Au Naturel: Bathed in Light

Though spacious, the master bath in a 1990s-era DC residence did not appeal to the property’s new owners. A vaulted ceiling above the tub peaked at almost three times the height of the ceiling above the vanity area. The shower, enclosed in drywall, blocked light and made the room feel choppy. And outdated saltillo tile covered the floors, walls and  tub deck. “It was overwhelmingly busy and looked like a Mexican restaurant inside a bathroom,” recalls designer David Waguespack of Case Design, who was called upon to renovate the space.

First, the designer addressed the proportions and layout by dropping the vault in favor of a tray ceiling. Along one wall, a vanity/makeup station by Shiloh Cabinetry replaced the original millwork. Centered on the opposite wall, a sculptural Victoria & Albert tub is flanked by a W.C. and a new shower, which are enclosed in frosted and clear glass, respectively. A dual-zone heated floor includes separate thermostats for the shower/W.C. side of the room and the vanity area.

“Lowering the ceiling helped with scale,” explains Waguespack, “and we created a lot more symmetry than before. Even though the bathroom is the same square footage, there’s so much more circulation space, and we more than doubled the amount of storage.” Tall cabinets at either end of the vanity store the wife’s jewelry and bath essentials.

Botanical wallpaper by Cole & Son, selected by the client, sets an organic tone, as does the elegant 12-by-12-inch Carrara marble tile from Architectural Ceramics, applied on the floor and shower walls. “You would think the stone would be cool and harsh,” observes Waguespack. “But with Carrara, the veining grounds you to the earth because it’s so natural.” On the shower floor, he designed a “rug” of tiny hexagonal tiles in matching stone, framed by a mitered border. A Crystorama chandelier with drop crystals adds a dressy touch.

BATH DESIGN/BUILD: David Waguespack, CKBR, UDCP, lead designer; George Bergling, project manager; Robert Campbell, lead carpenter, Case Design/Remodeling, Bethesda, Maryland. TEXT: Sharon Jaffe Dan. PHOTOGRAPHY: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

RESOURCES
Design & Contracting: casedesign.com. Floor & Shower Tile and Marble Countertops: architecturalceramics.com. Vanity Cabinets: shilohcabinetry.com. Sconces: hudsonvalleylighting.com. Tub: vandabaths.com. Sinks: americanstandard.com. Sink & Shower Faucets: rohlhome.com. Chandelier: crystorama.com. Wallpaper: cole-and-son.com.

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