Personal touch

The master bathroom is considered the most private room in the house, therefore, the most personal. An astute design will seek to convey the intimate nature of this room.

When architect Jay Deguchi, of Suyama Peterson Deguchi, designed this bathroom, his intention was to remain consistent with the architectural language of planes, masses and volumes established throughout the house design.

"The house centers around the creation of open areas and architectural features linking the spaces. But bringing a personal sensibility into the bathroom meant we needed to incorporate elements that were outside the parameters of the overall design.

"The bathroom then becomes this amalgamationof architectural features and personal necessities," he says.

The bathtub and shower provide examples of solid, voluminous shapes, a theme which is carried through the house. Practicality, such as the way the couple separately use the bathroom, determined the function and placement of other objects within the room.

One wanted to be able to change in the bathroom and required a wardrobe. The unit was kept at partial height allowing light to filter deeper into the interior and to match cupboards and cabinetry in the bedroom and other areas of the two-level house.

The other owner is a painter and wanted Cubist elements to be evident in the room. This aesthetic is expressed by the geometric bath faucets and sharp lines of the shower stall, bathtub surround and cabinetry.

Contrasting these sharp edges are softer shapes such as the full-round, white bronze basin and cylindrical faucetry in the powder room, and the hand rails and towel bars surrounding the shower and bath. Many of these features were decided upon at the request of the homeowners.

If the design is broken down, it becomes obvious that these elements are extraneous, but they have practical uses and add a personal touch to the space, and in this way are essential, the architect says.

"Practicality is really the most important aspect in creating any living space. If it doesn't suit the needs of the occupants, then the design is just aesthetic meandering."

Story by: Trendsideas