A Modern Style Bathroom Vanities

I'm at the process of looking for a new vanity for the bathroom that I'm working on. The style is modern so that is a big known that I can check off right away.  Knowing your style is critical to every design project. It is something you need to discuss from the get-go with your designer.

My favorite vanity is a curved sink vanity that I placed in my "Barn Door" bathroom design a few years ago.  I absolutely love this vanity.  To meet my client's needs, I had my installer modify the cabinet to include electrical functionality.

In my current design, I've decided to have the cabinet built.  I love designing furniture pieces because it gives me the greatest amount of flexibility and I can incorporate everything my client needs. It is not always easy to modify a piece of furniture that is already constructed.

The bathroom I'm working on is a small area that includes all the elements of a bath area plus an apartment size washer/dryer unit. The vanity needs to fit beside the washer/dryer and it must have two sinks.  I have my task cut out for me.

Whether a custom vanity or a store bought one, there are certain vanity essentials to adhere to:
- quality craftsmanship
- personalized storage
- stylized design.

The style of the bathroom is a simple, clean line endeavor using stand alone furniture pieces in the space. The cabinet is designed to be a floating unit and will be installed 10" off the floor.  Floating vanities can be placed as far up as 12" but often depends on where you want the height of your countertop to be.  It is oak with a teak veneer.  The two sink vanity top was chosen first as I needed to adhere to certain measurements. The veneer was ordered as I was working on the design.

The design is complete and construction is underway.  When complete the 3"countertop will sit on top of the cabinet.  Below is the item as it stands now.  I have applied a sealer to teak strip so you can see its finished color.  You can apply a stain to teak, but I like it with just a sealer.


I'll post a picture of the installation once we have it in place. 

Teak Cabinet: 55" double sink vanity, 4 full-extended drawers, electrical plug-ins.

Teak with one coat of sealer

It All Starts At The Entrance - The Barn Door

                                            

Originally, this project was to consist of a slight upgrade to the existing bathroom. The clients wanted a more comfortable bathing experience that appealed to their senses.  There was no debate on replacing the carpet with tile or getting a new vanity along with lights and other fixtures but the elephant in the room was the sunken tub/shower arrangement.  Not only was it an eyesore in the small space but neither homeowner liked using the space foe bathing, so it was neither beautiful nor functional from their perspective and their main reason for calling on a designer for help. It was requested that something be done with the sunken tub.  They were not sure about getting rid of it but something had to be done.

With every remodel I prefer to give my clients at least two, if not three, design options.  Whether a designer knows the amount of the budget or not, you can be sure that there is one, and I have found that within three options, clients will realize that budget is regulated by their product decisions and product decisions depend on their priorities.  I believe that options build understanding, confidence and most importantly trust between you and your client.  Priceless.

In this bath remodel, a huge window within the sunken tub/shower combination provided plenty of natural light into the room. Natural light, so important in a bathroom,  was never a problem here.  However, that same sunken tub/shower combination was an immediate eyesore and presented my greatest challenge in creating a luxurious master bath for my clients in a bathroom that measures 103" by 100".

With a respect to budget, my first option included filling in the sunken tub and overlaying the area with a tub/shower enclosure.  This does not change the floor plan and will be the least costly of all options.  

The next option separated the shower and the tub area.   In order to make this happen,  the toilet had to be moved to the far side of the room.  Moving the toilet always impacts the budget.  It's an expensive item since you not only move the toilet but all the plumbing lines and venting items that accompany it. Moving the toilet  to the other side of the room also meant that the vanity had to be reduced by 6 inches, so it went from a 2 sink 60" vanity to a 2 sink 54" vanity with a small pony wall between the lavatory and the toilet.

The next option and the one they chose, totally uplifted the entire area. This option removed the bathroom door and broadened the remodeled space to include the adjacent closet, small hallway and the entrance into the space from the bedroom.   In order to save wall space inside the bathroom and the closet, I suggested a barn door as the entrance from the bedroom. I knew this was a gamble but it opened up the space tremendously.  The pictures and layout below show this new space configuration.  The red barn door looks fabulous and now my clients absolutely love their bathroom. Priceless.

The Barn Door

Bathroom to the Left; Closet to the Right

Replaces the sunken tub

wall hung double sinks

 

Tubs Steal the Show at KBIS 2015 - Part 1 - The Aquabrass Story

If you were at KBIS this year, you couldn't help but see the plethora of freestanding tubs displayed with such a sense of flair and style.  It may very well be the year of the tub.

Keeping the tub has always been a kind of dilemma for homeowners when they start to think about remodeling the bathroom.  They often want a bigger shower and find that the tub is in the way.  You can see the distress on their faces.  In my latest bathroom remodel I moved the toilet to the other side of the space which enabled me to separate  the all-in-one shower/tub unit creating one frameless shower enclosure and one bath tub area.  So now the real decision is what type of tub to purchase.  The trend these days is to go with a freestanding tub and make it the center of attention or the focal point.

Let me introduce you to a company called Aquabrass.  Aquabrass is headquartered in Montreal Canada and manufacturers a wide range of bathroom and kitchen fixtures.  Recently they launched a new limited series of hand-painted freestanding tubs known as their Kanvas line.  These  stunning tubs would add an artistic as well as distinctive touch to any bath remodel. 

 These stone resin tubs have a high-resistant glossy white finish and the artwork is protected with lacquer.  They come with a press pop-up drain included as well as a build-in overflow.  They are made to fit into any space so they are not large in size.  They measure 56" at the base, 28" deep measuring from the floor to the highest side ( 25" inside the tub), and 30" wide.  They weigh around 330 lbs and can hold up to 95 gal of water.  The lowest price is around $8,000.00. 


Another concept offered by Aqubrass is the Aquazone.  The Aquazone is a space saving bath and shower unit molded into one separate but equal wet zone.  It this 59" x 59 1/2" space, you have 28.5" allocated for the tub and 28.5" allocated for the shower  with the tub being 18" deep on the inside.  It's made of a solid Lucite acrylic one-piece construction material and comes with 2 wheels and 6 adjustable levelers so one person can roll this in place.  This definitely has a place in homes with small bathrooms.  The panels shown can be used for seating or double as a wall shelves.

On the Prowl for Product

As a designer I spend a lot of time looking at product.  I attend a countless number of tradeshows, workshops, and showroom events all in pursuit of product knowledge.  All my clients are different and they all deserve products in their homes that not only meet functional requirements  and visual aesthetics but,  also suit their personalities.  It's all about meeting the clients' needs and personality which means I am constantly on the prowl for product. 

Currently I have two bath remodels going on, so vanities, sinks, and tile options are taking up most of my prowling this month.  In terms of style, bathrooms that make less visual noise are in demand these days.  The Zen approach is great for the client that wants to feel relaxed and rejuvenated in their bathing space.  Depending on the budget, this could mean a steam shower with a floor to ceiling glass enclosure, a shower with mood lighting and music, or just a simple tile laid horizontally.  The horizontal line is a very soothing line. 

Kohler sink vanity

Kohler sink vanity open

It's important to have the design in place before you look for product.  Once the design is complete it's easier and less confusing if you have a plan of the design in front of you when you are in the showrooms.  It's good to know if your cabinet needs to be a one sink 36" cabinet or a two sink 60" cabinet so you will only focus on the items you need.  It is very easy to get distracted in the showrooms.  It's like the candy shop.  I keep my clients on track.

There are numerous outlets for finding bathroom vanities.  Cabinets by Robern or Kohler with their variety of storage and electrical options may be just the right choice for you and they are available in many retail stores as well as for the trade showrooms.

However if you need multiple cabinets such as a tall linen closet along with a matching vanity then you will most likely need your designer to work with a cabinet company. The picture on the right is an Elmwood cabinet with an integrated sink from Caesar Stone.  Rather than furniture legs it is being floated above the floor.  With this cabinet you can get granite, or quartz countertops with an integrated sink or the more typical drop in, undermount  or vessel sinks.

There is a great deal of options regarding bathroom sinks.  Very popular at the moment is the integrated trough sinks.  I have worked with both Caesar Stone and Silestone to achieve this look.

Today, I spent over 4 hours looking at tile with clients.  Choosing tile for a bath remodel is one of the most fun parts of designing.  It does take time however. Here's a first cut sampling of  tiles chosen for one of the remodels.  My client took home samples so that she could see them  in the light of her own bathroom.  Light is a big factor in design.

In the course of tile selection you may have to go to more than one showroom.  In this particular showroom one of my clients saw a wood grain porcelain tile but the color wasn't quite right.  As soon as that happened than I suggested another showroom which I know has a wider selection of that particular type of tile.

And that is why designers spend so much time prowling for product.  We like to know what's out there and where it is, so that we can take our clients to the most suitable showroom for their remodel.

Safety in the Shower

The best part of being in the design/build industry is that you can make a difference in someone's life.  We often work on projects that are very helpful to people and this shower floor installation is a good example of one of those projects.

Take a look at the shower to your right.  It's pretty typical.  In fact you  may even have one in your house that you use everyday.  And you may not even think about having to step down a few inches into the shower.  

However, for someone in the 3rd stage of life that action could be a safety hazard.  This happens to be the shower of a very classy, witty and charming 80+ year old.  And that step down became an issue for her.

This bath already had safety items in place such as the grab bar along the back wall.  The Saltillo tile in the bathroom can get slippery when wet so strips were placed strategically for gripping to prevent sliding or even worse falling  but stepping down into the shower was still an issue and that's where we entered the picture.

The next picture is the solution.  When you think of wood in the bath you naturally think of teak.  Teak is beautiful but it is also in short supply which makes it expensive.  For this floor we used Ipe.  It has the same properties as teak meaning it can handle the moisture well.  Ipe is heavier than teak though. An access piece was needed so that you could reach the drain to clean when necessary. 

The last picture has it installed in the shower.  The inside is now more even with the outside. It's a great look and very functional as well. 

 

A Small, Elegant, Urbane Bath Design - Part 1

 All small bathrooms demand creative planning in order to meet the needs of the client and provide a safe and functional room.  It can be challenging because of all the  necessary fixtures and  the fact that each fixture has its own requirements, for example,  the toilet requires a minimum of  30" of space  by code. That is a very tight spot, but sometimes in an older home this is all you can do.  Most people are more comfortable with a 34 or 36" space. This bath remodel was located  on the 2nd floor and had an additional challenge - a wall that housed the chimney to an old fireplace which was no longer in use.  We knew that there would be a surprise for us when we removed the wall, we just didn't know exactly what to expect.

Shower Wall

Fitting everything into the small space

Sink and mirror wall 

There is much to be done within the framework of the walls before you even get to the tile stage.  For this remodel it was important to work  with the electrician for the location of the pendant lights and the towel warmer as well as where the light switches would go.  But before that the contractor and I discussed where the wall hung vanity would go and where the Robern uplift cabinet mirror would be placed.  Those were critical items and we relied on the specs from the manufacturers to help guide our decision.  We also had the homeowner stand in front of where the vanity would be placed  to verify that everything would be accessible  for her height.  Placement of wall hung vanities also depends on the type of sink and faucet included in the design.  If  the homeowner chose a vessel sink than the height of the vessel sink and size of the  faucet all need to be part of the consideration.

  

Wall Hung Toilet Tank

With all the necessary equipment within
the walls in place we were now ready to start  installing the fixtures.   The first fixture to go in would be the airtub.

If you look at the floorplan you will notice that the tub and the shower are both enclosed within the glass doors.  This means that this design is a partial wet room.  In a wet room design the toilet, and usually a pedestal sink would also be enclosed within the glass. 

If you take a closer look at the sink and mirror wall photo, you will see that the cider block of the old fireplace is only about half of the wall opening.  That means we found 15" of unclaimed wall space.  Wow!  In a small room finding space is like finding gold.  We used it for additional storage as you'll see in the next posting.

On this bathroom remodel in the Princeton area,  I had the opportunity to collaborate with another member of the design profession, Katie McHugh I.D  who is a very talented and skillful designer in the Philadelphia area.  I welcome the chance to work with her on other projects in the future. 

Part 2 will present the beautiful fixtures and elegant materials incorporated in this urbane bath design.




 
 

A Touch of Class with Glass

Today glass has a wide range of usage in home decor.  In the kitchen area it looks stunning when used as glass tiles placed strategically into a backsplash.  It is also beautiful as a countertop especially if it is designed as an accent countertop with granite or another solid surface being the main countertop.   Of course, glass tables have been common in the American household for years.   Glass tables have certainly come along way though.  Take a look at these beauties created by Gravity Glas.   These are custom tables  and there's  a variety of colored glass to choose from as well as the type of edging available  to complete the design..  

Here is an idea that would be great for a wine bar area.  You can create an atmosphere where it changes color or just keep a specific color to complement the room it's in.





The bathroom has the added option of a glass sink.  It can be a fabulous vessel sink or it can make a stunning pedestal sink.  Designed mirrors can also add great appeal in the bathroom.

If you interested in exploring the best way to design with glass in your remodel projects just give me a call.  Just a touch of this material in a room can add spark and interest and bring the room to life.

Finishing Touches in the Bathroom

 There was once a time when people remodeled so there could sell their house faster but that attitude has been replaced with "let's remodel so we can enjoy it before we have to sell it". This mindset has led to an increase in bathroom remodeling using luxury components. In other words, people are splurging on their bathrooms.

In the previous decade, bathroom renovations came second to kitchen remodeling. If the homeowner was planning on doing the kitchen then they would include the bathroom as well. Now, there's is a good chance that the homeowner will do the bathroom first because it is a room used everyday so they have the benefit of using those fabulous products everyday. Homeowners are investing in TOTO toilets with an apron or tankless toilets that hang on the wall for ease of cleaning, intricate tile designs on the walls and shower flooring, oversized shower niches as well as luxuriously styled tubs and faucet fixtures. Sometimes even the smallest of details can make a statement in a renovation which is where the drain comes in.    

Years ago deciding on a drain in the shower was a very minor decision because there weren't allot of choices.  Today, in our design-conscious world  the number of choices can make your head spin.  The simplest choice is to insert a drain that is the same finish as the finish on your fixtures in the shower or wet room.  Another option is to create a tiled space  over the drain that allows for water to drains and eliminates other particles like hair from going down the drain.

 

More complicated decisions usually involved more complicated installation considerations.  The Infinity Drain is a beautiful addition to any shower area.  To the left is a picture that depicts how it is installed.  To the right is a completed installation. The drain comes in various sizes so it depends on the size of the  shower as to what size you will need.

 

Another great accessory that you once saw only in luxury  hotel bathrooms is the heated towel rack. This is almost a necessity in a cold climate.  The primary reason for a towel warmer is to dry towels, but in doing so it will often warm the room which is a wonderful benefit at 7AM when you are getting ready for work.  The best way to fold a towel on the rack so that it is fluffy and warm when you next need it is to fold it in 3rds and then drape it over the rail. The layers will hold in the heat more than just a single layer.  Most towel racks comes out  from the wall about 4 or 4 1/2".

A towel rack can be a real eye catcher in a bathroom.The heated towel rack on the right is a Hydrotherm product which would look stunning in the right bathroom.  The size of your space will determine what size of towel rack you can incorporate in the space.  Hydrotherm produces a wide range of sizes and finishes like the one shown here that can be viewed on their site and they will also create a custom rack if the bathroom design requires it.

 

Accessorizing the bathroom is usually a fun project.  It can take many forms such as selecting special towels, soaps, decorative and functional lights, light switches-it's endless, really.  But there are some accessories that are just wow factors like a sleek looking floor to ceiling  towel rack.

Part Three - The Roman Tub Remodel - The Rest of the Story

The process of designing a bathroom can take weeks or months depending on the complexity of the remodel. It’s a very interactive process where the homeowner is required to make decisions regarding tile, cabinets, countertop and hardware selections as well as all the plumbing fixtures selection. It can be overwhelming for many clients and my task is to keep everything on track, make it as stress free as possible and keep everyone focused on the end result.

Before I begin the rest of the story lets recap the concerns expressed by the homeowner in this project. In the shower/tub area: remove the tile lip around the rim of the tub, replace the shower curtain with glass but still protects privacy, need a place for shampoo, need to upgrade the shower equipment. In the sink vanity area: need an updated look and need more storage. In Part 1 there are pictures of the old Roman tub layout if you need to see what it looked like before the remodel.

The major concern in this shower/tub combination area was the lip that outlined the rim of the tub thereby creating a safety issue for the homeowner. The picture on the left shows how we eliminated that risk by simply making the tile flush with the steps leading down into the new shower/tub area.

The shower curtain and white rod also just had to go.  Shower glass was used to replace the old shower curtain.  Privacy is often a request when it comes to the glass in the shower area  and an easy way to address that concern is with a frosted glass or with etched glass.  In this case the glass is frosted up to the 78” and then clear to allow for light to enter the area.  .  As you can also see in this photo we tiled up to the ceiling within the shower area.  If you have an 8' ceiling it is often best to tile to the top so you don’t have that tile line to clean. 

 A tile design can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.  I work with the homeowner to pick out the best tile for their space because the options are endless. If you decide to go with natural stone rather than a slab that adheres to the wall then you need to pick out a stone that comes with a variety of shapes and compatible colors.  On the floor of this shower are the 2x2 tiles that have the same color combination that we have on the walls and the 18”  tiles for the flooring.  These same 2” tiles are also used to add drama to the 12” wall tiles throughout the enclosure.  This is a simple yet very effective way to dress up your shower.  The old design did not include a space for things like hair shampoo, so in the redesign we placed the shampoo nook into the outside wall of the enclosed shower.  A nook is normally about 3 ½” deep and can be as high as you need it to be although I have not designed anything greater than 36” tall which gives you three shelves.  All design is based on the needs of the client so if you need more than one shelf we can incorporate that in the design process.

With a small bathroom maximizing space is also a critical endeavor.  In this remodel there were several aspects that we could improve upon to do just that.  Here are the details:
 
1.  Fulloverlay Door  -  a frameless door style which allows you a bit more room within the cabinet because there isn't a faceframe.  This is the Pacific Crest Crystal Arch door in a Brandy finish.
2.  Mirrors were built on-site by the installer using trim pieces that  I ordered from Pacific Crest to match the cabinetry.  This gives a more furniture look to the space.

3.  The center cabinet goes from countertop to ceiling and is actually recessed 3" into the wall.  This provides the much needed space for storage and still allows adequate space on the countertop.  Because it is recessed and because it is mostly glass it is less intrusive in the space and more appealing to the eye.

                                                      4. Vessel sinks provide greater access to the storage area within the cabinet below.

I just love it when the design that is on paper becomes reality. It's so much fun to see that look in the homeowner's eye - the look that said's "Yes, this is it. This is what I wanted." 

This concludes the saga of the roman bath remodel.  I hope you enjoyed it and I hope that you got a few tips that will prove helpful to you in the future.  If I can help you with your kitchen or bath remodel just email me via my contact page.

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