Time out

With any bathroom remodeling project, there's a need to respect the overall style of a house. But this doesn't mean you can't explore other design directions a good team will get the mix just right, as this project illustrates.

Homeowners Wayne and Srey Peterson wanted their new master bathroom to have a soothing, zen influence.

"We wanted the room to have a warm, clean look, with a calming, Asian feel," says Srey Peterson. "Creating a tranquil, environment was important. We also wanted to introduce a touch of nature."

The couple commissioned architect Taunya Nelson of Vujovich and interior designer Brandi Hagen of Eminent Interior Design to come up with an appropriate design.

"It was a balancing act," says Hagen. "On the one hand, there was the desire for the meditative, Eastern-inspired design. On the other, the owners didn't want to give up the contemporary edge evident throughout the rest of the house. The solution was to design a bathroom that presented a contemporary twist with a distinct Asian influence."

Nelson says all traces of the existing 1980s-style bathroom were removed, including white laminate cabinets, white tiles with dark grout, and glass block walls that separated the room from a sun room.

"Although the bathroom is an internal room, there was still a need to provide some privacy with the windows into the sunroom," she says.

Two Lumicor Botanical Beach Grass panels, set in walnut frames, were positioned either side of the tub. The panels feature grasses set into the glass.

"The panels enhance the bathing experience the semi-translucent material allows for more solitude while emitting a soft, diffused light," says Nelson.

The visual impact of the panels is heightened by the symmetry of the steps leading up the tub on either side.

Matching wood vanities, either side of the entrance, and a shower and toilet room at opposite ends of the bathroom further enhance the sense of symmetry.

The designers say creating these separate rooms helps to make the overall space more intimate.

"It was a very large space to be working with," says Hagen. "We needed to bring the scale down a little."

Designing fixtures to resemble furniture pieces was a way to reinforce the Asian look. It also makes the bathroom look more like a room where one might want to linger, says Hagen.

The wood vanities were designed to look like traditional Chinese chests. Antique furniture also features an 18th century bench seat hides the access panel to the tub. In the shower dressing area, an antique armoire provides extra storage.

A new Brazilian walnut floor was laid to further create the sense of a room. Wet areas feature limestone tiles.

"Colors throughout the room were inspired by the onyx countertops," says Hagen. "These established the wood tones and the color of the limestone. I am a great believer in using wonderful materials but using them simply for maximum impact."

Story by: Trendsideas