When it comes to building a spec house, the lack of a client can be both a help and a hindrance. "On one hand, we had a lot of creative license and were able to put a lot of money into the kitchen and bathrooms, which is not always something you get to do when you're working with homeowners on a remodel," said Gail Doby, president and principal designer of Denver-based Renaissance Design. "However, you also have to visualize not just a client, but a buyer—you want to create something bold and memorable, but also universally appealing." Rising to the challenge, Doby and the developer agreed on a European-inspired design for the home, which is especially prevalent in the master bath—one of nine bathrooms in this 12,000-sq.-ft. house, which was listed at $4.65 million.

Located in an established area of Denver that was undergoing a renaissance, the home reflects the neighborhood's sense of history yet embodies an aesthetic that is entirely its own. "We didn't want to do something cookie-cutter," she said. "We wanted to build a house that looked like it had always been there, but functioned like a modern home." Part of accomplishing this challenge was placing emphasis on the kitchen and bathrooms.

The master bathroom and bedroom comprise their own wing on the top floor of the home. The two spaces are connected by a hallway topped with a large, barrel-vaulted ceiling and flanked by his and her closets. Located at one end of the hallway, the 300-sq.-ft. master bathroom is positioned to overlook the garden and designed to feel like a spa. On the left is the bathroom's main chamber, which contains a bathtub and his and her vanities, as well as an arched window and a mosaic-tiled floor. A detailed archway with ornate columns creates a formal entry to the space, which is further defined by diamond-patterned floor tiles that delineate the threshold.

"We were very conscious of making sure that the views were framed," said Doby. "The arch is centered on the room to form perfect proportions and to focus on the views of the garden outside." To the right of the hallway are a water closet with its own pedestal sink and a luxurious steam shower equipped with multiple showerheads and bodysprays, which Doby wryly refers to as "the human car wash."

"What makes this space so great is the amount of detail," said Doby, who commissioned a millworker for the custom columns, trim and moldings and an artist for the hand-painted ceiling. "The whole house took about 15 months to build, and about three months were dedicated just to the bathroom." Much of that time was spent on painstaking tasks like creating the mosaics on the floor and in the shower, which was designed for two, but can comfortably accommodate four. Other details include German, Old-World-style glass for the shower door and windows and a floral-and-vine-patterned, hand-painted motif on the ceiling. "From the modified groin vault to the detailed millwork, you don't normally see this kind of detail these days," said Doby. "It's very much a handcrafted space."

To give the room a more sophisticated aesthetic, Doby opted for elements that resembled furniture instead of hardware. The vanity area features cabinetry with a bowed front and furniture legs, design elements that are usually found in more formal spaces like the living room. Instead of generic overhead lighting, the sconces and a chandelier were chosen for their warmth and elegant European feel. And even though the space had terrific natural light, Doby wanted to be sure that the room was well lit regardless of the time of day. "Since we built the house from the ground up, we were able to leave room to install sconces and other lighting fixtures and make adjustments as the project progressed so that we were sure the space had great light," said Doby. "I wanted to be sure the homeowner had ample light for putting on makeup, no matter what time of day it was."

Throughout the project, Doby always imagined that this was a house for someone who had arrived, someone who wanted a home that was distinguished and had a presence but was also very comfortable and luxurious. In the end, the buyer was a family who lived less than a mile from the property. "The buyers were at a friend's party down the street from the house. They drove by the house, heard the home was for sale and bought it almost instantly," Doby said. "They're in their 30s and have three kids. They said the house suits them perfectly."

SOURCES
Designer: Gail Doby—Renaissance Design, Inc.,
Denver; www.renaissancedesign.com
Millwork: Doyle Shockley—Elite Trim
Tile: Cassil Design Corporation
Murals: Michelle Frances—Storybook Murals;
www.storybookmurals.com
Manufacturers
Tile: Materials Marketing
Vanity cabinets: Bayco Group
Faucets, shower valves and bodysprays: Sigma
Tub: Jetta
Sinks and toilet: TOTO USA
Moldings: Enkeboll Designs; Pearlworks
Photography: © Ron Ruscio

PRODUCTS

Blending with the traditional European theme of the house, Doby chose his and her vanities from Bayco Group, a Canadian custom cabinetry company known for producing furniture-style vanities, mirrors and cabinetry that have an antique feel. The java-colored pieces each feature six drawers and four turned legs—sophisticated design details not commonly found in spaces like a bathroom.









The shower, which Doby likens to a “human car wash,” features an array of Sigma showerheads and sprays, including a 12-in. rain head, bodysprays and a handshower, all in a brushed nickel finish. Most of Doby’s selections for the shower came from the Series 1800 collection, which features Old-World styling and is available in 30 finishes.










The Promenade toilet from TOTO USA was chosen for the water closet. Its tall back and beveled trim recall an antique, but features like a powerful gravity flush, computer-designed trapway and SoftClose seat with a hinge mechanism that lowers the seat quietly and gently prove that it is anything but antiquated.














The water closet also contains a matching TOTO USA Promenade pedestal sink (Model LPT532.8N). Measuring 24 in. x 19 in. x 34 in, the sink features a deep bowl for ease of use, Universal height and rear overflow. The Promenade series offers additional pedestal models as well as self-rimming sinks.







The most eye-catching element in the bathroom is the hand-picked mosaic tile from Materials Marketing. The 40-year-old company, which offers mosaic tiles and architectural stone for columns, kitchen hoods and fireplaces, created custom mosaics for the shower niches as well as a custom mosaic “rug” in front of the shower.