Putting on the Ritz

The well-traveled owners of this house recaptured memories of elegant Paris hotel suites when they explained their wish list to their interior designer.

Shelly Handman and his staff at Handman Associates were asked to design a traditional six-star bathroom that would be gracious but not ostentatious.

"The owners appreciated the Art Deco sensibility evident in many of the top hotels, so this was a key influence but it was just the start," says Handman. "They said they also wanted the suite to have the charm and character of the beautiful French hotels they have stayed in."

The solution was to line the bathroom with polished Calacatta Gold marble a lively patterned stone that conveys the essence of a bygone era.

"This marble is about as classic as it gets," says Handman. "The richness of the marble speaks, in a very restrained way, of the sense of luxury and indulgence you get in an elegant hotel in Paris."

The European look is enhanced by a freestanding tub and a marble-topped vanity that sits on polished nickel supports. A dark-stained Macassar cabinet is suspended in the middle of the unit, providing a dramatic contrast to the walls.

The sense of luxury is reinforced by a spacious steam shower room, complete with bench seat. Handman says the silver nickel fixtures are like jewelry on the wall a fitting accessory for the bathroom.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes