Photography by Michael J. Lee

All Photos by Nikolas Koenig

Z Collection Candy ceramic tile in ‘Ocean’ staggered horizontally in this walk-in shower in Portland, Oregon.

A master bathroom is often a place of peace and solitude, made even richer with luxurious accents. This homeowner was hoping for a serene, spa like atmosphere with modern amenities. Dipped in gold, this bathroom embodies the definition of luxury. From the oversized shower enclosure, to the oval freestanding soaking tub and private restroom facility, this bathroom incorporates it all. The floor to ceiling white marble tile with gold veins is paired perfectly with a bronze mosaic feature wall behind the his and her vanity areas. The custom free-floating cabinetry continues from the vanities to a large make-up area featuring the same white marble countertops throughout. A touch of gold is seamlessly tied into the design to create sophisticated accents throughout the space. From the gold crystal chandelier, vibrant gold fixtures and cabinet hardware, and the simple gold mirrors, the accents help bring the vision to life and tie in the esthetics of the concept. This stunning white bathroom boasts of luxury and exceeded the homeowner’s expectations. It even included an automatic motorized drop-down television located in the ceiling, allowing the homeowner to relax and unwind after a long day, catching their favorite program.

Interior view of the Northgrove Residence. Interior Design by Amity Worrell & Co. Construction by Smith Builders. Photography by Andrea Calo.

Photography: Ben Gebo

The blue subway tile provides a focal point in the kids bathroom. The ceiling detail conceals an HVAC access panel. Blackstock Photography

These homeowners wanted to update their 1990’s bathroom with a statement tub to retreat and relax. The primary bathroom was outdated and needed a facelift. The homeowner’s wanted to elevate all the finishes and fixtures to create a luxurious feeling space. From the expanded vanity with wall sconces on each side of the gracefully curved mirrors to the plumbing fixtures that are minimalistic in style with their fluid lines, this bathroom is one you want to spend time in. Adding a sculptural free-standing tub with soft curves and elegant proportions further elevated the design of the bathroom. Heated floors make the space feel elevated, warm, and cozy. White Carrara tile is used throughout the bathroom in different tile size and organic shapes to add interest. A tray ceiling with crown moulding and a stunning chandelier with crystal beads illuminates the room and adds sparkle to the space. Natural materials, colors and textures make this a Master Bathroom that you would want to spend time in.

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

Architecture, Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co.