Serene touch

When the color palette is subdued, other design elements can come to the fore. In a room that is about pampering the senses, the use of materials which are inviting to the touch seems especially appropriate.

This project, by architect Dan Vercruysse and interior designer Jodi Gillespie, features a subtle interplay of tones and surfaces. A wall of translucent green glass between the master bedroom and the bathroom is a key element in the design, says Vercruysse.

"This allows light to flow through from the bedroom into the bathroom. The rooms share another material connection the headboard and the bathroom cabinetry on the other side of the wall are both in teak."

Within the galley-style bathroom, the wall opposite the vanity accommodates a Japanese soaking tub, and a shower stall in the same green glass as the wall, says Gillespie.

"The tub surround, pedestal step and vanity countertop are all in a textured soapstone," says the designer. "In addition, the upper surface of the surround continues into the shower stall, forming a seat on that side of the glass."

As well as material connections, a common use of colors also draws the bathroom together.

"The warm brown-gray of the soapstone is reflected in the hues of the porcelain tiles," says Gillespie. "We used these in contrasting formats large tiles on the bathroom and shower floor, and slender bricks on the wall behind the tub and the interior of the shower stall."

Grouting for the two different applications further differentiates the look.

The designer says the warm grays of the stonework and porcelain play up the richness of the wood on the vanity cabinetry.

At one end of the bathroom, a glass pocket door separates off the toilet cubicle. Here, exposed concrete walls create a strong material juxtaposition.

"The owner liked the rough texture of the building's concrete structure it is left unclad throughout the apartment and it contrasts the glass and stone to mutual benefit," Vercruysse says. "In creating this interior, two of our watchwords were subtlety and nuance both these attributes are reflected in the master suite."

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: Brian Droege