9 minute read
Striking Sanctuaries
From a classic, polished marble marvel to a restorative, zen-like retreat, we announce AH&L’s 2020 Bath of the Year winners
CALM, COOL + PROTECTED
Thanks to a mix of natural materials and modern innovation, architect SCOTT WEST carved out a fortress of solitude in a lakeside master bath
Written by ZOË GOWEN
Photographed by FREDRIK BRAUER
WHEN HIS CLIENTS built a vacation retreat beside a placid lake, architect Scott West made it his mission to create a soothing space where the couple could experience more than a moment of zen. “The goal of the bath—as with the rest of the house—was to find a modern design language that felt appropriate for the rural context,” says West. “I wanted to embrace a certain rusticity, organicness and warmth in the materials—a crisp ‘wabi-sabi’ with subtle natural tones and patterns.”
Case in point: in order to balance West’s desire for plenty of natural light with his client’s need for privacy, the designer incorporated a series of clerestory windows to achieve both. From there, he layered in a mix of natural elements—wood-like tile floors and custom vanities fabricated by George Peker’s Addhouse topped with Walker Zanger’s White
Macaubus—along with man-made materials in earthy tones, such as the chevron tile wrapping the fireplace and planks of porcelain tiles surrounding the sunken bath and in the shower.
West’s goal of achieving “visual serenity” for the space is no more apparent than in the large, recessed rain shower. “I tend to keep things simple and not overcomplicate with a dozen different controls and heads,” he says. Instead of flooding the space with excessive accessories and gadgetry, he kept it clean, adding only a “boulder” seat that the homeowners found at a local landscape shop. “In retrospect, I think the browner tones of the rock make for an interesting counterpoint,” he says. It’s a great example of where collaboration with clients produces more interesting results.”
In these uncertain times, the master bath offers just the right amount of quiet and beauty. Says West, “The world is a complicated, overstimulating place, so I think a respite such as a bathing space should offer calming serenity.”
CABINETRY Custom by George Peker’s Addhouse VANITY COUNTERTOPS White Macaubus by Walker Zanger TILE ON HOOD Gubi by Walker Zanger FLOOR TILE Volcan by Specialty Tile Products BATHTUB Duravit SHOWER and TUB FIXTURES Hudson Reed
SENSORY SANCTUARY
2020 Bath of the Year award winner LORRAINE ENWRIGHT brings natural elements to life in a quiet retreat for two busy homeowners
Written by LAUREN IVERSON
Photographed by JEFF HERR
NESTLED AMONG THE TREES in the Old Ivy neighborhood of Buckhead, a soothing, thoughtfully compact master retreat by designer Lorraine Enwright beckons. The homeowners, who are both physicians, craved stillness—a respite from the chaos of their hectic careers. “They wanted this space to be quiet,” says Enwright. “Every sense, from what they touched to the sounds of the water that came out of the faucet, had to be soothing.”
A Japanese soaking tub, custom made by builder Chris Donnelly of Brookside Custom Homes, serves as the focal point of the bathroom—and was also one of the larger challenges encountered by the design duo. “The homeowners wanted a tub, but we didn’t really have the space to include a standard-size one and the amenities that typically go with it,” says Enwright. “We had to dig the soaking tub much deeper than the floor you walk on, and when you’re sitting in it, the water comes up to about the shoulders.”
To uphold the zen environment without sacrificing function, special attention had to be given from corner to corner. For example, the
deck of the soaking tub doubles as a bench for the shower, while a custom cabinet hiding behind the vanity mirror conceals 24 inches of storage space for toiletries. The richness of the walnut vanity wraps the mostly cool-toned bathroom in a blanket of warmth, but it also offers dedicated space for a laundry bin. A few steps over, the sliding walnut barn door leads to a water closet. “Every functional detail should also be beautiful,” explained Enwright.
And those details were not lost on Enwright. Integrated sinks are sloped to minimize water splashing and to contribute to the soothing sensory experience. As for the jewelry of the room, iridescent glazed tile melts together the floor, walls and tub—its specks of gold and silver reflecting sunlight. Says Enwright, “The sun hits and everything sparkles.”
TILE, FLOOR, WALLS and TUB CLADDING Large-format porcelain tile in Ferroker Aluminio by Porcelanosa PENDANT Terzani through Illuminations Lighting HANDHELD SHOWER Hansgrohe WALL MOUNT FAUCETS Kohler TUB FILLER Artos VANITY, BARN DOORS and CUSTOM MIRROR CABINET Block & Chisel VANITY TOP and TUB DECK MTI CUSTOM VANITY SINKS Top Shop Stone
SERENITY NOW
Pastoral views, a wash of cool marble and a splash of sparkling accents make for a master that’s equal parts calm and cosmopolitan
Written by ZOË GOWEN
Photographed by EMILY FOLLOWILL
When your wheels-up clients have experienced the best of everything during their travels to just about everywhere, how do you create an equally enchanting spot for them to land? If you’re interior designer James Wheeler, you bring all the glamour and serenity found in international luxury hotels and spas to a master bathroom retreat. “My design intention was to create a timeless oasis infused with both masculine and feminine elements,” says Wheeler. “The property sits on a pastoral landscape, and I wanted to capture as much of the view as possible to add to that feeling of an oasis.”
But this is no garden-variety bathroom. The homeowners demanded some sparkle, and Wheeler more than delivered. He started with a classic black-and-white palette and added plenty of shimmer and shine via the three-tier, antiquebrass-and-acrylic chandelier, a host of antiqued mirror and polished-nickel accents and a showstopper of a stainless
steel soaking tub. “The tub changes from a sparkling silver to an almost black matte finish as the light moves through the space,” says Wheeler. “It functions like a mirror, reflecting the custom tile mosaic ‘rug’ that lays just in front of it.”
No less dramatic is the huge (18-by-7-foot!) shower, awash in dolomite marble on the walls and in the custom herringbone pattern on the floor and ceiling. But this is more than just a pretty space: It’s equipped with two separate showerheads and a total of six high-power jet sprays that can be positioned in any direction, along with two steam generators and heated floors. The perfectly peaceful spot is the embodiment of Wheeler’s philosophy when it comes to creating ageless design. “Marble has been around for centuries and stands the test of time, as the sculpture collections in any museum will attest,” he says. “And when in doubt, always go white.”
VANITY MIRRORS Myott Studio + Artifacts COUNTERTOPS Dolomite Bianco by Marmi Natural Stone WALLS, FLOORS and SHOWER WALLS Custom Dolomite Bianco herringbone through Waterworks BATHTUB Margaux freestanding oval cast iron bathtub and Roaster Tub Filler with handsprays by Waterworks CANDELABRA and TUB STOOL Formations LIGHTING Circa Lighting
MINDFUL MANNER
Designer KAREN FERGUSON centered mind, body and spirit in this joint bathroom-yoga studio Written by LAUREN IVERSON Photographed by MAX KIM-BEE
MINDFUL WAS THE WORD that kept coming up when designer Karen Ferguson of Harrison Design was asked to craft a holistic retreat for a Buckhead family. The homeowners, who desired a space that included both a bathroom and a yoga studio, wanted an escape for when they were in need of recentering, both physically and mentally. “They have stressful jobs, so it was really important for this spa to make them feel like they had walked into a whole different world,” says Ferguson.
Starting with a blank slate, Ferguson employed materials that are calm and connected to nature. Floor-to-ceiling Galala honed limestone walls are a smooth backdrop for oil-rubbed bronze finishes and cypress paneling, which is seen both on the ceiling in the bathroom and on the walls in the yoga studio. Special amenities, such as antimicrobial flooring in the yoga studio and a sauna, which sits in the corner of the room by the bathroom entry, elevate the environment. “It was all about the experience and how the space flowed together,” says Ferguson. “The sauna is great for detox after a yoga session, then, a cool steam shower after the sauna is always an absolute luxury.”
Because the homeowners have traveled the world, it was only natural to infuse the holistic retreat with exotic antiques that echo faraway lands. Wooden Egyptian heads sit stately at the top of the legs on an Italian Egyptian Revival-style antique étagère. Above, light from a Persian lantern glimmers against the mother-of-pearl, horn and bead detailing in a Syrian antique mirror. “Elevating a quiet room with antiques is truly a form of escapism,” explains Ferguson. “It’s nurturing, it’s unique. It makes homeowners feel more cared for.”
And thanks to the clever use of those antiques and natural materials, the euphoric sensation the homeowners craved is inevitable when inside the space, according to Ferguson. “Reality truly doesn’t exist once you enter.”
SHOWER SYSTEM and VANITY SINK Kohler VANITY FAUCET and TUB FILLER Delta TUB MTI STONE TILE AND SLABS Marmi Stone SYRIAN MIRROR Travis & Company DECORATIVE LANTERN Vaughan through Ainsworth-Noah SCONCES The Urban Electric Co. ÉTAGÈRE Robuck CARVED ANTIQUE STOOL Interiors Market YOGA ROOM CHANDELIER Currey & Company
BATH OF THE YEAR JUDGES
Dietrich Thomas Logan started his own design firm by the name of Logan Design Group International in 2008 and construction firm by the name of Logan Development Group in 2015. Since then, Dietrich has worked on many high-end residential estates throughout the Southeast region as well as designing multi-storied commercial structures in Georgia and Florida. He is currently a member of the American Institute of Architects and of the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards. He is licensed in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Florida. logandesigngroup.com
Lisa Brooks Designs is an awardwinning Atlanta-based design firm that uses innovative solutions to design spaces that reflect their client’s individual lifestyles. The firm’s designs are not only based on functionality, but also integrate handcrafted traditions, uncompromised materials and craftmanship that bring uniqueness to their clients’ spaces. It is the firm’s careful attention to details, professionalism and personal relationships with its clientele that exemplifies their talents and ultimately leaves clients with the spaces they have always dreamed of. lisabrooksdesigns.houzz.com
Y. McFadden Interiors embraces simplicity, practicality and functionality to create luxurious, high-end spaces. The firm’s goal is to provide clients with a tailored and beautiful solution for the home that enhances their style of living. With more than 14 years of experience, Yvonne has been named one of Atlanta’s 15 Under 40 Designers by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and was selected as the specifications designer for the 2019 Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens. Her firm’s work has appeared in Southern Living, Atlanta Magazine, Southern Cottages, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, This Old House and more. ymcfaddenllc.com
