2021 Best Master Bathrooms Under $50,000
Article
163468
GOLD
Zen Basement Bath
HEIDI STEWART, KAYCEE METEKINGI & BROOKE CUDE
Lucca Design, Draper, UT
Photo: Scott Zimmerman Photography
Just because it is located in a basement doesn’t mean a bathroom has to be basic. The owners of this home had grand ideas for their unfinished basement bathroom, wishing to transform it into a post-workout sauna/relaxation space with an element of Zen. Heidi Stewart, Kaycee Metekingi and Brooke Cude, who worked with Tri City Construction, rose to the challenge and incorporated the use of warm walnut, decorative tile and LED accent lighting to make the dream a reality.
Natural teak wood was used on the bench and shelving in the steam shower to promote a genuine spa feel. The shelving was placed 3″ off the glass to make cleaning easier and to allow for the wood to expand naturally without the possibility of cracking the glass. The shower also includes a Kohler Purist Wall-Mount Showerhead and Kohler Contemporary Round 12″ Rainhead, and a contrasting back wall of dark gray tile placed in a herringbone pattern.
The herringbone tile continues to the floor and beyond the glass shower enclosure to the main floor of the room, where a TOTO Aquia two-piece toilet sits between the shower and the vanity. The floating cabinetry in the 120-sq.-ft. bath is custom plain-sliced walnut, manufactured by Carriage House and topped with a cream-toned countertop. A concrete vessel sink by Native Trails sits atop and is accentuated by Kohler’s Purist wall-mount faucet. Rounding out the look is the Flowering Lotus pendant light by Jamie Young Company, which reflects in a large round mirror that sits on additional teak shelving.
SILVER
Beachy Clean
CHRISTINE SPILLAR, CMKBD
Christine Spillar Interior Design LLC, Littleton, CO
Photos: Libbie Holmes Photography
The owners of this master bathroom wanted a larger shower and freestanding tub, which posed a challenge for Christine Spillar, CMKBD as the existing plumbing was located in a column between the deck-mounted tub and the existing fiberglass shower pan. In addition, the shower was located in a corner with two exterior walls, an issue for plumbing placement in the cold climate of Colorado.
As a solution, Spillar had the wall furred out so that the plumbing could be located on an exterior wall, allowing her to eliminate the column that previously housed the plumbing. By eliminating the tub deck and adding a freestanding tub, she was able to expand the shower by over 25 percent and place a custom Corian pan that is easy to clean.
The clients also wanted more storage, so the designer added 24″x36″ recessed medicine cabinets. The Pendleton 275 vanity cabinets in Graphite from Showplace Cabinetry incorporate lots of drawers for added space. The countertop – Pental’s Misterio – encases a TOTO sink and Dryden faucet from Delta Faucet.
To give the space a coastal feel, Spillar accented the wall above the vanity and part of the shower with UBC’s Morningside Elyptic Herringbone tile. Like collected bits of beach glass, the whimsical pattern in blue and green evokes thoughts of seaside getaways. The remaining tile in the shower is Smooth in white matte from Arizona Tile, while the floor is Woodtime in Castagno from Crossville.
BRONZE
Watery Oasis
SANDRA DIAZ-VELASCO
Eolo A&I Design, Inc., Miami, FL
Photos: Eugenio Wilman
Limited space did not limit the imagination of designer Sandra Diaz-Velasco when she took on this 52-sq.-ft. bath renovation. Diaz-Velasco began by eliminating every obstacle that would make the space seem smaller, such as the shower curb and ceiling soffits. Then, with the idea of bringing the outside in, she lined the whole floor, accent shower wall and ceiling in water-resistant wallpaper that emulates water movement. The plaster ceiling waves, hiding the building plumbing drain, echo the design intent.
The 16″-deep vanity, by MAKRO/Excellence in Italian Design, features a Corian countertop, an elongated double sink and AXOR Citterio faucets from Hansgrohe. It is paired with a wall-to-wall mirror to make the room feel bigger.
A niche was created for the space-saving Duravit ME by Starck wall-mounted toilet with a bidet seat to provide privacy. The shower features the Aquabrass UW Uniplex shower kit
in chrome.
Perfectly aligned and centered with the master closet, this bathroom efficiently utilizes every inch available without sacrificing on style.