Room for retreat

When this family home was renovated, a small sitting room was added to the new master bathroom, creating a space for reflection and relaxation

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Making the most of a new house addition, the owners of this restored Colonial style home found space for their own private, sunny retreat.

Architect Mark Larson says that when the second floor was expanded the master bedroom and bathroom were relocated to the front side of the house, creating three rooms.

"Rather than make a larger, but dog-legged bathroom or bedroom, the homeowners warmed to the idea of a private sitting room. As they have children, they wanted a small space that was not necessarily functional but was their own, to just relax in."

This fit in with the homeowners' renovation goal of creating a spacious, informal family home. They also wanted the original Colonial style of the house to be restored, which in turn defined the look of the new master bathroom.

Larson says marble was used to allow a classic, clean aesthetic that is very light.

Aiming for a Colonial look did not inhibit the homeowners from drawing upon some recent references, however.

Interior designer Sally Wheaton Hushcha says the look is not from a specific era, but the marble, wood and bath are all classically rendered.

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"To be strictly faithful to reproducing one period can result in a room feeling like a museum, inaccessible and stifling. In this bathroom, the Carrara marble is classic, but informal, as it is a commonly used stone."

She says the character of the marble, which is grey, cloudy and sometimes veiny, was paired with the wall tile coverings, which were sourced from a New York-based boutique wallcovering designer.

"The pattern has a contemporary, botanical and abstract pattern, yet the grey-blue tones are similar to the marble."

Larson says the traditional free-standing clawfoot bathtub, with decorative claw feet and classical fittings, completed the Colonial look.

The white finish on the tub complements the marble and white fittings, and reflects light.

Although it is a feature, the freestanding bathtub uses less space than a deck tub with tub surround or spa bath.

The shower is also a feature, and comprises various types of marble, including pillow-edged Bardiglio, which looks neither polished nor honed. The surface of the tiles is suggestive of a stony uneven surface, like the rock below a waterfall.

"Without being overtly decorative, it is distinctive," Wheaton Hushcha says.

The light fixtures are a vintage reproduction using molded glass fittings. This is complemented by wooden vanity frames and slatted wood blinds, custom-built cabinetry, and antique furniture and fittings in the sitting room.

Larson says bathers enjoy natural light and a view through the opposite windows in the sitting room, because there is no connecting door.

"As there is no direct line of sight from the master suite to the bathroom, there was no need for doors here either. Instead, we built framed vestibules to keep the space open."

A door conceals the toilet, as befits the design of a traditional bathroom, which would have had a water closet.

Despite the building addition bringing the bathroom closer to the neighbors, large windows were installed, with blinds providing privacy.

Within the house, these two rooms are only accessible via the master suite, so they remain a private retreat for the homeowners.