Green With Luxury

The goal here was to have it feel very spa-like – “almost as if you are going to a Ritz Carlton and spending a weekend at the spa,” he continues.

Offering the best of contemporary conveniences while creating a true retreat, the master bath features a range of products from Kohler, including a jetted tub, WaterTiles (indoor and outdoor) shower system, hatbox toilet, bidet, vessel sinks with spa blue interior, wall-mount faucets and ceiling-mount tub filler. Also featured in the bath are cabinets from Canac in Ginger; Formica Corp. Spa Artifacts solid surface countertops; Dal-tile slate-colored porcelain tile, spa-blue glass tiles and black river rock, and a Dell plasma television.

“We also have black glass tiles on the tub deck and the BluWorld water feature wall,” Iaconis adds.

“The finishing we did around the tub was done with black river rock to bring the Zen look into the picture,” Nowfel describes.

Maintaining the Zen feel of the bath, the space also features an integration of outdoor elements. To that end, the design team complemented the space with a 6'x4' outdoor shower.

“The outdoor shower is an example of bringing the outdoors in. It offers multiple functions, whether it is set up for the homeowner, watering plants or pet bathing,” Binkley explains.

“The outdoor shower is not very common, [especially] that it is on the second floor. It is a very contemporary space, yet very soothing,” Iaconis adds.

Nowfel concludes: “Basically, anytime you go into that bath space, you feel like you are at the spa. You can go indoors or outdoors, you have a television in there that you can see from the tub, from the shower and the outdoor shower, as well. “

Color Coded

Color also played a key role in achieving the spa-like effect of this master bath.

Binkley reports: “The spa experience was brought home through color, texture and materials.” This was imperative for the project, he adds, “because many buyers in this market are world travelers and want to bring the enjoyable resort experience home.”

To that end, the design team incorporated a spa-blue color throughout the entire space, used primarily as a soothing complement to some of the gold hues also found in the space.

“Another unique feature of this bathroom is that there is a two-way door separating the master bedroom from the bathroom. When that door is shut, it separates the two rooms. It can also swing the other way and close off the water closet from the bathroom,” Nowfel describes.

Binkley continues: “The double action 4' pivoting wall [door] also provided maximum flexibility between the lavatory, toilet and bedroom areas.”

For the finishing touches, the design team chose halogen track lighting, fluorescent lighting that was placed over the two sinks for energy efficiency purposes, as well as wall sconces on either side of the sink.

For more about the IBS, also visit Live Events, Top Headlines and the Kitchen & Bath Confidential blog.
Also see the Renewed American Home 2007 from the IBS, plus the April 2007 Design Update.