Kitchen/Bath Redo by Drury Design
TAKE TWO: A winner of the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s annual local design competition shares ideas that gave an old house new life
(page 2 of 3)
An undercounter microwave oven saves space and keeps a not-so-attractive appliance below eye level.
Upstairs, the new master bedroom and en-suite bath didn’t exist until the addition was completed. Schanstra’s clients, who were used to sharing a bathroom with their children, were craving a kid-free zone. “They wanted a large soaking tub, a separate shower, a hidden toilet, two vanities, a linen closet, and an overall spa feel,” says Schanstra. And they got all of the above.
The bathroom is an L shape: On one side, an inviting round tub sits dramatically against a backdrop of variegated green glass mosaic tiles; this side also houses a water closet and the shower. Vanities—one with a makeup desk—and storage areas are on the other side.
Variegated green glass tile on the walls, pebble flooring in the shower, and planklike
ceramic flooring create a lodge-chic aesthetic in the master bath.
A bold light fixture over the tub was perhaps not a must, but it certainly makes the room—which is a good thing, since Schanstra had to jump through hoops to get it done. Normally, a drum pendant over a tub would not meet safety codes, but Schanstra worked with the builders to wire the room in such a way that if moisture is detected in critical areas, the entire system shuts down (the light fixture itself is also vapor-proof). “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Schanstra says.
With ceramic tiles that resemble wood planks on the floor and pebble flooring in the shower, the bathroom has a lodge feel that reminds the parents of Colorado, their favorite vacation destination. Ironically, it’s not quite the local escape they’d had in mind.
“I laugh because the biggest users of the round tub are the three children,” says Schanstra. “So much for their kid-free oasis.”
Photography: Eric Hausman
Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to Chicago Magazine »
E-Mail
Print
