BATHROOM
OMG, these are absolutely gorgeous tiles.
I was drooling over the Victoria and Albert freestanding tubs made of white volcanic limestone. The material helps to retain the heat of the water, and because it's mixed with resin, it creates a lightweight form in place of the heavy cast iron typically used for such tubs. So you can install one of these tubs on, say, the second story of a house or in a high-rise apartment.
A teak shower bench brings warmth to the steam shower and ties in with the wood vanity. Dechard splurged on the handmade mosaic tile from Ann Sacks. Using it as a banding accent and using a less expensive tile for the rest of the shower created a big design impact while saving money. A floating stone shelf keeps shampoo and soap within easy reach.
The master bath shows the most Japanese influence; it's relaxing and spa-like. A bluestone counter has a blue-green cast. The countertop's subtle brown veining picks up on the zebrawood cabinets. The mirrors are hinged and have close-up makeup mirrors on the backs (that is, inside). A porcelain pendant light picks up on the vessel sink.
Robin handpicked each shower tile from the seconds room at Pratt & Larson, and laid them out for the builder in the order she wanted. Visiting the tile store each week and waiting for the perfect tiles to come along was an exercise in patience, but the result is a lovely, one-of-a-kind combination of color and texture.
Traditional Green Glass Knob - $13.00 » Hardware is a fabulous way to add color to a neutral space. I love the way glass knobs do it richly and subtly. I like these for a small master or powder room, where I don't need a slew of them — just some gentle pops.
OMG, I've never seen this chair, but it's marvelous. And best,, it looks like it would be comfortable for both human and feline. A stairway leads to the third cube. The stairs were originally inset into the wall, but they were later moved to make room for wall shelves. The large blue painting is being held for a friend, but Geadah is crossing her fingers that she'll sell it to her. A Mayflower chair from Roche Bobois transforms to create multiple seating positions.
One of the best things about river rock is the availability of so many different colors. Mixing and matching can be great, but if you're going for a more powerful statement, using all black is fantastic. These shelves add dimension and contrast to the lighter shower walls, proving that even in the shower, the "touch of black" rule holds true.
Love this under-sink style. I'd pair it with a single-handle faucet though, for ease of use. Kohler Archer Under Mount Bathroom Sink - $128.00 » This undermount sink from Kohler looks sleek and simple with a gooseneck faucet.
"The husband really wanted a vessel sink, which was tricky — we needed a space saver," Konjicek-Segundo says. She found this one via San Francisco's DJ Mehler and had it imported from France. Mounting the faucet to the side instead of between the vessel and the wall saves space. A built-in bar for a hand towel saved them from cluttering up the wall with one. "During big parades on my clients' street, people knock on the door and ask to use the bathroom," Konjicek-Segundo says. "After they see it, they often call out to their friends in the street and say, 'You have to come see this!'"
AFTER: For the wall-size photograph, Konjicek-Segundo turned to MegaPrint and selected a photo of New York's Spring Street subway station. "Luckily my clients are forward thinkers, and they have great senses of humor, so they thought that the fact that the toilet looks like it's sitting on the subway platform was hilarious," she says. The perspective adds depth to the tiny room, as does the large custom mirror on the left side, which extends from the base of the sink to the ceiling. Konjicek-Segundo combined a very low-profile, modern toilet with old-school hex tile that looks like something one would see in a subway station.
If you're working with a darker grout, I suggest an epoxy grout for a regular shower. Currently my two favorite grouts are Mapei's Ultra Color Plus (a rapidly setting cementitious grout) and Laticrete's Spectra Lock Pro (an epoxy grout). Cementitious grout is a standard grout that comes in a sanded version for large grout joints (3/4 to 1/8 inch) and an unsanded version (1/16 to 1/8 inch) for narrow grout joints. Cementitious grout also comes in a rapidly setting formula, which can be tricky to use — don't try these formulas for your first tiling project.
Grout. I like two grout colors: white and light gray. Black, dark gray and other dark and warm grout tiles can start to accumulate buildup or fade, depending on the local water supply and thinset choice. If the grout is mixed incorrectly or overwashed, the pigment can be wiped away unevenly. Efflorescence happens when grout lightens as salt leaches out, leaving a light, powdery film on the surface. The effect of it on tile installations is nasty. Avoid efflorescence by using premium setting materials like Ardex X32 and Mapei's Grani Rapid. These are pricey products, and not everyone will be able to afford them, but they make a difference. If you're building on the cheap, use a light gray grout, since it is the most forgiving and looks the best in the long term.
Large tile. This is one of my favorite shower shots. A shower with large-format tile like this is very easy to clean, but it's not the best for young children, who tend to run into showers at Mach-10 speed. Larger tile can be slippery. Floor tile that's 2 by 2 inches or 4 by 4 inches tends to be a safe bet for those who want extra traction. When you get larger tiles, you need to be extra careful. I always tell my clients to bring home a sample of their tile and have a shower with it. Placing it on the floor while the water's running can help you see how slippery it is underfoot. You could place the same tile outside the tub too, and try stepping out of the tub onto the tile (with someone spotting you, of course). Is it too slippery? If so, you can try Johnny Grip to help add traction. This shower also has a long linear drain from ACO. When you're having a linear drain installed, ask to keep the tile height about 1/16 to 1/8 inch above the drain's edge, so the soap suds and water can fall off the edge of the tile and into the drain.
Stone tile versus porcelain tile. This choice comes up constantly. Personally, I prefer porcelain. A shower is one of the wettest places on the planet, and porcelain tile is nearly impervious to moisture migration. But when someone does decide to use natural stone, it's time to get into due-diligence mode and inspect the stone for defects, epoxy fill and mineral veins, and then perform a soak test. A simple soak test is easy. If you are planning to use some white marble in your shower, for example, purchase it from a supplier that's been using the same source for a few years. Make sure to ask how long the store has been purchasing stone from that source and if there were any problems on prior jobs. Purchase several pieces and place them in a bucket of water for two days. Then take them out and leave them out for a few more days. If the stone looks different, those same changes are bound to happen in your new shower.
If you prefer stronger cleaning agents or you're concerned about the effect of your local water on your shower floor, a ready-made shower base may be a better choice, since it won't stain as easily as tile. Tip: Not all shower bases are created equal. Many are slightly flexible and can benefit from the use of a concrete bed underneath. Double-check with the manufacturer that this is OK before purchasing, and make sure that this is done during installation. Often, this flexibility will lead to a leak at the drain connection, so extra care is needed to carefully support the drain at the drain connection area.
Most point drains (clamping drains) do not offer the fine adjustment other drains offer. Make sure your plumber sets them level. A good trick is to set the drain with a small level in place and then spin the strainer. The grill should stay level in any position. Notice the additional weep (or draining) holes on the perimeter of this drain — these help the shower dry out faster between uses. This drain is sold by Noble Company, and it's one of the best drains out there. Tip: Use pea gravel around the weep holes before the final shower mortar is installed to prevent the mortar from blocking or plugging the holes.
When using a traditional three-piece clamping drain (or linear drain), it is important to have a pitch of 1/4 inch per foot to the drain under the waterproofing material. This allows any water getting under the tile and grout to drain toward the shower's weep holes (drain holes). Skipping this slope creates a shower that can hold gallons of nasty water under the tile, leading to mold and a wet-looking tile floor. Tip: To check for the right slope, place a 2-foot level with a 1/2-inch shim under the drain side. It should read level if the proper 1/4-inch-per-foot slope is installed.
If your shower or local code requires a 3-inch drain and waste line, consider a larger traditional drain like this one shown here. These higher-flow-rate drains can handle much more water flow and don't sacrifice on style at all. If you want a more custom-looking grill, Designer Drains makes replacements for many of the standard drain grills out there.
Make sure to consider how the remaining floor will be prepared when you're choosing your shower drain too. This bathroom was built and waterproofed with the Schluter Kerdi and Ditra system, which allows for a seamless transition from the dry area to the wet one. Tip: Use a temporary dam to flood test these installations. You will need to dam the shower 2 inches above the entry point.
A tile-top linear drain is one of the hottest looks now and one of my clients' preferred choices. This shower, set by Ceramiques Hugo Sanchez, showcases the polished look that's possible with modern drains. An opening of at least 2.48 square inches or 1,600 square millimeters is recommended. Smaller openings may work or even look nicer, but they will affect the flow rates of these drains. Tip: Clean these tile-top drains regularly to keep the flow rates at optimum levels. Hair buildup around the drain's waste pipe can choke the air needed to keep the shower drain flowing properly.
This shower is one of my favorites and features a linear drain from Quick Drain USA. This drain is one of my top picks and recommendations on most jobs. The narrow profile and the fact that it's also a primary shower drain make it one of the best options out there. Tip: When working with standard 3/8-inch-thick tile, I plan on a 1 1/4-inch finished wall build-out (off the stud framing) to factor in a combination of the 1/2-inch backer board, waterproofing, tile thinset and tile thickness. Plan your build-out before installing the drain so you can put the drain tight to the wall, as shown here. If you have not picked your tile yet, hold off on installing the drain until you have.
A wider perspective of the bathroom from the other side of the curved wall reveals a heated towel rack, ample bench space and, in the background, part of the glass unit that contains the full-height shower unit. Tip: When it comes to making a statement, think outside the box. Here, the partition is both a partial wall and a sculptural statement piece.
On the other side of the wall is a soaking tub that's used by the woman of the house.
This luxury bathroom is located at the top of a four-story home. Its most striking feature is a wood-trimmed curved wall. The partition splits the space in two; on one side is the sink and vanity, along with a full-height shower unit and steam room (not in this picture).
What a beautiful bathroom and handicapped accessible, too! The sharp angle of the photograph is deceiving in the picture above; the shower entrance here is wide enough for a wheelchair. Thresholds throughout the house are all flush for smooth wheelchair passage; bedrooms and bathrooms are equipped with overhead tracks for a safe and comfortable transfer from wheelchair to bed or bath.
Tadelakt - $35.00 » Tadelakt, a nearly waterproof lime plaster, originates from Morocco. It can be found on both the interiors and exteriors of buildings there, including hammams (Moroccan bath houses). The traditional finish starts out light gray and is mixed with natural colors to create a bright, striking surface. The plaster is traditionally polished with a river stone to yield a smooth, glossy finish, which is then rubbed with soft soap to provide water resistance. As with other plasters, the handcrafting results in a luxurious, organic appearance.
Now that's my idea of a bathroom
OK, this is a lighting highlight, but I'm saving this for the wall-installed toilet. Love that. Have you spotted a light fixture lately that made your heart pound? Perhaps it’s just what you need in your bathroom. The Orten’zia Cluster Wall Light from YLighting caught my eye immediately; it emits almost a star-pattern sparkle and launches this space right into an uberchic and contemporary aesthetic.
wow
Marcato. This is when a particular piece (note, cord or passage in music) is played louder and more forcibly. This is akin to the accent wall in architectural design. Maybe another color or another material, the piece that is played marcato takes center stage and enriches the space it inhabits.
The urban version of the expansive view. No need for art on the walls.
I fucking LOVE this sink stand. I WANT THIS STAND.!!!
Interesting reuse of the original tile and cabinet (added this stunning rounded sink)
OH! That sink.
The toilet is a Philippe Starck design for Duravit. "We do wall-hung toilets in 90 percent of our projects," says Narofsky. "Aside from saving space, they're environmentally friendly."
IPE WOOD WALLS, STAINED MARINE PLYWOOD CEILING
check out that man behind the curtain.
Like a jewel. I want, I want, I want....
Love that huge shower area and those separate counters? FABulous.
Love these tiles that look like cedar.
Absolutely beautiful bathtub. Who wouldn't want to have this?
The vein-cut marble that surrounds the tub can serve as a side table for someone taking a bath or as a bench for someone taking a shower.
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