Remodeled bathroom, soft neutral tones with dark mahogany vanity, marble top, steam shower

Lifestyles, like fashions, change over many decades a bathroom that may have suited a house in the 1980s can be outdated and quite ineffective for modern living.

This new bathroom, in a traditional brick house built in the '80s, replaces a bathroom the owners described as "inefficient".

Architect Jim Rill of Rill Architects says the original bathroom was large, but awkward and inefficient, with a corner tub, a toilet next to the tub, and two sinks, one of which was in a closet.

"The space was not maximized," Rill says. "We were able to gain a little space from a closet in an adjoining bedroom, and completely re-arrange the bathroom to make it much simpler and more effective."

Rill lowered the window in the bathroom, and centered a new tub beneath it, so the owners can enjoy the leafy outlook while bathing. He positioned the toilet room to the left of the tub and the steam shower to the right, adding internal windows to both these rooms.

"The windows fill these rooms with natural light," the architect says. "The owners can even enjoy the view while having a shower."

Rill says the bathroom is also defined by decorative paneled elements on the walls, ceiling and tub surround. Even the doors are treated as panels, in either glass or wood.

"The detailing on the dark mahogany vanity cabinetry matches the millwork, which helps to unify the entire room."

Additional textural play is provided by porcelain tiles in similar shades of limestone, but in different sizes and formats.

"Mosaics feature on the floor, bench seat and ceiling of the shower, making an interesting visual contrast to the long wall tiles and the large floor tiles in the bathroom," says Rill. "We also added a different, but matching mosaic tile to the center of the floor in front of the vanity, to create a rug effect."

Story by: Colleen Hawkes