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Five Super-Cute Guest Baths
December 07, 2007
Making a good first impression is important in life, as well as in interior design. Guest baths and powder rooms are most often used by visitors, so creating a memorable space is important. Because you have more design freedom in a guest bath than one used for regular bathing and grooming, you can experiment with new materials, vessel sinks and unconventional finishes. On the other hand, these tiny spaces get heavy-duty use during large parties or when the kids bring friends home. No matter the circumstance, we've discovered five guest baths and powder rooms that are sure to offer inspiration and withstand any visit.
Create a hospitable mood
Peter Johnston, of Peter Johnston Architects, PC, in Hoboken, NJ, wanted to turn this parlor bath into a spa-like retreat, similar to something found in a high-end hotel, but had to do so in a very limited space—40 sq. ft. To keep the eye moving, senior designer Phebe Khalil, IIDA, spec’d Ovation Gloss Baton Pencil tile from Artistic Tile that runs in two parallel lines in the Crema Luna honed tile from Virtue Tile. To create a Zen mood, she chose a calming color palette created by pistachio green marble for the bath’s floor and white pebble flooring and Roku moss glass walls for the shower, all from Virtue Tile. A bold floral wallpaper pattern adds a bit of color and visual interest to the otherwise muted space. The bath was part of a large renovation in which a three-family building was transformed into a single-family house for a family of five.
Prepare for multiple users
Built for a Malibu, CA, couple who regularly held basketball games at their home, this 70-sq.-ft. bath had to stand up to constant heavy-duty use from players looking to clean up after time on the court. That said, the clients didn’t want a purely utilitarian space hidden away. Instead, they envisioned a bath with a bold and luxurious look. Because of its small size, designer Ernie Roth, ASID, of Roth Interiors in Los Angeles, CA, spec’d just two surface materials: travertine was used on the counter, floor and shower, while the face of the vanity is made up of acer maple burl. A glass vessel sink from Azura matches the subdued color scheme. The toilet is the TOTO Supreme, while the showerhead is from Grohe. The bath took only 12 weeks to complete so basketball games could resume with little interference. As an added bonus, Roth used 3-D technology that allowed the homeowners to virtually tour the room through illustrations and a short Quicktime video before work began.
Complement the rest of the house
Though the homeowners prefer a more contemporary style, they realized it just wouldn’t fit with the rest of their very traditional 1970s ranch. Carol Morisseau, CMKBD, CID, of Main Street Kitchens in Walnut Creek, CA, was able to overcome this obstacle by creating a striking transitional design. Morisseau spec’d a Kyomi pedestal lavatory from Porcher instead of a standard vanity cabinet because it takes up less space and makes the 63-in.-by-51-in. room look bigger. The Kyomi Basin sink and Alfiere Monoblock faucet are also from Porcher. Both the field and liner tile are from Porcelanosa, while the towel ring is from Kohler.
Photography credit: J. Kamprath
Don’t be afraid to go bold!
In small spaces there is always the temptation to go with a simple or monochromatic design, but sometimes less just isn’t more. Created for Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn Comics and McFarlane toys, this 45-sq.-ft. bath doesn’t shy away from color, as evidenced by its bright yellow and blue toile-patterned wallpaper from Motif Designs. Athena Vigil, ASID, of Interiors Remembered in Tempe, AZ, chose an antique carved vanity with a gold glass vessel sink from Phylrich, a crystal doorknob and 3-in. cream octagon mixed with 1-1/2-in. midnight blue diamond tiles (both from Walker Zanger) to complete the French Country look. The vanity was custom made by Kiesler Enterprises and has a granite top.
Go Green
Part of the Dream Home (designed to blend contemporary styling with state-of-the-art, green products and practices), this 68-sq.-ft. guest bath takes eco-friendly to a new level. For the vanity and shelving, designer Cara Leigh, of Interiors in Santa Fe, NM, spec’d specialty wood material Kirei, which is made entirely of sorghum stalks, an agricultural waste product. Completely organic, non-toxic American Clay was used on the walls and was burnished five times to give it more strength and resistance to water. TOTO low-flow faucets, fixtures and a toilet ensure as much water is conserved as possible, and the company’s washlet (a bidet in the toilet seat) adds a bit of luxury. To cut down on the amount of harsh chemicals used to clean the bath in the years to come, Guardian ShowerGuard glass was used because it resists mineral and soap buildup. Skylights above the vanity allow the room to be used without turning on the lights during the day. Finally, animal lovers will appreciate two small square openings near the base of the vanity, which allow cats to travel from the utility room to the main living areas freely.
By Jennifer Brite
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