The vanity and mirror were made in China per our specifications. I chose light fixtures that were interesting and definitely not typical bathroom fixtures! There is a mix of many materials in this room, yet it is so peaceful. Photos by Mike Kaskel

The wood grained tile and the pebbled floor/ border bring in natural elements yet are waterproof! Photo by Lift Your Eyes Photography

DENISE DAVIES

Jim Wright Smith

Peter Rymwid photography. Designed by Brad Jenkins Inc. "WoodForm Concrete® is a lightweight engineered composite that looks like wood and acts like stone. It will not split, crack, splinter, stain or rot. Multiple color choices, edge details, accessories and more make this material a must-have if you truly want the look of, “wood without the worry”. This revolutionary product enables wood to be used in areas that real wood would be impossible or impractical. This product has more than 50% recycled content, 0% waste in its production, it's lightweight and easy to transport, will last longer than wood and has a lower Embodied Energy in its production.

Working with a ceramic artisan, wall mounted ceramic planters were custom made for the shower wall to bring some living elements into this light filled space. Specially designed to hold just the right amount of water, these planters can be watered irregularly without the worry of over or under watering. Photography by Paul Linnebach

http://www.franzenphotography.com/

Modern master bath with concrete wall tiles, concrete baseboards, and concrete vanity top. Photos by Payne

Photography by David Wakely

Photo: John Gruen

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

Photography by Lori Hamilton

Previous bath goes from 70s dingy and drab, to clean and sleek modern spa. Bringing in natural elements, bright wood tones, and muted whites and greys, this new bath creates an inviting hotel like environment.