Mood:
blueTopic: Writing
"Setting aside alone time can be a challenge, even in the privacy of our own homes. Whether big or small, these bathrooms provide a quiet getaway for their homeowners and guests . From the modern Mediterranean escape with an aromatherapy steam shower, and the feminine shimmer in the pretty powder room all the way to the natural spa setup with river stone flooring, the dark tea-stained half-bathroom, and the spacious slate shower, these spaces provide a private oasis."
Aah, thus is the first paragraph of my story, Soaking Up The Surroundings, in the July 2010 issue of House & Home Magazine. Once again, I got to write about bathrooms. I think I say this every time, but really, this group of bathrooms was really amazing—roll a mattress in there and plug in a fridge and I would never leave.
Seriously.
LIMITLESS LUXURY—the first bathroom featured in the story is owned by a gentleman who's home has been featured two other times before: once for his insanely beautiful pool and again for his breathtaking kitchen. This bathroom is nothing short of amazing. Literally, when I saw the first glimpse of it, I said ddddaaaamn!
Designed and decorated in a Mediterranean flair, this is a stunning room. The focal point is a large square tub in clean, white porcelain, surrounded by two columns of yellow travertine (imported from Turkey), weighing 1500 pounds each. The ceiling above the tub was hand painted, raised, and completed with a octogonal chandelier.
Behind the bathtub is a shower/steam room, complete with aromatherapy and teak seats for relaxing. The shower floor is a tiled mosaic of yellow travertine, while the walls are all honey onyx.
HINTS OF GLIMMER—While this bathroom isn't as large as the first, I love the feminine qualities it features. The walls are painted in a faux finish, using a light color palette. My favorite parts about this bathroom are the crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the room, along with the glass bowl sink with textured swirls.
GRANDEUR APLENTY—The third home features a powder room, along with a bathroom. The powder room is simply a small room under a staircase that has an antique chest with a sink. Above it is an immaculate mirror, flanked by candlesticks. The best part about the powder room is the wallpaper—a shimmery olive background with a damask silvery turquoise print. The baseboards are taller than usual, which looks very chic.
The highlight of the master bathroom in this home is definitely the shower, which has a commercial grade steamer along with three body sprays. My favorite part of the shower is the entry: a double set of frameless glass doors.
NATURAL ELEMENTS—Although this bathroom is only 45-square feet, it looks much larger because the space was used so efficiently. The shower wall is a frameless piece of glass, which opens the room up, instead of sectioning it off with a tub or a shower curtain. The counter with the sink was custom built, made from stained concrete in a curved shape to provide more room to move. The bowl sink sits atop the counter, in colored glass. The coolest part about this bathroom is the flooring, which is made up of pebbled-tile.
DAY & NIGHT—This home had two bathrooms, one decorated in white marble and the other with dark, tea-stained elements. The white bathroom featured a large jacuzzi tub, surrounded in white marble tile with black granite inlays. The walls are a faux-finished cream, matching the marble.
The half-bathroom had tea and tobacco-stained walls, that appear endless as their seaming is curved into the ceiling—no sharp edges. The chandelier, mirror, and chest are all finished in dark stains.
For the upcoming August issue of House & Home Magazine, I completed a feature on children's rooms, which includes a bathroom, a study nook, a playroom, and a bedroom. Completing this assignment made me wish I was a kid again (as if I didn't already).
