modern Sanctuary

By Kim Carmel

Your bathroom is a private haven. once you step out of bed in the morning, your bathroom is typically the first room you visit every single day. You take care of your body’s most basic needs here, both internally and externally. You decide which direction your day is headed while brushing your teeth. You groom and style and maintain. At night, you indulge in a precious half hour bath while the world outside remains outside. In fact, the bathroom may be the only room we occupy almost exclusively without company. odd as it may sound, in many ways, your truest self lives in your bathroom.

The latest trends in modern design reinforce this concept of the bathroom as a refuge. “The goal of bathroom design is to create a comfortable retreat where one can feel buffered from the stresses of everyday life while maintaining privacy, and addressing some pretty specific functional requirements,” says architect and planner mary Andrulaitis of Neumann mendro Andrulaitis Architects. modern bathrooms achieve this end through clean, minimalistic detailing and open floor plans. Traditional bathrooms are typically compartmentalized with distinct divisions between separate zones. A modern bath uses expansive mirrors, oversized windows, glass doors, frameless shower enclosures and other methods to maintain necessary divisions between wet and dry areas while visually connecting the space.

Designing

Andrulaitis lists the three most important elements to consider when designing a modern bathroom:

1. Create and maintain a sense of privacy. “modern design works so well within smaller spaces like bathrooms because it can create the illusion of a larger room, but not at the expense of privacy,” she explains. Picture windows will certainly expand a bathroom’s perceived space, but it’s important to monitor what the world outside can see while you’re enjoying an evening soak in the tub.

2. Create comfort and softness. modern design has a reputation for being cold and uncomfortable – definitely not what you want in your bathing sanctuary. “The simplicity and uncluttered design of the modern bathroom can create a spa-like experience,” Andrulaitis notes, “but hard edges can also detract from this feeling.” To add warmth, she recommends incorporating materials with a natural finish, taking advantage of natural light sources whenever possible, and introducing a few gentle curves, such as a round mirror or a tapered faucet. Thick towels, fluffy bathmats and other plushy textiles further soften the overall experience, and encourage the spa-like atmosphere.

Scale is also important to consider when designing a modern bathroom. An expansive bathroom may seem luxurious in concept, but can feel cold and uninviting without proper execution.

3. never forget function. It’s hard to argue the beauty of modern design, but at the end of the day (and perhaps more importantly, at the beginning of the day) your bathroom has to perform. The shower has to exhilarate you, curbless or not. The stainless steel fixtures have to withstand daily cranking. A floating shelf is elegant, but how will it look when stuffed with your mishmash of toiletries?

Think about how you and your family will use your bathroom and what makes the most sense before getting swept up in the aesthetic. Wall mounted sinks and toilets create more visual space but decrease storage area. A combined bath and shower “wet room” creates openness but may be impractical for someone regularly bathing small children while kneeling tub-side. An über-chic hotel bathroom has distinctly different demands placed on it than yours at home, so be sure to allot at-

Mosaic Architects

Dramatically lit from above, the carved stone tile from Ann Sacks makes this bathroom sing. Paired with a reconstituted wenge vanity, Kohler sink and simple horizontal frameless mirror, channels Mosaic Architect’s playful sophistication. www. mosaicarchitects.com Photo Jim Bartsch tractive storage space for the ugly toilet brushes, electric razors and flat irons of domestic living.

With so many materials available from so many sources, gorgeous modern design is much more accessible than it used to be. You could be laying your toothbrush on a stone waterfall countertop before you know it. And won’t that be a lovely way to start the day?

Source: Mary Andrulaitis, Architect/Partner, Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis architects, LLP 888 Linden Avenue, Carpinteria, CA 93013, www.nmaarchitects.com. Phone: 805.684.8885