The homeowners of the four-bedroom residence in Montclair, NJ had made numerous improvements to it since purchasing the house in 1999. With their two sons are grown, they seized the opportunity to reimagine the second-floor primary bathroom as well as the third-floor guest suite. The couple was eager to embark on their DIY bathroom remodel projects, and initially planned on handling all the conceptual aspects and sourcing for both bathrooms themselves. The general contractor – whom they had already selected – would take it from there.
But despite their previous hands-on experiences, the intricacies of bathroom projects proved too much to handle. They called on designer Diana Mosher of New York-based Diana Mosher Associates to get the job the right track.
Initially, Mosher was brought in for a design consultation, to help narrow the porcelain tile options, research applications and determine the design patterns and quantities. The consultation grew into a larger project that included the creation of concept boards, CAD plans and elevations to communicate final design concepts to the GC, sourcing product samples and providing an interior designer’s feedback on product selections.
“We talked about the pros and cons of different tile sizes in terms of functionality (breaking through large format tile should a plumbing repair be needed in the future in this vintage home), cleanability issues related to grout, color palette, trends and resale value'” said Mosher, who also suggested that “less is more” when putting together a tile palette.
A Primary Bathroom Past its Prime
The primary bathroom on the second floor is the only bathroom on that level with three bedrooms. Generously sized at 80 square feet, its mid-1970s previous owner-refurbishment was executed without regard for the pre-war character of the house and needed a total aesthetic and functional overhaul.
Diana Mosher Associates selected finishes and fixtures that express the couple’s clean, modern aesthetic of grays and whites, but will also remain timeless into the future and appeal to a younger generation of owners should they decide to sell. A range of sophisticated gray tones with glass tile accents, classic subway tile and porcelain shower wall Laminam sheets that were also fabricated for the vanity top, are on the same design wavelength as the upper floor’s guest bath.
Breaking through an exterior wall to add a set of square thermal casement windows above the new bathtub has upgraded the room with an infusion of daylight and inviting season-changing views of the backyard treetops. No other home on the block has this feature. A duplicate set of these energy-efficient casement windows was installed in the stairwell landing, replacing the single-pane originals. A 40-inch x 32-inch backlit LED anti-fog and dimmable mirror above the vanity reflects the light and backyard views into the room and the user’s view at the basin.
The large, porcelain-walled shower, created where the toilet was formerly positioned, has a pony wall topped in glass creating an alcove for the luxurious 36-inch x 72-inch soaking tub that is a focal point of the room with its custom surround subway-and-glass-tiles pattern designed by the client. A thermostat-controlled heating system was installed underneath the plank flooring tile configuration that was designed by the client with her contractor and is repeated along the tub’s exterior side.
The original window on the east wall was halved, affording greater privacy next to the repositioned toilet, and replaced by a matching casement window to the ones above the tub, allowing daylight to shine through the shower glass and fill the room. Below the window, a smart combination toilet-bidet with heated seat is wall-hung with a recessed tank, providing alignment with the vanity cabinet and an ideal user-friendly spot for the bidet remote.
Sources
Designer: Diana Mosher Associates; Photographer: Kitty Dadi Photography; General Contractor: Matthew Maher; Accessories, Faucets, Tub Filler & Shower Fixtures, Sink, Toilet: TOTO; Bathtub: Zuma Collection; Handheld Bracket: Jaclo; Heated Flooring System: DITRA-HEAT by Schluter; Mirror: ISKM; Paint: Benjamin Moore; Shower Enclosure: Custom by City Glass Works; Tile, Vanity Countertop: Crossville (Shower Wall & Floor, Bathtub Surround, Floor); Vanity Cabinet: Virtu Caroline Avenue; Windows: Fabricated by Jaeger Lumber Supply Co. Inc.
