| Bathroom Mirror Reflects True Self |
| By Cedar Burnett |
Published
05/2/2007
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Project Archives
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Advice from the Master Builders Association
 The family liked high-contrast, contemporary design, but the home was traditional. They wanted a new look but didn't want it to look ridiculously out of place or leave the rest of the home feeling detached. The question of how to marry these seemingly disparate needs loomed large.
With this on their minds, and given their strong sense of aesthetics, the family made a key decision in their remodel. Rather than sinking the lion's share of their budget into a major construction overhaul, they decided to stick within the existing footprint of the house and the existing routing of the plumbing, in order to invest the bulk of their funds into exceptional quality materials.
 These quality materials were more than evident in the master bathroom, where Revisioneers used natural stone, travertine, thousands of fingernail-sized, handmade mosaic tiles and furniture-quality cabinetry custom-made in their shop. The glass chosen for the shower was a high quality crystal glass, picked in order to appear truly clear, rather than the green tone much glass can reflect.
To create a feeling of openness and volume within the existing space, Revisioneers took out the partitions, installed a free-standing tub, put a tray in the ceiling and did away with the full-sized floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Other thoughtful touches were added, including installing motion-sensitive, under-cabinet lighting for less jarring nocturnal visits, adding a wall-mounted flat screen TV, fitting the shower with dual shower heads and creating a custom-built rolling cart which matched the vanity, that could hold towels or products while bathing and be tucked away when not in use.
Echoes of materials were spread throughout, generating visual patterns that added to the overall appeal of the room. The travertine on the shower wall and floor was also used as the countertop of the vanity, lending color harmony and acting as a striking contrast to the stained-black vertical grain fir cabinetry. Additionally, personal reflection was incorporated into the design, as the family's Greek heritage was honored with the alabaster tile used in the undulating crescent motif of the shower wall.
 The children's bathroom and the powder room also enjoyed similarly lovely, if less extensive overhauls. With the kids still in elementary school, functionality and durability were instructive to the design, and the room was fitted with solid countertops, more gorgeous vertical grain fir cabinetry in a lighter stain and extensive azure blue tiling reminiscent of the sea. The powder room’s Revisioneers treatment included a reprise on the master bathroom's theme, with a high-contrast onyx vessel carved out of stone and high-lit to cast light directly into the glowing bowl.
With all three bathrooms successfully revamped, the family's high sense of style and Revisioneers' unique design made for a harmonious melding of striking visuals, soothing luxury and practical functionality.
The information for this article was provided courtesy of Jeff Bowlby of Revisioneers Incorporated. You can learn more about their work at www.revisioneers.com.
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