The primary bath in the upscale Houston residence reflected design trends that were popular in 2000, the year it was constructed. A small pass-through shower connected two his-and-her vanity spaces, and a separate water closet completed the suite. While the plan remained functional for the current homeowners, the bland colors and materials of the fixtures, fittings and finishes were long overdue for an update.
That update began with a slab of turquoise Amazonite, according to designer Juliana Ewer, founder of Houston-based J Squared Home Designs. “The client had seen the stone a few years ago and wanted it for her bathroom,” said the designer, a member of the NKBA Gulf Coast Chapter. With the help of a local supplier, she tracked down four slabs of the material needed to sheathe the vanity counters, shower wall and seat and entrance to the space.
The blue hue of the “Tiffany stone” was the starting point for the cascade of color decisions Ewer made for the project. The cool Amazonite led to a chinoiserie wallpaper with an aqua field that grounds a floral motif rendered in a light celadon and pink. In turn, those colors inspired the rose gold finish used on the plumbing, cabinet hardware and light fixtures. A white marble floor calms this palette.
Paint & Stain Treatments
Designed by Ewer, the woman’s vanity features a mix of grooved and Shaker-style fronts, perched on bun feet. Its lively composition is complemented by a multi-toned stain that draws on the gray and blue of the countertop, accentuating the grain of the maple wood.
On his side of the bath suite, the vanity and walls are monochrome, painted in a solid peacock blue. A small swatch of the wallpaper is framed in coral-pink millwork, quietly tying the his-and-her spaces together.
Metal Colors
To complete the color scheme, Ewer developed a custom rose gold hue for the metal elements. Watermark delivered the ornate decorative faucets and shower fittings, replete with cut crystal accents, in about four months. The designer sourced lighting from Lib&Co because the studio could adapt the specs of the sconces and match the finish. Finessing the color and the gloss took a couple of passes; the production took about five months.
“Both the custom lighting and custom plumbing processes were lengthy and involved challenges, but the design demanded ‘out-of-the-box’ details,” said Ewer. “It’s a symphony of colors and beautiful things!”
Sources
Design: Juliana Ewer, J Squared Home Designs Photography: French Blue Photography Cabinets: Custom Cabinet Hardware: Schaub & Company Countertops: Hilltop Stone Faucets, Shower Fittings & Tub Filler: Watermark Designs Lighting: Lib&Co. Mirrors: Anzzi Paint & Stain: Benjamin Moore & Sherwin-Williams Sinks: DXV Tile: Floor & Décor Toilet: TOTO Tub: Victoria & Albert Wallpaper: Schumacher
