Bathe in Luxury

When you walk into a hotel bathroom, what are the things you hope to find? We are not surprised by the typical things like a terry cloth robe, soft fresh towels, and sample size body washes, shampoos and conditioners. The 4-star hotels that leave an impression have unexpected elements like a floor-to-ceiling steam shower, whirlpool tub, vanishing television mirrors, heat racks for towels, slippers to go with your robe… The list continues. I had a client that wanted a piece of this luxury at home, so they put my design skills to the test.

Design Requirements

Gut the existing ensuite as the space was outdated & did not meet the needs of the client
Jacuzzi tub was unused & the shower was too small.
Increase the size of the walk-in-closet
Maintain location of the existing toilet

Include the following in the new design:

Large tiled steam shower w/ body jets, rain shower head, hand held shower wand & bench
Large vanity with single sink
Make-up counter (separate from vanity)
Separate toilet room
Use sustainable & eco-friendly materials

The Existing Space

The Concept

Create an urban escape; a home space that mimics the amenities of a hotel
Space for various functions, separate toilet room, suit preparation in good lighting, make-up table, and shower for 2
Maximize storage
Shower to be the main feature of the bathroom
Make-up table to be designed for easy access for styling tools (hairdryer, curling iron, etc)

Inspiration Image

Click here to see the inspiration for this design.

Project Limitations

Working within the existing square footage
Staying within budget $40,000
Adding a new hot water tank for new steam shower
Compliment the glass block windows that will remain

New Design

In the new design, I started out by removing the angles that were taking up valuable square footage, which allowed for an increase in length for the walk in closet by 3’-6”. I then took some room from the master bedroom to allow for a nice sized make-up table. I maintained the existing toilet room but just shortened it to decrease wasted space. The vanity was relocated to the back wall to make it the feature when you walk into the ensuite. The shower was moved to the backside of the closet and is the focal point of the bathroom.

Millwork Design

The Vanity was designed strategically to balance the existing stepped window with the sink & mirror. We wanted to draw the attention of the viewer away from the window which we did by creating vertical elements on one side & horizontal elements on the another side. We used a stone & glass backsplash tile to bring some drama behind the mirror. Open vertical storage boxes were used in the base cabinets to emphasis the vertical line.

We recreated the backsplash detail on the make-up counter to bring consistency through the space.

Shower Tile Design

As the shower was meant to be the focal point of the bathroom, I used a variety of tile combinations & Schluter products to bring the final product to life. We used the KERDI-BOARD system on the shower head wall for recessed accents (backed with a beautiful glass tile) as a place for the client to store shampoos, body washes, and conditioners. We also used the KERDI-LINE shower drain which allows you to use large format 12” x 24” tiles on the shower floor for limited grout lines.

The Finishes

The clients wanted a fresh & neutral palette with a hint of colour. As a way of giving the palette an enhanced look, while keeping it neutral, we looked at using texture to give the space a boost.