On a clear day

When a site has extensive and impressive views, one of the hard decisions to make is which rooms should be oriented to enjoy it and which will have to miss out.

In this apartment, furbished by interior designer Jean Foster, both the master bedroom and bathroom enjoy a spectacular outlook. With a sliding shoji screen providing the only separation between the two spaces, the Japanese-style bathtub can be considered part of the bedroom.

"This enabled us to open up the bathroom, and in particular the tub, to the view. From the tub, you look across the bedroom and through the sliding doors to the balcony to the lake and the mountains beyond. And with the screen, both the bedroom and bathroom appear more spacious," says the interior designer.

Alternatively, if privacy in the bathroom is preferred, the screen can be closed, and a smaller bifolding window over the tub still offers an impressive outlook towards the lake.

To keep the interior simple and allow the view to be the focus, Foster opted for a simple, black-and-gray color scheme. The bathtub is a fiberglass shell that has been covered with black mosaic tiles. The same tiles continue along the back wall of the bathroom, behind the bathtub and hand basin. A wall-hung basin maintains the simplicity of the lines and adds to the sense of space.

The same soft, warm-gray floor tiles, with an eggshell finish, are used on the balcony and the floor of the bathroom, before wrapping up the side wall of the spacious double shower enclosure. An extra-large shower head is a luxurious detail tired skiers will appreciate after a day on the slopes.

Off-white curtains and roller blinds frame the windows without detracting from the view, and can be closed to create a cozy atmosphere on cold or snowy winter evenings.

Story by: Mary Webb