Armed with a well-above-average knowledge of the interior design and construction business, the owners of the century-old home in Montclair, N.J. were ready to tackle the renovation of the guest bathroom. But they became bogged down in the selection, layout and ordering of the tile products for the room, and turned to designer Diana Mosher, founder of Diana Mosher Associates in New York, to set things right.
“I was eager to step into the role of consultant on a remote project. It allowed me to test my new business model as a “New York City Designer Consulting in Cities Everywhere,” said Mosher. “I do enjoy full-service projects, but it’s also rewarding to jump in when a DIY client needs advice but they still want to ‘drive the bus.'” The designer notes that a clear letter of agreement helps define the scope of services, whether consulting on a DIY project or selling interior design concepts (without project management) for the client to execute at their own pace.
Reviving the Guest Bathroom
The 60-sq.ft. third-floor bathroom still had all the original 1920s fixtures including a claw-foot bathtub which was swapped for a shower built around a new double-hung vinyl frosted window. Opening the top while showering in the morning provides a view of the treetops with the sun rising in the east while ensuring privacy from neighbors and illuminating the room. Moving the toilet from the far end of the room under the sloped ceiling into the center of the room and locating the wash basin/vanity cabinet opposite the new smart toilet-bidet with heated seat and auto-flush, reconfigured a poorly used rectangle of space into a smart square of luxury. The GC transformed the sloped ceiling into an asset by adding deep built-in shelving outside the shower wall.
For this 1926 home, a classic palette of white subway tile, crisp blue glass mosaics, gray-veined porcelain shower panels and plank porcelain floor tiles that are warmed by a thermostat-controlled underfloor heating system, complements the architecture of the house. The modernized guest bathroom is now fully functional for use. Delighted with the new luxury bathroom, the homeowner also refurbished the guest bedroom. And a small wood-paneled room with a window, often found in these 1920s houses, is entered from the guest bedroom, now serving as an office space for visitors (and seasonal storage), creating a complete third-floor suite.
Sources
Designer: Diana Mosher, Diana Mosher Associates; Photographer: Kitty Dadi Photography; General Contractor: Matthew Maher; Accessories: Jaclo (handheld bracket); Faucet, Shower Fittings: Hansgrohe; Heated Floor System: Schluter; Lighting: Kira Home (sconce, vanity light); Paint: Benjamin Moore; Shower Enclosure: Custom by City Glass Works; Tile and Shower Wall Panels: Crossville; Toilet/Bidet: TOTO; Vanity/Countertop/Sink/Mirror: Tahoe via Houzz; Windows: Vanderbilt fabricated by Jaeger Lumber Supply Co. Inc.
