Bathroom of the Week: In Brooklyn Heights, An Ethereal Bath in White Concrete
Last week we featured the overhaul of a small flat by Brooklyn architects General Assembly (see Before & After: In Brooklyn Heights, a Petite Flat Transformed). Today we spotlight the bath in the 800-square-foot apartment.
As with the rest of the flat, remodeling the bath was an exercise in making a large program fit into a small space. The clients originally wanted a separate shower and bathtub, but there wasn't enough room-and the built-ins that did make the cut-the shower and bath, custom sink, and wall ledge-are bulky, but tempered by the room's ethereal feel. According to architect Sarah Zames, “The heaviness of the forms in the space-big blocks intersecting with each other-played in nice contrast to the light and airy materials palette.�
Photography by Joe Fletcher, courtesy of General Assembly.
Above: The walls, sink, and bathtub surround are trowel-finished ivory concrete. “Keeping materials
raw was a consistent theme throughout this project,” said Zames, “and we really like the way the light falls on concrete.” They achieved the effect by applying concrete over cement board.
Above: Zames credits contractor Eran Lotzky for solving several design problems. “The design of the bathroom came together by balancing calm, natural materials and making the best use of the nice natural lighting,� she says.
Above: The wall ledges and sink were custom General Assembly designs. The faucet is from Brooklyn manufacturer Watermark.
Above: A sconce from Cedar & Moss hangs above the mirror, which the owner provided.
Above: A Kawa slip-cast porcelain pendant light from Brooklyn designers Souda emits a soft glow through the porcelain when lit.
Above: Zames used a circular shower ring from Signature Hardware because the location of the skylight precluded use of a shower door or standard shower ring. “We had originally installed a fixed glass panel on the ledge, but water began pooling on the concrete,” said Zames. “In the end, I'm actually much happier with how this solution feels in the space.”
Above: Zames chose a wall-mounted toilet from Toto for the clean look and modest space savings. A wall ledge above the toilet provides extra open storage space.
Above: The bathtub is Eden from Signature Hardware, and the bath and shower fixtures are both from Watermark. The floor tile is porcelain Polvere from Stone Source. Available only in large sizes, the tiles were hand-cut into four-inch squares, “which resulted in a really nice natural variation,� said Zames.
Browse more of Remodelista's Bathroom posts, including:
Steal This Look: A London Bathroom Clad in Dinesen Wood Before & After: A Green Tiled Bathroom Conversion Trend Alert: 8 Techno Toilets