DESIGNING A CALIFORNIA COASTAL MASTER BATHROOM
WHERE IT STARTED
When I first stepped into this bathroom, it was a builder-basic bathroom and clearly lacking a soul. The design challenge here was then to take this soul-less bathroom and transform it into a master bath that is serene, inviting and has a distinct personality of its own.
A completely blank vanity wall didn’t really do any justice to the bathroom and that was where I decided to put in a signature design feature that will be the focal point of this bathroom.
THE MATERIAL SELECTION
With a design that dwells on infusing a serene, spa-like ambiance and a touch of elegance, material selection was one of the most important aspects of the design.
To give the bathroom a distinct character and personality, the vanity wall gets its very own feature with a custom, hand made tile from Fireclay Tile laid vertically all the way from the vanity counter to the ceiling. The blues instantly infuse a calming and serene vibe and the floor to ceiling tile grabs your eye the moment you step in. I infused a touch of elegance and sophistication by curating all brass fixtures and hardware including the vanity mirrors & lighting. A reclaimed wood shelf adjacent to the bath tub adds a hint of natural touch finished with a curated selection of decor and bath accessories. The design choice of whites in the vanity counters and the porcelain tile flooring add to the beach-vibe coupled with the blues and beautifully ties into the space.
To give the bathroom a distinct character and personality, the vanity wall gets its very own feature with a custom, hand made tile from Fireclay Tile laid vertically all the way from the vanity counter to the ceiling. The blues instantly infuse a calming and serene vibe and the floor to ceiling tile grabs your eye the moment you step in. I infused a touch of elegance and sophistication by curating all brass fixtures and hardware including the vanity mirrors & lighting. A reclaimed wood shelf adjacent to the bath tub adds a hint of natural touch finished with a curated selection of decor and bath accessories. The design choice of whites in the vanity counters and the porcelain tile flooring add to the beach-vibe coupled with the blues and beautifully ties into the space. To add a personalized touch to the design, I incorporated a vase hand-painted by the client into the decor accents. Including client’s special possessions adds a distinct personal touch and makes the design feel one’s own.
The frameless shower enclosure seamlessly blends into the space without creating any visible obstruction to the sight line giving an open feel and the calming blues continue onto the shower surround as well as the bathtub surround through pebble tiles.
CHALLENGES DURING THE PROJECT
What’s a project that’s without its share of challenges? With the tile feature wall close to completion, our installer almost ran out of tile for the last strip of the wall with only a few pieces of tile remaining. Since this was a custom handmade tile, there was no way we could just run back and grab another box, unless we waited several weeks. Always ready for a good challenge, I laid out what we had left and worked with our installer to measure out the remaining area.
With a bit of creativity and smarts, I worked out a solution to get our installer to precisely measure out and cut the remaining pieces of tile to perfectly cover the remaining area. We completed the tile install with 2 extra pieces of tile remaining! Couldn’t be more happier with the outcome as well as the ingenuity to devise a quick solution.
Challenges are always a part of the design process and the key point that matters here is a designer’s ability to act quickly and creatively to create the best solution for the problems… Something that I love doing!
END RESULT & FEEL
Talk about having an oasis in your home and this master bathroom immediately jumps to my mind. The blues bring in the oceanic charm with an airy feel that is inviting at every glance. A spa-retreat that sets the perfect tone and mode through thoughtful material selections and design execution transforming a builder-basic master bathroom into a masterfully curated bath retreat.