Room for two

A room's ambiance is created partly by the first impression from the doorway. Looking at a wall can make a room seem cramped, while the same room, with a view out to the garden, will appear more spacious and inviting.

Bathroom designer Pam Sanchez was asked to renovate this bathroom to create a more attractive and luxurious environment that would be comfortable for two people to share without bumping into each other.

In the old bathroom, a wall and vanity dominated the view from the door. The cluttered space included a sunken bath, closet and corner shower.

A high, vaulted ceiling and a skylight were retained in the refurbishment and, without substantial alterations to the structure, the new room was designed to look more spacious, with an understated, yet regal, feel.

To create extra space the back wall was pushed into the garden. Lined with glass blocks, the new niche created space for a double shower enclosure, accessible from both sides of the bathroom.

"Windows on either side of the shower give a view to the garden. They also bring in natural light, provide a backdrop for the tub, and give an impression of serenity," Sanchez says.

A large tub with a raised marble surround forms the centerpiece of the new space, and helps to separate the bathroom into his and hers areas.

Her vanity matches his with the addition of a lowered make-up area. The two adjoining closets were replaced by two smaller robes on either side of the room behind the vanities.

Designer Mimi Fitz based the bathroom's colors and style on a mantle in the master bedroom featuring cut marble with burgundy, white and black veins. She also copied the millwork around the fireplace in the bedroom for the panels around the tub and for the vanity cabinetry.

Story by: Trendsideas