KBB

KBB

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September 30, 2013

An outdoor experience might go unsaid at a Texas lake house, but one master bath took its surroundings for granted. With an awkward layout and a dominating beige aesthetic, this bath was the perfect candidate for HGTV’s “Bath Crashers,” where designer Robin Colton of Robin Colton Interior Design Studio redirected the previously uninspiring space. “The space called out for a calm, serene and warm modern aesthetic – rustic touches with a modern sensibility,” said Colton. “I wanted the space to feel very connected with nature.”

View this bath gallery here.

The muse begins with a curvilinear structure over the shower to simulate an outdoor bathing area. Allowing for a sense of privacy, the structure uses a pair of steel supports and ipe wood slates to cover natural, hand-troweled concrete walls.

“An environmentally conscious approach to this space was important,” said Colton. “After all, the inspiration for the entire space was nature itself.” Exposed water pipes and five ceiling sprays add to the outdoor shower feel, and natural marble mosaic tile on the tub and shower floor add of touch of modernity.

“Of course, in addition to the sense of bathing in nature, we also brought in modern touches as well,” explained Colton. Poorly laid out, small and low, the previous L-shaped vanity was replaced with a contemporary floating counter. Finished with gray lacquer paint, the 10-ft. vanity is divided into thirds and offers storage space under each sink and on the open shelves. A modern horizontal window above the vanity brings in outside air.

“The new design introduces a sense of modernity, a feeling of lightness and continuity of materiality from the rest of the space,” said Colton. Adding to the room’s green elements, the countertop is made from a non-porous quartz composite material with a thick front edge – “both modern and sensible at the same time,” added Colton. A steel box with a lacquer drawer inset forms the center of the vanity, and above-the-counter sinks maximized drawer space.
Adjacent to the vanity, the 18-ft. wall blends the natural but contemporary aesthetic with a reclaimed wood wall.

“Wanting to keep the space modern even with this type of rustic element, a large graphic was introduced,” explained Colton. A tree silhouette was cut out of plywood and applied to the wood wall with a blowtorch. “What remained was a beautiful one-of-a-kind etching that modernized this rustic material,” she added. For this extra wall space, a walk-in closet was demolished to complete the space’s 200-sq.-ft. area – the largest in the show’s history.

“A large space is of course fun to work with, however [it] presents challenges just as a small space would,” said Colton. “Creating a large bathroom that felt cohesive with enhanced functionality and served the needs of both the homeowners and guests was tricky, but in the end this space achieves all of these and instantly connects you with the nature surrounding this home that sits near the lake.”

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