On the boardwalk

One downstairs bathroom caters to aprés-beach, another upstairs allows three boys to share the same bathing space both have minimalist lines and a common material palette

A view of the wood slate boardwalk and architecture, ceiling, daylighting, floor, home, house, interior design, room, wood, gray — A view of the wood slate boardwalk and custom pebble stone edging in this bathroom, tiled walls

A view of the custom vanity, stainless steel bathroom sink, floor, plumbing fixture, plywood, product design, sink, tap, tile, wall, wood, gray, brown

A view of the bathrom featuring tiled walls/flooring, architecture, bathroom, daylighting, floor, glass, house, interior design, real estate, window, gray, black

A view of the bathrom featuring tiled walls/flooring, architecture, bathroom, daylighting, glass, interior design, plumbing fixture, gray

A view of the bathrom featuring tiled walls/flooring, architecture, bathroom, floor, interior design, room, sink, tile, gray

Separate bathrooms within a residence can have functions that are as varied as the family members who inhabit them. One bathroom might provide an easy way to wash the sand out of your hair after a day at the beach, for example, while another might be a bustling bathing station for younger family members. However, a careful choice of materials, textures and design elements can visually pull together the two disparate bathrooms.

These bathrooms, created by architect and designer Linda Haefeli, followed exactly this design agenda. With the house being close to the sea, the owners wanted a bathroom near the back door where they could shower immediately, without traipsing half the beach through the home first.

"We introduced a long shower space floored with slated wood to collect any residual sand and ensure it drained away unnoticed," says Haefeli. "Elongated handrails and an oversized heated towel rail mean clothes are never left on the floor, and there is always a dry towel on hand."

The tough teak boards, edged with a pebble inlay, are resistant to salt air both the wood and pebbles are appropriate to the seaside location.

An upstairs bathroom caters to three young boys on a day-to-day basis.

"We designed this space so two, or even all three children, could use the space effectively," says Haefeli. "To this end, there is a double vanity, with the shower and toilet arranged in a row like cubicles. The far wall of the shower stall is frosted to provide privacy for the toilet cubicle."

Creating sufficient natural lighting for both the bathroom and an adjacent hallway was achieved by introducing a glazed ceiling.

"Frosted windows between the bathroom and the hall maintain privacy for the bathroom's occupants, but also allow light to filter through into the hallway," Haefeli says.

While these are some of the individual aspects to each bathroom, the rooms also share several design elements that bring them together aesthetically.

Custom limestone vanities are central to the minimalist feel of both bathrooms, and their sloping interiors and wall-mounted taps are easy to clean.

"Scale, tone and materials were all linking elements," says Haefeli. "Together with the smooth limestone, both rooms feature porcelain floor and wall tiles. All these tiles are in the same hue, used in differing sizes on the walls and the floors."