Bath
New recessed lights improve the bathroom’s artificial light quality, and a new acid-etched window brings in diffused natural light. When he rebuilt one of the bumped-out shower walls, Stewart stopped the wall at 6 feet, 6 inches, and inserted the glass panel above it. Natural light from the interior of the condo streams into the now-bright bathroom all day. A fixed glass wall encloses the shower; Stewart included it as a way to reduce maintenance by minimizing moving parts, to simplify the space and to allow natural light to permeate the space. “The less solid walls you use, the larger a space will feel,” Stewart says.
Stewart limited his palette to three primary materials — wood, white tile and beige tile — to maintain the contemporary, pared-down look he and the homeowners wanted. “It keeps things consistent with the aesthetic of the entire home,” he says. Wood and textured warm neutrals prevent the bathroom from appearing too stark and also appeal to the homeowners’ traditional tastes. All the tile used in the bathroom is porcelain; the wall tiles are a textured gray and the floor tiles are a mosaic white. For tile in high-traffic areas, Stewart recommends porcelain because of its strength and the way the color runs all the way through. If the tile chips, you’ll notice it less. The same engineered-pine wood flooring flows throughout the home, including the bathroom. “By simplifying and remaining consistent with materials, it gives the illusion of a larger space,” Stewart says. It is also cost-effective.
The bathroom’s new built-in cabinets and shelves store laundry hampers and linens. Lighter finishes perk up the room, and a pocket door saves space.
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