Bathrooms
Sroka Design, Inc. SaveEmail Nothing like catching up on your reading while luxuriating in the tub. To those skeptics who think it’s crazy to put bookcases next to the tub, designer Skip Sroka defends his decision this way: “I have had bookcases built into my bathrooms for the last 14 years, and I haven’t had any damage to the books in them. Good ventilation and the scale of the room takes care of the issue.”
Grab bars are available in numerous shapes and sizes, allowing their design to work cohesively with any bathroom's style.
This bathroom celebrates universal design with numerous grab bars that blend into the background. The toilet roll holder, from Invisia, also doubles as a grab bar. Fold-down benches are a smart way to wash feet or shave legs without slipping. This one, also from Invisia, has a brushed-aluminum frame and a Brazilian walnut seat. It folds up and out of the way to prevent tripping.
Designer Jamie Cheveldeyoff suspends the t.p. from the ceiling, in keeping with the rest of his inventive Toronto house. It "was meant to be a joke, since I suspend everything," he says. "Then I realized I could make it store toilet paper as well and therefore only have to change the holder after every six rolls."
Studio William Hefner Add a fireplace. This is one of the most luxurious bathroom features I can imagine.
Let in the light. Windows, skylights and a clear glass shower surround make the most of natural light. If your concern is privacy, explore using transoms, acid-etched glass and clerestory windows.
Consider a home sauna. Historically much more common in countries like Sweden, saunas are becoming more popular in the States.
Studio 80 Interior Design Invest in a bathtub that helps retain heat. Materials like copper, brass, volcanic limestone and soapstone retain heat and will help to keep that hot bathwater warm while you enjoy the entire new issue of People.
Incorporate antiques. The well-worn patina of this table-turned-vanity and the eclectic miners' oil lanterns add warmth and personality to a white bathroom. There are even votive candles in the lanterns for cozy light that creates a relaxing ambience.
Get your towels toasty. Heated towel bars add luxury to the bath, giving you a wonderful way to wrap up when you step out of a steamy shower.
Install a steam shower. This is a big-ticket dream-space item, but everyone I know who has one seems to think they can no longer live without it. I did get a chance to test one out at a vacation rental once, and I can report that it was heavenly.
Soothing and meditative. The dark and cool color palette in this shower creates a serene feeling, reflected by the colorful koi mosaic floor. I love how the wall-to-wall bench allows you to soak in the jets, rain heads and steam in utter relaxation.
Sleek and modern. This super-modern shower steps away from everything traditional. The vanity's glass backsplash defines the entire space, separating the vanity area from the adjacent shower. With mirrors on one side and towel hooks on the other, the single piece of glass manages to serve both spaces effortlessly.
Ancient history. Repeat history and re-create a Roman bathhouse feeling with arched doorways and marble tile. A stainless-steel tub and a luxurious shower with multiple shower heads and body jets can soothe you just as much as an ancient spa, but with all the modern amenities.
Behind closed doors. These stained-glass doors open into a heavenly shower experience enhanced by an oversized rain head. The light spilling through the colored glass could even become a form of chromotherapy, where colored light restores balance and energy.
Elevatons for the New French Country Ensuite. There were quite a few challenges with the rooms architecture and mechanical . Having a great renovation team kept the challenges from being an obstacle and things moved ahead smoothly. For more infromation on the process please visit my website blog: http://www.christineaustindesign.com/blog/?p=475 Design and Drawings by : Christine Austin
2. Purple cabinetry in Minnesota. Purple cabinetry is a bold choice, but this laundry room tones it down with gray undertones.The etched detail on the sink, traditional hardware and warm wall color help tie the rest of this quaint room together.
1. Single-wall savvy in New York. A stacked washer and dryer can save space, as seen in this simple laundry room. Houzzers liked how the laundry area took up only one tiny wall — an idea that can easily work in smaller homes.
Best suited for: Foragers, escapists and avid travelers. Who you are: You despise feeling confined to four walls. Why can't houses be wide open to nature? The wilderness is your place of peace, with an affinity for mountains and jungles and even surfing. You like to remake found objects that are usually blown onto the beach or into your backyard. You recycle religiously and use burlap bags to haul your essentials around. Your favorite destinations are: Bali, Vietnam and Honduras. Your dream trip is an African safari. Stateside you could be satisfied with a cabin rental in the Adirondacks or on the Pacific coast side of Vancouver island. At the bar you usually order: A mint julep, mojito or an herbal-y Benedictine and bourbon. Your astrological sign: Virgo, Sagittarius or Capricorn.
Best suited for: Midcentury modernists, minimalists. Who you are: You used to be a die-hard Ikea-ite but are now ready to spend for a well-crafted look. Your favorite travel destination is: Northern Europe, with a particular fondness for Scandinavia. At the bar you usually order: An Aquavit. Your astrological sign: Taurus.
Guest Bathroom: "Elysium" Designer: Alfredo Gregory To create a bathroom free of constraints, designer Alfredo Gregory eliminated as many walls as possible. The resulting open-concept space is designed so that every item can get wet. Unlike paint, cement walls and a Venetian plaster ceiling won't peel or fade with time. Encaustic cement floor tile from Waterworks is crackproof. Gregory also custom designed a cement sink, a glamorous light fixture and a contemporary toilet to complete the room.
Master Bathroom: "A Sacred Space to Bathe" Designer: Síol Studios A living wall in the main bath — which Kevin Hackett and Jessica Weigley designed as a "healing wall" — holds a lush assortment of herbs, geraniums and mosses. A watering system trickles down the wall to keep the fragrant bursts of mint and lavender fresh.
Backlit Alabaster Vanity
Floating Vanity
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