Bathroom Design
Before and Afters
Bathroom of the Week: Dramatic Black Walls and Art Deco Style
A designer updates a boring bath with lots of black paint, dark marble tile and gold details that create a vintage vibe
A hallmark of Art Deco style is its glamorous craftsmanship and use of natural materials. So when this empty-nest couple purchased a one-bedroom condo in a 1919 Art Deco-style building in downtown Salt Lake City, they knew they needed to up the design of the generic interior spaces. That included the unit’s only bathroom, whose cream-colored walls, basic white vanity, aging shower-tub and carpeted floor couldn’t have been further from luxury.
They turned to designer Rachel Hutchens and builder Jared Reesor for help. The team tore everything out and incorporated space from a nearby closet to create a roomier layout with a low-curb shower. Stacked laundry appliances occupy a former linen closet. And for an exuberant style that better fits the building, the team leaned on all-black walls, different kinds of marble tile and lots of gold finishes.
They turned to designer Rachel Hutchens and builder Jared Reesor for help. The team tore everything out and incorporated space from a nearby closet to create a roomier layout with a low-curb shower. Stacked laundry appliances occupy a former linen closet. And for an exuberant style that better fits the building, the team leaned on all-black walls, different kinds of marble tile and lots of gold finishes.
After: The remodeling team knocked the former bathroom back to the studs. It then incorporated a portion of the closet into the new space, raised the ceiling as much as possible and moved the door over a foot. Those changes, along with a frameless glass low-curb shower and an open washstand, help keep the 62 square feet feeling roomy.
Brass and gold details pop against the black walls and millwork (Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams) and the 3-by-6-inch black honed marble tiles, creating elegant suspense. “They were open to a dramatic bathroom, and they wanted an Art Deco vibe,” Hutchens says.
A custom marble countertop on the washstand coordinates with mosaic marble floor tile in a basketweave pattern. “We chose black and white marble for their entry,” Hutchens says. “We felt selecting black and white marble for the bathroom helped tie everything together.”
Backsplash tiles: Ferrara honed marble in Nero, 3 by 6 inches, Bedrosians Tile & Stone
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Brass and gold details pop against the black walls and millwork (Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams) and the 3-by-6-inch black honed marble tiles, creating elegant suspense. “They were open to a dramatic bathroom, and they wanted an Art Deco vibe,” Hutchens says.
A custom marble countertop on the washstand coordinates with mosaic marble floor tile in a basketweave pattern. “We chose black and white marble for their entry,” Hutchens says. “We felt selecting black and white marble for the bathroom helped tie everything together.”
Backsplash tiles: Ferrara honed marble in Nero, 3 by 6 inches, Bedrosians Tile & Stone
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Before: One of the head-scratching features of the former bathroom was the toilet, which sat angled in a corner with part of its tank recessed into the wall.
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After: Stealing space from the closet allowed Hutchens to place the new two-piece toilet in a straight position. The gold toilet lever and toilet paper holder coordinate with other finishes in the room, including gold-framed black-and-white artwork.
The upper wall panel to the right of the toilet is actually a touch-open cabinet that stores toiletries, an idea Reesor, the builder, came up with. “Having a great builder made all the difference,” Hutchens says.
The widespread faucet has an arc spout and a polished gold finish. “I love an arc spout; it’s nice and traditional-looking,” Hutchens says.
Brass sconces with glass cylinders and exposed Edison-style bulbs nod to Art Deco style.
Toilet: Memoirs, Kohler; ceiling paint: Reflective White, Sherwin-Williams
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The upper wall panel to the right of the toilet is actually a touch-open cabinet that stores toiletries, an idea Reesor, the builder, came up with. “Having a great builder made all the difference,” Hutchens says.
The widespread faucet has an arc spout and a polished gold finish. “I love an arc spout; it’s nice and traditional-looking,” Hutchens says.
Brass sconces with glass cylinders and exposed Edison-style bulbs nod to Art Deco style.
Toilet: Memoirs, Kohler; ceiling paint: Reflective White, Sherwin-Williams
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A black makeup cabinet with brass pulls and a custom marble top that matches the washstand top sits across from the toilet. A 24-by-36-inch mirror with LED lights hangs above. “That is something I put into my own bathroom and love because it’s so great for putting on makeup,” Hutchens says.
Floor tile: Aurora mosaic, Bedrosians Tile & Stone
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Floor tile: Aurora mosaic, Bedrosians Tile & Stone
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The black marble tile wraps the new shower — wall to wall, floor to ceiling and on the low curb as well. The same tile in a 1-by-1-inch mosaic covers the shower floor, providing good grip.
The shower features a slide-bar hand shower, diverter, rain can shower head and thermostatic valve trim, all in a gold finish.
An upgraded frosted double-hung window offers privacy and ventilation.
10 Bathroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend
The shower features a slide-bar hand shower, diverter, rain can shower head and thermostatic valve trim, all in a gold finish.
An upgraded frosted double-hung window offers privacy and ventilation.
10 Bathroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend
A niche inside the shower has two quartz shelves for keeping products off the floor, and it’s backed in the same mosaic tile used for the floor.
The condo didn’t have a laundry area prior to the remodel, so Hutchens created space for a stacked washer-dryer in what had been a linen closet. Mesh doors partially conceal the appliances. “The mesh allows for ventilation for the washer and dryer and also provides a cool design feature,” Hutchens says.
A hook to the right of the appliances keeps towels near the shower. There’s another hook on the back of the bathroom door to the left.
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A hook to the right of the appliances keeps towels near the shower. There’s another hook on the back of the bathroom door to the left.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Before: This floor plan of the former bathroom shows its tight layout with the shower-tub combo (left), bulky vanity (center top) and oddly angled toilet. A closet (right) offered opportunity to expand.
After: Absorbing a portion of the closet allowed the homeowners to expand their bathroom, resulting in a cleaner, roomier layout. “This project was a success because the clients really let us be creative and take risks,” Hutchens says.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Salt Lake City
Size: 62 square feet (5.8 square meters)
Designer: Rachel Hutchens of Maven Home Interiors
Builder: Jared Reesor of Briarglen Construction
Before: This photo of the former condo was taken from the bedroom looking toward the bathroom on the left and the closet on the right. You can see the worn-out carpet and get a peek at the basic finishes and aging shower-tub combo in the bathroom. “The bathroom was just ugly and old,” Hutchens says.
The remodeling team stole space from the closet to expand the bathroom and create a roomier layout.