Bathroom Design
Remodeling Guides
Berkeley Bathroom Goes Into the Light
A renovation lets wood, stone and light converge to create a serene bath experience for a California chef
Architect Marites Abueg's client was ready to part ways with her bath's previous incarnation: a space swathed in dark purple paint and heavy green tile. The homeowner wanted a renovation to lighten up the space, one that would "use honest materials and simplify the design," says Abueg.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A chef of California cuisine
Location: Berkeley, California
Design challenge: Turning a dark bathroom into a light-filled, Zen-like spa bath rooted in Shaker design philosophy
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A chef of California cuisine
Location: Berkeley, California
Design challenge: Turning a dark bathroom into a light-filled, Zen-like spa bath rooted in Shaker design philosophy
BEFORE: The bath's previous incarnation is far from its current state. Everything but the stained glass windows was edited out and updated.
"The teak panels flanking the windows mimic the proportion of the windows, making it seem like there are four windows in the bath," says Abueg.
The floors are Douglas fir, original to the home. "My client actually likes the wood surfaces to show their age, to have a more complex patina, so for her it's not a problem to have the wood floors in the bath. She thinks it's good for things to age and bend and give the impression that time is passing," says Abueg.
The floors are Douglas fir, original to the home. "My client actually likes the wood surfaces to show their age, to have a more complex patina, so for her it's not a problem to have the wood floors in the bath. She thinks it's good for things to age and bend and give the impression that time is passing," says Abueg.
The vanity shelves were custom made by California cabinetmaker Randall Wilson. Each cubby has a purpose and a toiletry match: Bottles fit into particular shelves, and a bottom cube houses a makeup mirror.
Abueg's client, an activist for local and organically grown food, extends her support for all things local when it comes to choosing her furniture craftspeople. "She loves the lighting designs of Berkeley designer Michael McEwan; she actually had him scale down light fixtures from a previous commercial property so that she could have his light pendants in the bath and throughout her residence," says Abueg.
A bed of river rocks surround the tub. The rocks add to the serene, spa-like atmosphere of the space and tickle bare feet.
The modern tub is the quiet star of the room and is central to the client's bathing ritual. "There's a shower in one of the other rooms in the house for guests to use, but she only takes baths," says Abueg.
True to the Shaker philosophy of the entire space, the bath caddy spreads itself across the tub's width, with just enough room for a pumice scrub and a votive candle.
See more guides to bathroom design
More:
19 Dream Tubs for Bath Lovers
True to the Shaker philosophy of the entire space, the bath caddy spreads itself across the tub's width, with just enough room for a pumice scrub and a votive candle.
See more guides to bathroom design
More:
19 Dream Tubs for Bath Lovers
Sponsored
Sponsored
Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH
Sink: concrete, VitraStone; tub: Wetstyle