An active couple with two young adult children and a dog were in the market for a new primary bath and were inspired by a wet room in a hotel where they had recently vacationed. They reached out to Delafield, Wis.-based Kowalske Kitchen & Bath and secured designer Kim Anderson for the considerable overhaul.
In their previous bathroom, the sinks were too close together, the shower and toilet room were closed in, and the space lacked a large, freestanding, soaker tub. The goal was to create a bright, modern wet room with a larger shower, the desired tub and two separate vanities.
“Because the room was small, we needed to start with a blank space when designing in Chief Architect,” said Anderson. “The new design required moving a lot of plumbing, which added to the expense of the remodel, but it was worth it to create a spa-like retreat our clients love and will use every day.”
Layout Alterations
BEFORE: The only window in the former bathroom was in the enclosed toilet room, and the shower was really dark. The single vanity did not allow the homeowners their own space, and they really wanted a freestanding soaker tub in the new room.
The designer relocated the toilet to where the shower was and used part of the previously enclosed space to create the wet room, which includes the freestanding soaker tub, shower and bench. One sink remained in place, and the other is on the other side of the bathroom door. The room’s only window was hidden in the toilet room, and now that the space has opened, it is flooded with natural light.
Fixture Mixture
Anderson suggested a visit to the Kohler Design center in Kohler, Wisc., so her clients could stay overnight in their spa, which she said enabled them to see their products in person and try some of them out.
“This can be a great option for some, and they followed my recommendation,” said the designer.
The angled Kohler tub is deeper than a standard alcove unit, and it was tricky deciding where to place it. She positioned it so that one of the angles is facing the built-in bench and none are intruding onto the shower space.
The shower fixtures and bath faucets feature a modern look with sharp points, but Anderson says there is a softness to them. The circular sinks fit in with the contemporary feel of the new bath, but their paisley pattern adds a traditional element for more juxtaposition.
The homeowners saw the Kallista toilet at the Kohler showroom, which was a bit pricier than a typical toilet. Anderson said the splurge in this bathroom was definitely the fixtures.
Surface Selection
Where the designer was able to save on the budget, which she said was decided upon up front, was with the tile. The porcelain, fluted, wood-look tile behind the tub brings warmth to the space. Charcoal matte black was chosen for the shower wall, the wall that supports the toilet area and a portion of the wet room with the storage niche. Gray penny tile was selected for the shower floor, and matte white floor tile runs under the tub and up the window wall.
“The black tile provides a stunning contrast with the wood tile, and the white/gray tiles create a subdued backdrop allowing the wood-look tile to take the center stage,” said Anderson.
She specified a Calacatta-look quartz for the countertops, shower bench and the top of the half walls. It features thin black veins the designer says are subtle and dramatic at the same time. A narrow black quartz shelf runs from the wet room niche to the window wall.
Cabinetry Specifics
The separate vanities, a must-have for the clients, feature alder wood and what the designer calls a “skinny Shaker” door with edge detail. She said most clients typically choose white oak in the bath, but these homeowners wanted a smoother grain. The wall-mounted cabinets add to the openness and modern feel of the new space. Vanity drawers maximize storage, as well as a shelving unit for towels. Open shelving above the toilet in the same alder wood as the cabinetry provides a place for decorative items.
Challenges & Solutions
Anderson said her biggest hurdle was fitting all the clients’ requests into a small primary bath, as she was unable to borrow space from an adjoining room or closet. She had to completely rethink the space and sacrifice a linen closet. While she does not usually like to angle walls, she said it made the most sense in this project.
“The angle allows the space needed for the shower and at the vanity and helps the room feel more spacious,” said Anderson.
She created the black quartz shelf above the tub to hide the grout line between the two pieces of fluted porcelain tile. She said it would have been impossible to book match the 48-inch tile, and the clients felt it would be distracting to not have the lines match up.
There are subtle but differing shades of color in the fluted lines and when you stack them, they don’t match up,” said Anderson “This was the perfect solution and tied in everything perfectly.”
The designer says a project is only as good as your team, and hers is made up of talented people who care about what they do. A design assistant helped her make the modern selections, as well as a project manager/problem solver.
“So many people worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure this project went smoothly and came out as beautifully as its original intent,” said Anderson. “My clients love the space and plan to reach out to us when they need more work done.”
SOURCES
Designer: Kim Anderson, Kowalske Kitchen & Bath; Photographer: Kyleen DzPloch Photography; Countertops: Caesarstone & Calacatta Finesse; Faucets, Shower Fixtures, Sinks & Tub: Kohler; Floor & Wall Tile: 21st Century Tile; Hardware: Jeffrey Alexander; Lighted Mirrors: Robern; Wood-Look Tile: Porcelanosa; Toilet: Kallista; Vanities: Custom Wood Products
