Tired of their dated master bath, a Wildwood couple was ready to transform their space into an elegant retreat. Crisp, fresh and clean were all buzz words at the forefront of the new design. Keeping the overall footprint of the existing space, the homeowners worked with bath designer Paula Anane, Signature Kitchen and Bath, and their trusted contractor Kurt Weiss, Weiss Construction, to create the master bath of their dreams.
A beautiful, white Victoria + Albert freestanding soaking tub centered in an alcove under a large arched window is the dramatic focal point of the bath. Flanking the tub on the left and right are tall, decorative linen cabinets for storage. To get away from the dated look of their former built-in Jacuzzi tub, the freestanding tub is lighter and opens up the space. “One of the goals of this project was to utilize the large space in a more effective way,” Anane says.
Another area of the old bath that felt closed in was the shower. Previously a small 5’x3’ fiberglass shower unit, the new design called for a large walk-in shower with a clear-glass panel that divides the shower from the room. Contractor Kurt Weiss designed a seamless infinity drain tucked under the plumbing wall in the shower, creating a zero-degree entrance which allowed the beautiful marble tile floor design to continue throughout the whole space. Now not only light and bright, the shower design also can accommodate the homeowners in the later years of their lives.
Unique to the space, the his-and-her vanities were designed in a back-to-back application. Centered underneath an arched transom window, the design allows the homeowners to have their own private spaces customized to their individual needs. For the wife, pullout drawers with places to store her hair dryer and curling iron eliminate cords. In between the vanities are two tiled columns that anchor a double-sided suspended mirror. The floating mirror follows through with the open-concept design. “The floating mirror is most unique,” says the homeowner. “It looks like you are looking straight through a window because the reflection is the same as the other side.”
Trying to avoid the typical double-bowl sink vanity with a middle make-up area, the homeowners came up with the idea for the back-to-back vanities but found many contractors unwilling to execute the design. “When we met Paula, she said ‘Yes! We do! We have done that before,’” the homeowner says. “She and I just hit it off.”
In addition to the challenge of the floating mirror and vanities, the intricate flooring design was a major undertaking for all. The homeowner saw the AKDO mosaic accent tile on Houzz, and it became the inspiration for the style of the entire bath. Instead of blanketing the entire floor in the tile, which would be a budget buster, the tile was used as an accent piece paired with a natural polished marble stone.
Inset into the polished stone, the leaf pattern required meticulous thought and planning on the part of Anane and Weiss. “The accent tile is actually a 12”x12” tile, and we needed to cut it down to 6-inch strips,” Anane explains. Each tile had to be calculated, hand cut and configured to ensure the pattern would continue to flow as it had intended. “Weiss’ attention to detail and meticulous calculations resulted in an outstanding finished space,” she says.
To complete the crisp, clean look, the walls were painted a neutral gray, which perfectly marries the accent tile in the flooring, the Carrera marble and the tile columns on the vanity and shower wall. The Cambria quartz countertops are snow white with reflective gem-like crystals, and paired with the chrome faucets, light fixtures and cabinetry hardware bring a touch of bling to the beautiful space.
Resources
Cabinetry: Signature Kitchen and Bath, 636-720-0451
Countertop: StoneTrends, 636-537-1607
Tile supplier: The Gallery at ISC Surfaces, 314-994-7100
Tile accent Floor: Global Granite & Marble, 314-426-1814
Mirrors & Glass: Total Glass, 636-946-5622
Plumbing fixtures: Immerse by ATLAS, 314-375-1500
Contractor: K Weiss Construction, 314-882-3328
