara marble surround and a heavy glass, frameless door. The shower was re-tiled in a marble-look porcelain tile and the shower floor is a tumbled marble in a hexagon pattern.
Lots more to come! But, things are coming along. Hope to have my clients moved back in soon and the final after pictures to post soon as well.
Posted in:
Bathrooms,
Master bath
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
I'm working with long time, dear clients of mine on their master bath. We're still working out the details, but mainly white, custom cabinetry and Carrara marble are on the top of the inspiration list. Classic.
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Today, I was working with the in-house designer of the flooring shop. I pulled samples similar to this wood flooring. While an all white bathroom is stunning in photography - in use, a bit of warm, textural wood plays nicely against the cooler white and feels good underfoot.
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I also sampled the marble. Just so lovely. A bit of white with gray veining, an undermount porcelain sink and a shiny new faucet = a beautiful place to stand and brush your teeth.
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... or just stand there and admire the marble...
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I just love this bathroom design. So smart. It's such a small space, but done so well with a variety of Carrara marble tiles. The bank of cabinet drawers are unusual and help expand the space with a horizontal line. Easy storage pull out too!
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Same bathroom as above. Unique inset mirrors on both walls.
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I believe this is Calcutta marble, but essentially a similar look. Another great design for a smaller bathroom.
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This bathroom is by Brooke Giannetti of the must read Velvet & Linen blog. Just the right amount of glam.
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Same bathroom as above. Notice the 2 door shower to either side of the room.
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Another bathroom by Brooke Giannetti. Love the wood floors and layers of white.
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We'll be doing glass French doors, painted black, for the bathroom entry on this project. I immediately noticed the black, high gloss paint of this door. Wonderful entry to a classic white master bath.
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Lots of selecting, demo, disruption, and installation to come, but in the end... and oasis of serenity and peaceful whites. Just in time for a vase of spring flowers.
Posted in:
Bathrooms,
marble,
Master bath
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