Zen and the art of bathroom design

The homeowner and her interior designer, Shannon Riley of Voltage, first introduced warmth to the space with the rich wood of the cabinetry.  Against the dark cabinets and chocolate paint, a swath of unbroken white backsplash and countertop circles the room, melting into the white built-in tub creating dramatic, horizontal lines that draw any visitor into the space.

Finally a floor-to-ceiling wall of small, horizontal tiles of various lengths and widths in shades of white, brown and green lead into a curved-wall shower tucked off to one side. The doorless entry invites curiosity, but the purpose behind the design is all practicality.

“I didn’t want a glass shower because it is too much work to keep it clean,” says the homeowner. “To me, simplicity is very important. I want a practical bathroom that looks smart and is easy to maintain.”

Staying true to the vision of the design was challenging when accommodating mundane decisions regarding construction elements such as plumbing. One necessary work-around was moving the pipes for the shower from an exterior wall to avoid the possibility of having them freeze during cold winter temperatures. Then there was finding a way to have individual spaces that were separate yet adjacent.

We wanted a his-and-hers space,” says the homeowner. “Most bathrooms have sinks right next to each other, but we each wanted our own space, and I wanted my area to have a longer counter.”

Riley says placing the white sinks perpendicular to each other accomplished the goal of separate “zones” without sacrificing overall flow. The extra work to achieve all the goals of the homeowner was well worth it, she says. 

“The footprint of the space is nothing palatial, yet it has such a dramatic impact,” Riley says. “It’s modern while still being very warm and very soft.”

The combination of recessed task lighting and ambient lighting and three westward facing windows mean the bathroom is always filled with light. And that met the final goal the homeowner had – a bright room.

The Zen-like effect created gives the bathroom design an airy, natural feel that can be difficult to achieve with an interior space.

And some sage advice on how anyone can achieve the bathroom design of their dreams:

“You have to live in that bathroom every day of your life,” says the homeowner. “Visualize yourself in a space and see how your daily routine goes. By keeping things simple and functional, any bathroom can be smart and beautiful.”