The design and renovation of this 92 square foot, L-shaped bathroom in a third-floor condominium in Boston’s Downtown Crossing shows that an inviting and calm space can be created using materials like concrete, stainless steel and wood. These materials represent the client’s aesthetic – modern and urban combined with warm woods. Views of the city can be seen from the three windows in the only bathroom in this one-bedroom apartment.

The horizontal lines of the custom cedar wall and custom stainless-steel towel bar, along with the flush LED lighting in the ceiling above, draw the eye along the apartment’s narrow hallway to the city views beyond the existing metal-frame windows.

Heated and newly poured concrete floors provide physical warmth reinforced by the interesting grain of a custom red birch vanity that is mounted on the short side wall of the “L”. The Caesarstone counter has a mitered-corner top to contain the depth of a Lacava trough sink that accommodates 2 Axor Starck faucets.

The apartment is part of a multi-unit building with both commercial and residential tenants which meant few changes to existing mechanical systems could be made. Existing soffits above the toilet and vanity areas that held ducting and sprinkler heads could not be removed. When the Kohler medicine cabinet couldn’t be recessed fully in the wall above the vanity, as proposed, a wood frame was fabricated to fit around the medicine cabinet to conceal the exposed sides of it but still allow room to use the finger pulls to open mirrored doors.

A new walk-in shower with large format Porcelanosa porcelain tiles sits at the long end of the “L”. The square floor tiles and the 12” x 35” wall tiles are installed in a straight stack pattern to minimize the appearance of grout lines. The heated shower floor culminates at the end in a linear drain. The flush LED lighting turns the corner in the shower to discreetly light the area.

Long-wearing porcelain tile was used in the shower rather than concrete because the force of the water over time could erode the concrete. Flecks in the tile resemble the pieces of aggregate or pebbles in concrete and add hints of color. A moveable teak stool adds warmth and draws the eye to the corner.

A stationary glass partition replaces the wall that previously separated the shower from the toilet allowing more light into the previously drab corner. The Hansgrohe Axor Starck modular shower system includes rain, two body sprays and a hand shower insuring a deluge of water. The size of the shower means water is contained regardless of its source.

The client requested unobtrusive lighting so dimmable LED lighting appears to come from slices in the ceiling and appears from under the vanity, as well. A 4” cube wall light is the exception and provides just enough light for late-night bathroom visits.