February 7, 2022

“This was the type of project that every designer dreams of – to be given free creative rein,” said Kayron B. Rosen, CMKBD, of Tacoma, Wash.-based Cupboard & Clay. Her transformation of this primary bathroom was comprehensive, extending from reworking the footprint of the room to relocating fixtures to finessing the lighting and color schemes. “The client completely trusted me and allowed me to do my best work,” she added.

Righting Design Wrongs

The old bath squandered its open space, and as a consequence was seriously lacking in counter area and storage capacity. By shifting the cabinet wall and the tub, the designer was able to substantially increase the length of the vanity, even allowing it to turn a corner and establish a dedicated makeup area in a part of the room that enjoys copious natural light.

When it comes to surface treatments, the new design literally turns pain into pleasure. In the existing bath, the pebbled floor was uncomfortable for the homeowner to stand and walk on. Rosen replaced this with a honed limestone in the main area of the bath and 1-in. tumbled limestone tiles – which provide texture, softness and slip-resistance underfoot – for the shower floor.

Color Nuances

“As a designer, I strive to create classic spaces that will stand the test of time,” said Rosen. “Gray is a color that has been on trend for many years now, and I am careful how it is used so it doesn’t feel too cold and dull.”

Pulling from the adjoining bedroom’s décor of rugs, furniture and artwork, she selected a hand-made ceramic tile from Tempest Tileworks for the bathroom walls. The same tile, except with a satin-finish glaze, was used on the fireplace surround in the bedroom.

“You see the warmth of the white clay body coming through the gray, hand-applied glaze,” said Rosen. “The brush-stroke application provides an abundance of color variation to keep large expanses of tile from appearing flat and cold. It has warmth and movement, and the gloss finish allows daylight to dance on the tile.”