Bathroom Archives - Page 5 of 11

March 12, 2023

Top 10 products for your bathroom desiged to make bathtime the best time of your day

One of my favorite times of the day is bathtime! As, we’ve grown older and life has gotten super hectic, bathtime is that precious hour of the day when we can fully indulge in self-care, and pamper ourselves. Whether that’s in the form of a bubble bath or a long warm shower! And having a beautifully designed bathroom with thoughtful designs will only amplify this special time of the day. These products can make a huge difference in our everyday bathroom experience. They not only help us carry out our personal and grooming activities even more easily, but they also help us take care of ourselves and our washrooms a little better. From a drop-dead gorgeous bathtub made using translucent resin to a cleverly designed dual-sided shower scrubber – these well-designed products are all you need to elevate your daily bathtime!

1. The Tandem Shower

Designed to attach directly to your existing showerhead, the Tandem Shower is an easy-to-install no-plumber-required shower accessory that distributes your shower into two distinct streams. Although perfect for couples, the Tandem Shower also makes a pretty compelling case for solo showers with a much more luxurious, immersive 360° shower experience (think Ross Geller in the tanning booth).

Why is it noteworthy?

The Tandem Shower comes with an adjustable design, allowing it to fit in most bathrooms. It connects directly to your existing showerhead’s water inlet, which effectively distributes the water supply between the two showerheads. A valve on the Tandem Shower then lets you effectively switch between either of the showerheads or run both simultaneously. It’s worth noting that the Tandem Shower was also designed keeping other considerations in mind – for starters, it comes with a flexible hose that lets you mount your Tandem with plenty of clearance, allowing for a second showerhead that’s much higher than your current one (especially useful for taller people).

What we like

The Tandem showerhead also comes mounted on a ball and socket joint, letting you angle-adjust your water flow as you would with the existing shower
The high-velocity setting in particular delivers nearly two times more force than standard showerheads

What we dislike

It’s an added installation, making it difficult for people living in rental apartments

2. Amore

British bathroom brand Lusso recently launched the Amore. What makes Amore so special? Probably the fact that it looks drop-dead gorgeous.

Why is it noteworthy?

Designed to make a dramatic and magnificent impression, the Amore is a freestanding bathtub made from translucent resin. Designed by the Lusso founder Wayne Spriggs, the choice of material for Amore was truly ingenious. It’s what imparts the bathtub with its truly unique and awe-spiring appearance.

What we like

It’s a far cry from Lusso’s usual bathtubs which are built using stone or marble

What we dislike

Space-consuming design, not suited for smaller washrooms

3. Vis-à-vis and Rendez-vous

I’ve realized that filling up your bathroom with thoughtful designs, only makes your time in it much more comfortable and smooth. And this collection of bathroom seating by Italian bathroom brand Agape strives to be exactly that! Designed by Marco Carini for Agape, the collection includes two seating designs created from recycled cork.

Why is it noteworthy?

The first design is called Vis-à-vis, and it is a light and sturdy stool that also doubles up as a tiny side table. The second design is Rendez-vous, and it’s a bench that serves as an extensive seating option for bathroom users. Both designs function as comfortable spots to sit and relax in the bathroom.

What we like

Crafted from recycled cork
The curving form resembles someone smiling

What we dislike

Not suited for bathrooms with a smaller footprint

4. The Bell Jar

This unique concept for a showerhead and bath spout is named after the book that inspired it. The Bell Jar is a showerhead with a hidden cable and a fixed adaptor that can turn it into a calmer and single water spout in case you want to take a bath instead of a shower.

Why is it noteworthy?

The designer says she was inspired by the allegory from the book about the human condition and the main character’s state of mind. The flow of the water that goes through the bell jar design depends on what you need: practicality (showering) or purification (bathing).

What we like

Very minimalist and feminine
Single design allows you to use it in 2 ways with ease

What we dislike

5. Angle

We could always do with a new and exciting wash basin since the regular ones can tend to get boring. This concept for a ceramic washbasin is called Angle. It provides a completely different look for a sink and is a far cry from the normal ones. But this isn’t just something decorative as the design is actually to make it easier for the water to go down the drain.

Why is it noteworthy?

The washbasin uses curved and triangular surfaces from the faucet to the basin itself. The drain is a tiny opening at the corner of the basin so all the water that comes out of the faucet will flow towards there without you having a visible drain. The V-shaped basin makes it easier to drain the water.

What we like

The V shape makes it easier for the water to drain

What we dislike

With the design boasting a very thin drain at the corner, there is a possibility of bigger particles and debris not going through.

6. The Shower Scrubber

Designed by Casamera, the Shower Scrubber features a unique dual-sided design, that lets you pick between the two sides – a softer side great for massaging, and an exfoliating side to get rid of all the dry skin! The Shower Scrubber comes with a radical new redesign, sporting a honeycomb pattern on one side, to open your skin pores, and a walnut-shell textured surface on the other side, for scrubbing off dead cells to leave your skin shining.

Why is it noteworthy?

Konjac sponges have been on the market for ages galore, and they’ve been designed and redesigned in quite a few forms, however, the Shower Scrubber unlocks its true potential with its design and various infusions. The large guitar-pick-shaped design comes with a honeycomb texture on one side, inspired by Casamera’s waffle-textured towels. The honeycomb texture helps gently massage and pamper the skin (especially around the face), open the pores, and more importantly, is incredibly effective at building up a lather. The other side, however, is a textural contrast, as the sponge comes with particles of walnut shells suspended within the surface, offering an exfoliating experience that’s great at removing dead skin on your body to reveal shining, supple, radiant skin underneath.

What we like

Dual sides to meet the different needs of your skin
Biodegradable

What we dislike

Given it’s single colour, its difficult to assign unique sponges to different people using the bath

7. The‘At the Same Time Body Dryer’

The ‘At the Same Time Body Dryer’ is an attempt to make public bath facilities more convenient, efficient, and fast. Speedy bathing and drying are possible with this concept body dryer as more can dry off at the same time.

Why is it noteworthy?

The name alone tells us its unique selling point. The round square shape of the dryer allows four persons to stand and be dried off. The four parts are separated by an opaque transition that offers privacy. They may be facing each other but their private parts are still covered. The footrest on the whole features concentric circles that provide a softer surface for the feet. The footrest is divided into four equal parts and each part can be removed for cleaning. The water doesn’t stay on the footrest as it drips.

What we like

What we dislike

While public bathing is popular in the east, not everyone will feel comfortable standing so close to dry off

8. The Smart Shower

Designer Natasha Jadhav decided to create a ‘Smart Shower’. This shower is truly smart, interactive, and not to mention aesthetically pleasing too! Jadhav struck the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality with this design. Jadhav’s smart shower consists of the actual shower on the ceiling of the bathroom, a sleek white console that holds panels, and a hand shower, as well as a pressure-sensitive panel on the floor.

Why is it noteworthy?

Did you know that around 2.5 gallons of water are wasted at home while taking a shower? Imagine the amount of water wasted after an entire month or year of showering. Tremendous, and quite alarming! Now, showering isn’t something we can particularly avoid, hence designer Natasha Jadhav created a ‘Smart Shower’.

What we like

Pressure-sensitive floor panel that turns off the water once you’re done showering
Intuitive controls

What we dislike

The shower automatically switches off after five minutes of zero activity – the waiting period could be shorter

9. The PURE 2-in-1 Electric Oral Care Kit

This Dyson-inspired oral care essential system is promised to have long-lasting durability. It doesn’t just look like something Dyson would introduce in terms of colors and aesthetics; it also practices the same sustainability principle. It’s an electric toothbrush and water flosser in one.

Why is it noteworthy?

Like any Dyson product, the PURE 2-in-1 Electric Oral Care Kit offers innovation, reliability, and functionality. It is a creative system that saves space and allows more straightforward operation. You can use it either as a toothbrush or a water flosser when you need to deep clean your mouth. Just change the head module if you want to use the water flosser mode. There is a built-in airflow fan that can keep the brush head clean. It also prevents moisture so you can be confident your toothbrush is not contaminated.

What we like

It comes with a built-in water container for the water flosser
The brushes and the handles are stored inside to keep your bathroom clutter-free

What we dislike

10. The Tiles Weight Scale

It takes a keen eye to be able to question the design of products we take for granted. Why are certain products like weighing scales designed the way they are? Given that they’re just literally a platform to stand on, why can’t they look more in tune with their surroundings? Designer Sije Chen found himself questioning that logic, which led to the design brief behind the Tiles Weight Scale. Simply put, the bathroom scale looks literally bathroom-inspired. With a glossy, tiled design, the product fits perfectly into the contemporary bathroom, looking more like functional decor than an appliance. Rather cool, no?

Why is it noteworthy?

A finalist at the Spark Awards last year, the Tiles Weight Scale looks like a panel of your quintessential ceramic bathroom tiles. They aren’t made from ceramic, which means they aren’t slippery, and the white panel has an LED display that shines through the material, activating the moment you stand on it. That way, it serves its purpose wonderfully when it needs to, and blends right into the bathroom’s decor when not in use!

What we like

Perfectly blends into your bathroom
Non-slippery

What we dislike

Has more of an aesthetic purpose, than a functional one

March 9, 2023

Best of Design 2023: There’s Nothing Traditional About This New Bathroom

Images BY JORDAN Grey, PREP Alternatives

In a common property, a rest room crafted for two would sport aspect-by-facet vanities on a person wall, a tub and shower on the other.

But there is nothing standard about the personalized household architect Justin Cipriani designed for attorney Jacques Moye on Cliff Road in the Hill District. Although the household unquestionably isn’t short on distinctive and unexpected style and design times — the deep blue cupboards in the kitchen area, the blood-crimson damask wallpaper in the speakeasy, the 60 ft of cantilevered glass that opens the property like a diorama — the rest room proved to be a standout.

Judges crowned it Finest New Bathroom in this year’s Greatest of Design and style competitors. Judges Stephanie Schill, of Cleveland-centered Schill Architecture, and Katie Savakis, a challenge designer at Vocon’s Cleveland business, the two admired the bathroom’s two-way, gas fireplace — which they say provides an earthy, organic and natural element to the normally contemporary key suite.

“It’s like nothing at all I have made before,” provides Cipriani.

Moye experienced a precise vision for a lavatory constructed for two with little visual separation. It felt like anything of a layout riddle, but Cipriani, who owns Pittsburgh-centered Cipriani Studios, was up to the problem.

He responded with a two-sided room that has separate entrances, sinks, dressing areas and even flooring but is joined in the middle by a beautiful, glass-enclosed damp room that allows its users to see obviously to the other aspect.

Moye phone calls the effect “intimately unbiased,” and it is an apt description.

The soaked room’s oversized black tub is large adequate for two. The shower has two glass doors that open to a sunken pebbled flooring and a few shower heads — which includes a waterfall. When that 1 is on, and organic light-weight is flowing by the transom windows, Moye states he feels like he’s “bathing in the Backyard of Eden.”

The space’s most influenced aspect though is a two-way fire, framed by ledgestone minimize stone veneer, that connects the bathroom to the bedroom and is located at just the proper height for the individual luxuriating in the shower and the particular person lounging on the bed to lock eyes.

“I like what that implies about the few who life there,” Cipriani says. “It’s endearing what it claims about becoming a few in this residence.”

Vendors

Architectural Design and style: Cipriani Studios
Interior Style: Cipriani Studios/ Owner/ Typical Contractor
Basic Contractor: Shape Enhancement Group
Doors and Hardware: 84 Lumber
Framing: Consolidated Residence (A&O Builders)
Tile Installer: Creese Administration
HVAC: D&M Mechanical
Plumbing: Drummond Brothers Plumbing
Shower Door and Bathroom Mirrors: Rex Glass + Mirror Co.
Exterior Glass Railing: Emerald Artwork Glass
Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson Enterprises
Asphalt: Eternally Paving. Stonework: Gossard Masonry
Railings: Groll Decorative Iron Works
Drywall and Insulation: J.G. Drywall Co., Inc.
Excavation: Jeff Helbig Design
Inside Portray: Kevin Kemmler Painting
Siding: Lezzer Lumber Organization
Fireplaces: MAD Layout United states
Retaining Wall: Precast Ways
Landscaping, Concrete, and Footers: Orban Contracting & Landscaping
Cupboards and Counter tops: Sims-Lohman
Waterproofing: T-n-D of Pittsburgh
Tile Supplier: The Tile Store
Sauna Provider: Heat Timber Saunas
Electrical: Werner Electrical Companies
Roofing: William T. Robshaw Contractor

March 7, 2023

10 built-in bathtubs for a more stylish, minimalist bathroom

There was a time when everyone had a built-in bathtub, for better or worse. Often cheap acrylic drop-ins, it’s not a huge surprise that the trend for freestanding tubs came along and captured our collective imagination, bringing the spa-like experience of a hotel to our homes.

However, these trends go around in circles, and now, for many architects and interior designers, a built-in bath is often the preferred option. ‘We usually prefer a built-in tub,’ says Carlos Naude, founder of Working Holiday Studio, for example. ‘We think is more comfortable and we like the tile to be the ‘hero’ of each one of our bathroom projects.’

Generally speaking, it’s true that drop-in tubs are more practical than freestanding ones. There’s space for your shampoo and shower gel around the edge, for example, while it’ll also help keep your splash zone contained and make it much more practical to bathe children, too.

If that’s not enough to convince you, then you might be interested to know that in this writer’s humble opinion, they also just look better than freestanding baths. To prove my point, here are 10 of the very best, most creative and unusual built-in baths to showcase what’s possible in a modern bathroom.

Hugh Metcalf

Hugh is Livingetc.com’s deputy editor and an experienced interiors journalist. He’s a big believer in the beauty of a built-in bathtub, and has collected 10 of his favorite to showcase what they’re capable of.

10 of the best built-in bathtub ideas

With a built-in bathtub, there’s often an inherent minimalism to the design. Instead of a freestanding tub that is bringing it’s own character to the space, a built-in becomes part of the architecture, and designers often use this to good effect.

1. This all-tiled beauty

a green tiled built in bathtub

(Image credit: Working Holiday Studio)

‘We consider ourselves somewhat minimalists, and for this project specifically we wanted to embrace the monochromatic look as we wanted to crate a serene space throughout the house,’ explains Carlos Naude (opens in new tab), co-founder of Los Angeles-based Working Holiday Studio of this tiled green bathroom.

The tile runs throughout the space, on the shower walls, bath panel and even the flooring, reducing the materiality and bringing a minimalist quality to it. The bath has also been given generous edges, making it comfortable to use for storing shower soap and shampoo, or even propping a phone if you like to indulge in some TV while soaking in the bathtub.

2. This small bathroom that feels surprisingly spacious

a built in bathtub in a small bathroom

(Image credit: Jeremie Warshafsky. Design: Studio AC)

When trying to fit a freestanding bath into a small bathroom, it can easily feel cramped, even if you choose a smaller style of tub to fit the room. A built-in bath removes the visual noise, helping you to introduce a bath that works with the dimensions of the room.

In this wet room created by Canadian design practice StudioAC (opens in new tab), the whole space has been wrapped in concrete tiles, while the bathtub itself spans the narrow width of the space, helping what is actually a smaller tub feel generous and luxurious. It sits adjacent to a wet room shower that helps get dual functionality out of this small space.

3. This bathroom with with a split tub and shower layout

a built in bathtub in a small bathroom

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson. Design: Studio P)

Some people are more comfortable with true wet rooms than others, but there are plenty of small bathroom layouts that you can implement with a built-in bathtub to ensure your space has the best of both worlds and includes a shower too.

This bathroom by Studio P is a great example of a layout that splits one wall into a tub and shower. ‘The bath had to be small due to the requirement not have have a combined bath shower and the restricted size of the bathroom and the overall home, but it’s wonderfully deep and comfortable,’ explains interior architect Arwen Sachinwalla (opens in new tab). ‘It is not square but a small rectangular shape that has been tiled into the walls for simplicity and to look like it is almost moulded out of the wall.’

Many of the bathtubs featured here sit under a skylight, offering a soak with a view. ‘We used the large skylight to create a sense of spaciousness and delight in place of grandeur,’ Arwen says. ‘By bringing the sky and sun into the room, it emulates an outdoor bathing experience, where there is no ceiling – only sky.’

4. This bathroom with a curved corner bathtub

a built in curved bathtub

(Image credit: Hervé Goluza. Design: Space Factory)

Positioning a bathtub in the corner of the room can be a challenge to make look good. After all, if the bathtub sets the tone for your space, tucking it away, apologetically, can make it feel like your layout has been an afterthought.

However, this example by French design studio Space Factory showcases a unique approach to creating a corner bath in a small bathroom. ‘We wanted a specific design that shows the craftsmanship behind this rounded bath, which allowed us to make the most of the available space,’ explain Ophélie Doria and Edouard Roullé-Mafféïs (opens in new tab), co-founders of the interior design studio. ‘We were inspired by a trip to Japan where we visited “onsen” where bathing is an art form. The built-in bath is finished with waxed concrete from Mercadier,’ they add.’

5. This pink, ‘easy-access’ bathtub

a built in bathtub with pink tiles

(Image credit: Anson Smart. Design: Greg Natale)

For a way to give a built-in bathtub more presence in your scheme, consider a design like this one by Australian interior designer Greg Natale (opens in new tab). It’s another scheme that makes use of bathroom tile across the walls, floors and bath surround, but it also incorporates a tiered step up to the bathtub itself.

It’s not only a visually arresting addition, but it’s practical, too. It means you can perch in the bathroom, while creating the ideal ledge if you need to use your tub to bathe the kids (or even wash a dog, dare we say), while also making it easier to get in and out of the bath for adults.

6. This earthy Tadelakt bathroom

a tadelakt bathroom with a built in bath

(Image credit: Huxley Architects)

Restraining the palette of materials in a small bathroom is a powerful shortcut to making it feel larger and help big elements like a bathtub recede. That was the goal of architect Richard Huxley (opens in new tab) of Sydney-based Huxley Architects, who designed this bathroom finished with Tadelakt lime render across the walls and bathtub.

‘The brief for the bathroom aesthetically was to create a space with a sense of relaxed luxury with a focus on natural, artisanal finishes,’ Richard explains. ‘Tadelakt lime render was specified for the walls and bespoke bath to limit the palette of finishes in order to allow conversation between the texture and tonality of marble, travertine and Tadelakt to take place.’ It’s a material that creates textured bathroom walls that are an antidote to the clinical nature of white porcelain tiles, often used as standard in these spaces.

‘Additionally, it was important that the bath belonged to the room and did not overpower the composition,’ Richard adds. ‘By rendering the bath as an extension of the wall, it became robust enough to belong, while being respectful to the other elements in the room.’

7. This bathroom with amazing marble surfaces

a minimalist bathroom with a pink marble bath

(Image credit: Manolo Langis. Design: Mandy Graham)

If your complaint of built-in bathtubs is that they don’t feel as luxurious as freestanding baths, the marble bathroom of this beautifully minimalist home in California might cause you to reconsider.

In a muted, white-walled space, a pink-and-black marble has been used for both the freestanding basins and the bathtub. ‘The striking Rosa del Monte marble bath surround was artfully designed in compositions honoring the architectural theme throughout the home,’ explains its designer Mandy Graham (opens in new tab).

8. This sunken soaking tub

a bathtub in the floor of a bathroom

(Image credit: Rafael Soldi Photography. Design: Best Practice Architecture)

A built-in bath sometimes gives you the opportunity to turn a design element that can be considered mundane into something spectacular – a defining feature for your home. This sunken tub, for example, was incorporated into a remodel of a Seattle home, with bifolding doors that open out onto the deck, creating an indoor-outdoor bathtub.

‘Incorporating the Japanese-style ofuro soaking tub was one of the family’s central objectives to the renovation—it was the one indulgence they afforded as it is central to their family culture,’ explain Ian Butcher, Kailin Gregga, and Kip Katich (opens in new tab), architects from Seattle-based Best Practice Architecture. ‘It was important that the tub have a connection to the landscape with a view and natural light. By placing the soaking tub at the rear of the house, it has become the threshold between the exterior deck and interior while the folding window wall opens up to views of the surrounding cherry and maple trees.’

‘The final design provides a place for a shared family experience whether it is a place to sit on the deck and dip your toes on a warm day, enjoy a hot, relaxing soak with abundant natural light, or bonding time with a family bath,’ the architects add.

9. This industrial yet minimal bathroom scheme

A bathroom floor with marble shape

(Image credit: HDP Photography. NC Design & Architecture Ltd)

As a way to streamline the design of this bathroom, Nelson Chow (opens in new tab) of NC Design & Architecture introduced one volume of material to house the drop-in bathtub and bathroom vanity. It’s a design that both unifies and simplifies that bathroom.

‘Both a bathtub and elliptical bronze basin have been incorporated into a marble counter,’ Nelson explains, ‘while the glass panel is added to prevent humidity entering the rest of the bathroom as its located adjacent to the closet area.’

10. This stacked bathtub and vanity

a travertine covered bathtub

(Image credit: Ollie Hammick. Design: Amos Goldreich Archicture )

This bathroom layout created by architect Amos Goldreich (opens in new tab) not only creates a beautifully elegant bathroom, but also solves the problem of an otherwise awkward corner created by the positioning of the bathtub and vanity.

By overlaying the vanity on top of the built-in bath, it becomes a single volume, helping the space feel more luxurious and pared back. Both are also finished with the same travertine stone, bringing an opulence to this neutral, minimalist bathroom.

March 6, 2023

West U Realtor’s bathroom redesign grows into second floor renovation

Heidi Dugan is on her mobile phone early in the morning, responding to e-mail and texts and tending to very last-moment aspects of her real estate perform. She could sit and sip coffee in a wonderful courtyard outdoors or any just one of the cozy rooms in her dwelling, but it is not strange to discover her in her newly renovated principal toilet, where by she can hold court docket with good friends, co-personnel and shoppers — electronically — for hrs.

Dugan, a Realtor for Greenwood King who has lived and worked in West U for 40 several years, sees what she feels is the very best of what is out there in Houston place households, regardless of whether it really is renovations in loos, kitchens or even out of doors spaces. While she bought her property some 20 several years back and cherished it then, she’s performed a quantity of renovations as new matters in residence structure grabbed her awareness.

For the previous handful of yrs she’s renovated a person home or an additional with the help of inside designer Elizabeth Donnelly of Elizabeth Donnelly Interiors, updating furnishings and bringing in antiques and artwork and even sprucing up out of doors areas. A huge section of the most recent spherical of updates was gutting and reworking her principal lavatory upstairs, and refreshing the relaxation of the upstairs of her property. The challenge began as a redo of the key bathroom and closet, but grew from there.

Before, her main rest room was octagonal in shape — a not-so-effective ground plan with awkward corners and doors mounted on the angles, a crafted-in spa tub and an angled shower. Dugan realized that she wanted antique tile, beautiful marble and a wonderful chandelier.

“I sit at my self-importance for a truly lengthy time every day. It’s not because I’m vain it is simply because I’m there with my cell phone and responding to texts and emails. My get the job done never ever stops,” claimed Dugan, a indigenous of Miami Seashore who arrived to Houston in her early 20s. “It’s very peaceful in this article. I don’t have a 9 to 5 work I work 24/7. I begin answering messages when I get up and I can go to 11 p.m.”

Donnelly brought in interiors architect Nadia Palacios Lauterbach of Nadia Palacios Residential Design to to style and design a custom self-importance and function on the fantastic facts of the space. Erin Stetzer of Stetzer Builders was the contractor.

“The thought was to choose a standard builder dwelling with his-and-hers vanities on opposite walls and reconfigure the room. It truly is not more space, but it is laid out differently, and what we completed was an open up, streamlined room with resources that are light-weight and ethereal,” Donnelly claimed. “We took absent uncomfortable angles and put together two closets, which gave Heidi her stunning, extremely big closet.”

The reimagining of that toilet put a no cost-standing tub about wherever the designed-in version was. Then, the shower was moved subsequent to it with 1 facet “bumped out” with a pony wall and sheets of glass to make it sense even even bigger. Within that shower, a pair of shampoo niches and a bench that feels like a tiny piece of furnishings are covered in the similar Calacatta you will find on the vanity counters.

Dugan fell in enjoy with the Aged Earth truly feel of antique tile and other architectural antiques stocked at Ruth Gay’s Chateau Domingue store in the Heights area. She located some stunning tile there, obtained on Gay’s last acquiring trip to France ahead of the COVID shutdown. The marble experienced been employed as flooring in an 18th century chapel at a monastery on the grounds of the Basilic Saint Aphrodise in Beziers in southern France.

The chapel was about to be torn down, so Gay bought the tile and a number of columns in advance of it was demolished, she reported.

When the tile arrived at Dugan’s home, she, Donnelly and Lauterbach acquired it out, hand washed it and cautiously made a decision the placement of every single tile.

Other European decorations contain the new Murano glass chandelier, created in Italy, and an antique Murano-framed mirror that hangs over Dugan’s custom-created makeup self-importance. That piece of furniture was created by Lauterbach, a vintage fashion with Art Deco touches made with walnut wooden.

“We preferred the vanity to sense glamorous, while its first priority was to be useful considering the fact that it serves as a next desk for Heidi,” Donnelly claimed. “She receives ready there in the early morning, but she can plug in her notebook, way too. It has concealed plugs and chargers all over the place, and the drawers are made to property her products she uses to get ready each individual day.”

She also keeps her terrific-grandmother’s vanity established there, a very tray and antique perfume bottles.

Not only did they switch two smaller sized closets into just one larger sized space, but they finished it out with exquisite detail with fumed French oak. Lighted, glass-front cabinets show off her assortment of purses and superior-heeled shoes, and locking drawers are lined with suede to display screen her jewelry.

Donnelly explained that lots of of her shoppers want boutique-design and style closets that function as a dressing area, with clothing, footwear and equipment properly structured and displayed. Valet rods, in addition pullout rods for scarves, belts or neckties are hand and can be house savers, much too. Lights is vital, so homeowners can see what they have, and glass shelving allows the mild filter as a result of, creating it all come to feel additional open up, Donnelly claimed.

In the relaxation of the most important bedroom suite, they extra lovely Gracie wallpaper to a vestibule and a Venetian plaster finish on the walls and ceiling of the bed room. A smaller visitor place with a complete tub turned her new household gym, and the lavatory bought a refresh of its own.

The upstairs game home is Dugan’s Tv area, and it acquired a makeover with a constructed-in console cabinet built of fumed French oak changing flooring-to ceiling cupboards that experienced louvered doorways. The room is stuffed with more contemporary furnishings, which include a soft sectional couch with an acrylic coffee table, moreover a curvy chair with ottoman and a little Saarinen Tulip desk paired with modern-day chairs. A new brass chandelier lights up the space, and a large Michael von Helms summary portray fills a side wall.

Dugan raised her two sons, Alex Dugan, now 31, and Harrison Willett, now 40, in this residence, and while Alex life and works in Los Angeles — he’s a songwriter and lead singer of the band Society Wars — he insists that his bed room and rest room stay exactly as they have been when he was in higher university. Harrison, 40, life in Houston and is the father of four young children.

Her sons utilized to carry their friends here when they had been youthful, and some even now visit. She was regarded for acquiring a large Xmas bash with 200 or extra individuals, though COVID pressured a pause on this kind of massive gatherings. Now, she’s extra probable to have a dinner social gathering for 12 in her fairly dining space.

“This is my sanctuary, surely. It is incredibly personalized and really considerably a reflection of who I am,” Dugan stated. “I have an art record degree, so for me, when I sit in this article and seem at everything, I see the two the attractiveness and the operate.”

diane.cowen@houstonchronicle.com

March 2, 2023

The Dos & Don’ts Of Good Bathroom Design

DO purchase a sample very first. Buying both a swatch sample (a tiny reduce of the entire tile) or a comprehensive tile sample (the most effective for encouraging you envisage how it will glance in your home) will assist you to see the real colour, texture and finish on a tile. We also present 30 x 40cm samples on our big-structure tiles, such as all-natural stone. These are notably useful in exhibiting the pattern and tonal variations on all-natural stone items these types of as limestone and marble where by no two are the similar.

DO buy more than enough tiles. It is a popular and sometimes highly-priced mistake when buying on the web, as it is straightforward not to get wastage and breakages into consideration. Generally get an more 10{61deb032f2f3cf43cd91e0a97f017aab274ddbb67b74a5b085bd003b9ac3cd96} to include this. Make sure you be aware, when it comes to laying tiles in a herringbone formation (irrespective of whether wall or floor), we advocate buying an additional 15{61deb032f2f3cf43cd91e0a97f017aab274ddbb67b74a5b085bd003b9ac3cd96} to permit for all of all those fiddly cuts. It’s also worthy of noting that unique batches of tiles can vary in color, so it’s even additional significant to get it ideal from the get-go, to protect against any mix-match shades in your style.

DO look at the measurement of your tile thoroughly. A larger sized toilet will frequently be equipped to accommodate massive-format tiles. A different matter to assume about is grout lines as these will impact the final end result. The lesser the tile, the more grout strains, and this can make the house appear occupied. If loads of grout traces are unavoidable, consider using a coloured grout in a related shade to the tile to help them move improved.

Do not use the improper tile in the mistaken area. Place will influence the type of tile you will want to go for. If it’s for a rest room floor, for instance, you’ll need to verify whether or not it’s slip resistant or if it’s a damp room, and no matter whether the tile is appropriate with underfloor heating.

Do not enable your endeavours in locating the proper tiles for your venture be in vain. If you have purchased all-natural stone, or tiles that involve sealing, assure you seal them appropriately and with the proper products. Once your tiles are installed, you will have to have to use an impregnating sealant for security in opposition to fading and staining, these types of as Stone Essentials Stain Block (or for crackle glaze tiles, a crackle glaze sealant). This need to be applied soon after they have been put in and cleaned using Stone Necessities Deep Cleanse or comparable, but prior to grouting, in accordance with the product label. You need to utilize a 2nd coat immediately after grouting. You could also select to utilize a surface finish this sort of as Stone Necessities Stone Shield or Wax polish as this will provide even further security and give an desirable patina, although in non-damp locations only. This would be utilized just after grouting after thoroughly dry (all over seven days depending on humidity).

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March 1, 2023

10 transitional bathroom designs to take inspiration from

Transitional bathroom designs are ideal for those who love the idea of ‘classic with a twist’ and spaces that strike a happy medium between traditional and contemporary styles. The look is chic and timeless, and always feels warm and welcoming.

While designing a transitional-style bathroom, it’s all about the balance, whether it’s in the color palette, fixtures, finishings or tiles with other additions in the room. The result should be a modern bathroom with clean lines, yet not overly decorated with comfort at the core.

Here’s how to do it.

Aditi Sharma Maheshwari

Aditi is an experienced homes writer and editor. She has written hundreds of articles for various international titles helping readers make the best home design choices, and spends her days interviewing interiors industry experts to bring the latest ideas to her readers. For this piece she spoke to the world’s best designers to find out how to design a transitional bathroom.

What is a transitional bathroom?

Transitional style might be timeless in nature, but it’s also a blossoming bathroom trend, too. This look comprises time-tested fixtures paired with modern silhouettes; a versatile design style. Certain features such as Shaker-style vanities, sleek hardware, natural stone materials, streamlined lighting, and mirrors, along with restrained embellishments are central to its theme.

‘Transitional style bathrooms combine elements of both classic and contemporary design,’ says Reena Sotropa (opens in new tab), founder of Reena Sotropa In House Design. ‘This style can be used to great advantage in the design of a bathroom where style and utility are at constant odds.’

‘Although transitional design style seems like the perfect style for the non-committal, it is much more than a random combination of classic and contemporary elements,’ says Reena. ‘A well-curated transitional space requires as much if not more careful consideration to achieve the balance that is a hallmark of this design style.’

1. Choose neutral tones for a true transitional style

An all white bathroom

(Image credit: Sally Painter. Studio credit Donna DuFresne Interior Design)

Whether you go for cool or warm hues, the color palette of a transitional-style bathroom tends to be soft and subtle. This includes shades such as white, cream, beige, taupe, chocolate, light grey, silver, dusty rose, or sage green.

Having said that, gold and rose-gold details do have a place in this style of bathroom, as they add a modern vibe while still fitting into a transitional style. You can also opt for touches of black to contrast with the light tones of the room.

‘This bathroom was birthed from a dingy small washroom and unused closet to become a spacious primary suite,’ says Donna DuFresne (opens in new tab), principal at Donna DuFresne Interior Design. ‘Encasing the walls and floors in statuario marble creates a serene spa bathroom-like environment and a truly transitional look. A large free-standing tub and generous size shower complete the experience.’

2. Consider natural materials such as wood and stone

A bathroom with wooden elements

(Image credit: Michael A. Kaskel. Studio credit TKS Design Group)

A marble bathroom or a concrete space mixed with modern lighting or stylish wall treatment will lay the grounds for transitional bathrooms. Light-hued stones such as granite and quartz work well, along with engineered quartz that is easier to care, for and nonporous.

‘Designing a bathroom in a transitional style is a great way to ensure longevity,’ says Reena. ‘This style relies heavily on sleek man-made materials like glass and metal with natural materials such as wood and stone. This balanced approach usually results in spaces that don’t lean heavily in one aesthetic direction or another and will not look quickly dated.’

‘The primary goal of this bath remodel was to update the 1970s theme and replace materials that were just getting old,’ says Susan Klimala (opens in new tab), co-owner and creative director at TKS Design Group. ‘The homeowners did not care for having a wood window in the shower that had to be covered with a shower curtain for privacy, so we replaced that with a glass block window. A sliding glass shower door visually lengthens the room and adds an industrial feel. This is reinforced by the style of the sconces, the cement-look countertops, and subway tile in the new shower. The stars of the room are the patterned floor tile and the wood mirrors, which bring a bit of Moroccan flair to the modern Chicago suburbs.’

3. Go for Shaker-style vanity

A bathroom with shaker cabinets

(Image credit: Jill Weller. Studio credit Arterberry Cooke)

For a clean-lined and utilitarian bathroom vanity, consider a Shaker-style. Pair this type of vanity with classic hardware and faucets to match. You can also consider interesting finish options such as polished or brushed nickel, chrome, matte black, brushed gold, brass, and Lucite.

Usually, shaker styles have interesting edge detailing, but the shaker style in transitional spaces will be more on the simple side. Also, the vanity is less likely to be floating, and more likely to be built-in. Choose classic and sleek knobs and pulls to accompany them.

4. Shiplap plays an important role in transitional bathrooms

A bathroom with shiplap walls

(Image credit: Cortney Bishop Design)

Interestingly, shiplap bathrooms have been around for decades; a style that was originally associated with a farmhouse or cottage look but is now a part of modern bathrooms. If you want to add a subtle touch of intrigue and drama without pulling focus, including shiplap in your transitional bathroom could work wonders.

While using this wonderful design element that has a throwback quality along with a touch of warmth, to create a nice juxtaposition, consider adding a long, cascading, modern pendant or chandelier to the setup. You could also consider painting the shiplap in crisp tones of powder blue or dusty pink.

5. Include a freestanding tub

A bathroom with a freestanding tub

(Image credit: Leela Cyd. Studio credit Jessica Risko Smith Interior Design)

Nothing says peace and luxury better than a freestanding bathtub, usually the glory of a master bathroom. Use this important element to contrast any other traditional fixtures or materials you may have in your bathroom.

A pedestal-style tub, placed on a natural stone floor will look beautiful and even fit into a transitional bathroom. If you like the look of a freestanding bathtub but want to increase accessibility or make cleaning easier, another option is to choose a partially freestanding tub.

Other than these, also consider drop-in tubs and even claw-foot tubs.

6. Choose sleek fixtures

A bathroom with brass fixtures

(Image credit: Madeline Tolle. Studio credit Union of Art Interiors)

Bring in sleek and streamlined fixtures such as taps, knobs, or even bathroom mirrors to balance out the more traditional style of the vanity. Consider even adding an elegant tray in gold or silver, and keep your most expensive toiletries atop. Then, complete the look by adding a vase of fresh flowers and some fluffy towels in neutral tones.

‘Spare materials, restrained details, and clean contemporary fixtures are sleek, attractive, and easy to maintain; but in combination, these elements can lack soul,’ says Reena. ‘Bathrooms designed with traditional fixtures and finishes are warm, elegant spaces rich in detail and interest, but the nooks and crannies present in many traditional design details can be a nightmare to keep. A transitional style allows you to pick and choose fixtures, finishes, and details that offer the particular blend of form and function that works best for you and your family.’

7. Install natural stone countertops

A bathroom with marble countertop

(Image credit: Smac Studio)

Some great, transitional-style countertop options are light-colored marbles that don’t show too much pattern or veining. Other than that, Quartz, granite, and terrazzo are great, as they look smart, and sophisticated and even create a lovely natural bathroom look that is inherently tranquil and warm. Keep countertop edges clean and simple.

Complement the countertop with the latest faucet designs. Apart from stylish shapes and colors, you could even bring in those with motion or touch control. Choose taps in nickel, chrome, stainless, or rose gold finish.

8. Use large format tiles for a modern contrast

A bathroom with large format tiles

(Image credit: Dave Wheeler. Studio credit Alex Morrison Interiors and Harry Leckie Interiors)

When it comes to bathroom tile ideas, large-format tiles in porcelain, stone, or ceramic are ideal for a transitional bathroom style. These, with thin grout lines, help create a clean, simple look, and bring a serene and restful vibe to the space. In terms of tile layout patterns, consider staggered, grid (stacked), or herringbone patterns.

The beauty of large format tiles is also that there are lesser grout lines, meaning the bathroom’s look is always seamless and clean. If you want to further ensure your space looks well-maintained, consider colored grout that doesn’t show stains and dirt that easily.

9. Go for a tub with patina

A bathroom with a bathtub in metal

(Image credit: Michael Clifford. Studio credit Lisa Staton-1)

Nothing says nostalgia more than a natural patina in your finishes. If this look is for you, then consider bringing in a bathtub in distressed copper, and ensure all other elements around it walk a modern, clean-line route; be it the bathroom pendant lighting, the mirrors, faucets, and more. This will show the true melding of two design themes.

‘At the top of the stairs of the house sits a copper tub in the open concept bathroom,’ says Lisa Staton (opens in new tab), founder of Lisa Staton Interior Design. ‘The spout appears out of a brick chimney (which is newly framed with thin- brick but looks real.) There was an old exposed chimney in a different location and the client loved it, so we decided to repeat the element with the new layout to trick the eyes into believing it’s real.’

10. Inject color through natural materials

A bathroom with terracotta floor

(Image credit: Michael Clifford. Studio credit Lisa Staton)

Other than paint, another way to add to big or small bathroom color ideas is via wall tiles, wallpapers, or flooring. The natural color of materials such as terracotta or terrazzo will add a timeless charm to the space, and provide a lovely traditional and timeless base upon which a more modern design story can be built.

‘This reconfigured bathroom classically embraces color with terracotta floor tiles and soothing green wall tile,’ says Lisa.