ANATOMY OF A BATHROOM A PUZZLEMENT!
As a professional designer, I felt completely “design challenged” with the amount of space in a ‘7 X 8’ bathroom, but a cantilevered outside shower stall high in the sky was ridiculous. And a circular staircase leading to a loft bathtub would be equally pathetic. There were simply no walls to knock out. It was a puzzlement!
My longtime clients requested a change for a bathroom that was dated and a wrong-note chink in their lovely older home. It was a sixties bathroom with a matching sink and toilet of turquoise, lackluster beige tile accented with walls of glossy foil wallpaper.
They wanted a bathroom that would create a serene, handsome atmosphere and celebrate their love of art and culture. Size was a key issue: a 7’ X 8’ space with no option to enlarge. Oh how I wanted spaciousness!
As the former King of Siam said in the “King & I” musical——“It is a puzzlement!”
Since the existing dimensions were a constraint, this bathroom needed to be unique with high quality materials. My client said, “It’s the last room in our house that needs a fresh look, “let’s go all out.” My eyes and smile widened. Ohhhhh boy!”
Realistically, money, always a consideration, had to be spent prudently for my clients. Design showrooms offered their staggering amounts of choices, but not one bathroom fixture spoke to me. Where was my starting point?
I needed a focal point and had none until my husband and I traveled to Arizona to visit friends. On a lunch excursion, we walked across the border to Nogales, Mexico. Flags, pottery, piñatas and dozens of treasures awaited us, but we stoically kept walking away from those fun treasures. Mexican food—-guaranteed to satisfy—-chips, salsa, beans, rice, chilies rellenos and margaritas beckoned.
Our hosts/friends in Arizona were redoing the casita on their property. After lunch we visited some building supply stores and…And, there it was in a nondescript hardware store haphazardly thrown in between a multitude of plumbing equipment —–I’m not sure it spoke to anyone in the group, but a beautifully sculpted hand-tooled copper sink—-yelled loud and clear—-“Buy me.” My starting point!”
It was time to draw a floor plan and elevations. How great is the power of the pencil? With the flourish of that pencil I eliminated a floor to ceiling small wall, which was a privacy wall between the tub and toilet and replaced it with a pony wall. A pony wall is a half-wall and this particular pony wall would hold plumbing fixtures and the carved and etched clear glass panel. This etched glass design interpretation is taken from a celebrated Art Deco design! (see below)
Glass Panel
Pony Wall
Kitchen and bathroom counters are normally twenty-two inches wide——but again——pencil in hand I reduced this one to the depth of eighteen inches. I was on a roll with this counter and raised the counter’s height from thirty-two inches to thirty-six inches. (They loved the new counter height and did not miss the original width.)
Renovating starts with its own surround sound, clomping heavy work boots amidst the uproar of the electrical tools playing a symphonic demolition composition where not one musical note is played in tune? But when my contractors brought in and installed the carved new pale Crema marble backsplashes, handsome rich wood cabinets and copper sink with Botticino tumbled marble floor tiles – radiant smiles prevailed.
My original design called for a carved marble backsplash that included the same carved marble design on the tub backsplash and pony marble wall that was handsome and elegant. Going for broke, I originally designed a 7′ wall mirror over the sink wall that replicated (in vertical mirror image) the cut marble backsplash design.
The glass company assured me it was no problem. Actually it was a monumental problem. The anticipation of waiting to see if the carved mirror shape would exactly match the carved backsplash was a pins and needles wait. It did! But, as they were installing the mirror on the wall, it split in half. Not to worry, the company would replicate a match. Once again they doggedly offered another replacement. Which also cracked! Oh boy! On their third attempt the mirror was brilliantly held fast against the wall by their professional installers… and sadly, my prayers to the heavens weren’t enough. I heard one of them scream, “Ohhhh…..*$#*$$^!!!!” Three tries were not a lucky charm. I went mirror shopping the next day and found a lovely Peruvian reverse-glass mirror.
Reflections from tub surround across bathroom.
Dual flush toilets from Australia fulfilled water conservation requirements while grab-bars were placed next to the whirlpool spa tub and toilet area. Solar tube down-lights offered excellent daylight, plus two marbleized glass pendant lanterns completed artful lighting needs.
I discovered the influence of Art Deco while doing research for design lectures on early 20th decorators and movie set designs. A design portion of a famous brass door became a resource for the etched glass wall.
To install it our contractors cautiously sank it into a slim hollowed out opening nine feet into the pony wall.
Finally periods and cultures were mixed to include the wonderful copper sink from Mexico, we added framed antique English tiles (circa 1898), a new reversed glass Peruvian mirror, Asian accents and with a lovely etched glass Arte Deco vase completing the design. My clients were thrilled!
The goal accomplished—a bit of shimmer, a touch of glamour and a functional bathroom showing the power of interior design!
The Puzzlement – Unpuzzled!
Sy’s Salient Points:
My personal quest is to create meaningful and harmonious rooms/homes for my clients has always been my foremost intention.
Thanks to my sweet, handsome model Everett, and his upcoming future of many soccer balls, Legos and marble track building! Hooray Everett.
Happy 4th of July to my darling Blaire!