Ode to Jouy

Guest bathrooms, by definition, are spaces not intended for constant use and can, therefore, take on a more independent design scheme to the rest of the house.

The featured bathroom, in an extensively remodeled 1860s-era house, presented an opportunity to relax the otherwise consistent Napoleon III aesthetic, says designer Martin Potter of MJ Berries Design.

"The formal areas of the house adhere to the dictates of the style, so with the private spaces on the third floor, including this bathroom, we made a conscious choice to introduce features to lighten things up and make the interiors a little less period."

At first glance, the bathroom appears to mirror the style of the house. However, closer inspection reveals the differences.

"The bathroom services a guest bedroom, which has a traditional red toile de Jouy wall-covering. To link the two spaces, wallpaper with a similar design was chosen, but the pattern in the bathroom, designed by Sheila Bridges, depicts modern alternatives to the pastoral scenes of the 1700s," says Potter.

With a limited footprint in which to work, maximizing useable space was all-important. Potter along with partner Jon Hattaway utilized a number of devices to create an impression of spaciousness such as the frameless mirror.

"The glass shower enclosure was a design necessity in maximizing space as well as serving to allow light from the newly installed skylight to enter the bathroom," says Potter.

"We were able to incorporate the owner's request for marble though, in the form of mosaic panels on the walled sides and as a surround maintaining a link to the period aesthetic that works so well in the other rooms."

Story by: Justin Foote

Photography by: Jamie Cobeldick History is updated in the small guest bathroom