Front Porch the
winter 2016–17
wichita
The Art of Cultivating Simple Pleasures and Living Well
Bathrooms Styled for the Soul
S
Seclusion in search of some quality down time with no questions asked can be found in only one place in the home: the bathroom. It has become this country’s haven for the hectored body and harried spirit, and as such it increasingly offers more and more restorative amenities. As the new and perhaps final frontier of residential design, the bath-room is being transformed by designers and manufacturers into an extraordinary space for solitude featuring plenty of indulgences for the body—and abundant style for the soul. This has not long been the case. The advent of hygienic, reliable plumbing that made the assembling of bathroom basics—washstand, toilet, and tub—in one dedicated room not only possible, but also sensible, did not occur in Continued on page 10. Grand or small, this most personal of rooms has become one of the most highly stylized rooms in today’s homes. Clockwise from top left. 1] This elegant master bath spa relies upon the use of natural materials: ceramic tiles that mimic the look of drifting sand, a river rock shower floor and horizontal band, stacked limestone wall behind the soaking tub with water-fall faucet, storage niches, and a long recessed edge along the drop-in tub filled with river rock, create a soothing atmosphere. The full-glass doorless shower, with rain shower head, maintains the open feel, and to avoid having any décor that would detract from the natural look, only three tall, glass vases with twigs were added along the wall behind the soaking tub. Complete makeover by Sharon Nelson, owner of Nelson Designs, 8340 E 21st St, The Shops at Tallgrass, 613.3450, NelsonDesignsLLC.net. View more of this suite, and another on page 13. 2] The homeowner of this young girl’s bath with a freestanding soaking tub uses art to brighten the space and give it a playful look. The bright colors in the art are repeated in the selection of towels and bath rug, while the gold-framed mirror matches the art frame. The vintage poster for Source Brault sparkling water, created in 1938 by Philippe Noyer, shows six mermaids swimming around a large drinking glass with bubbles surrounding them. 3] Textures, patterns, and layers abound in this bath, using a mix of tiles, and wainscoting on the walls and surrounding the vanity. The shower walls and bath floor is First Snow Elegance polished marble by Daltile. The inset floor mosaic is a show-stopping hand-crafted glass mosaic from Artistic Tile’s Jazz Collection. The intuitive use of shape and the inherent color variations in the stained glass are sure to transform any space. Tile from Designers Expo, 1409 E. Douglas, 267.1982.
Cozy winter suppers can be just as special as holiday meals—yet so much easier—when homemade soup, bread, and pie are on the menu. For recipes, see page 14.
number 30 2 Peaceable Kingdom: winter yards can offer sanctuaries for wildlife 3 Quiet Spaces: savoring quiet moments between species 5 Shades of Green: video educates viewers about waste crisis 6 The Collector: treasured memories from the past brighten the holidays