Every picture tells a story grand bath remodel

No matter how beautiful the architecture, homes built in the early 1900s were not noted for their bathrooms.

This new master bathroom could never have been envisaged by the original owners of the Tudor Revival house, who included the daughter of Alexander Graham Bell and her husband, the founder of the National Geographic Society.

The fascinating history of the Boston house was just part of its attraction for the new owners, says interior designer Laura Brooks Meyer.

"The house has a lot of character, but it needed a full remodel," Meyer says. "This included creating an entire master suite, with walk-in his-and-hers closets, and a new bathroom in a room that was formerly a study."

To give the room a strong visual axis and to introduce a sense of symmetry, an extra window was installed, and white-painted shutters added. A freestanding tub, positioned as a centerpiece beneath the double window, is framed by crisp linen curtains.

"We chose Carrara marble as a cost-effective option for the bathroom, which is quite expansive and required a lot of stone," says Meyer. "To keep the look soft, the walls are painted in a matching light blue gray."

Respecting the tradition of the house was a priority. Meyer added decorative mouldings to the walls that create a paneled look.

The painted cabinetry has a similar design, and includes his-and-hers tall cabinets that bookend the vanity. Because there is so much storage on either side, the designer was able to open up the space beneath the sinks. With a design that mimics tradition, the vanity top and sinks are supported by tubular chrome fixtures and exposed plumbing. The tubular elements serve as towel rails.

Meyer also provided two large medicine cabinets with mirrored interiors. In addition, there are mirrored backs to the tall cabinet doors, which means there is no need to lean over the sink when applying make-up.

"I also added a lip to the edge of the Carrara vanity top to stop water from splashing out," the designer says.

Other elements in the room include a shower with a steam feature. The shower has a built-in seat and niches for shampoo and soap.

The toilet is positioned in a separate room, and has a floor-to-ceiling painted mural depicting a picturesque rowing scene.

"Both the owners went to Harvard and have a particular interest in rowing, and their son now rows," says Meyer. "The painting helps to open up the small room, like an expansive view. It stops it from being claustrophobic."

Story by: Colleen Hawkes