Modernized bathroom opens space
Each generation adopts design trends that reflect life of the day. It is understandable that in days of economic pressure, design responds to restrictions. These days, there is a kind of can-do design philosophy that is rooted in practicality and simplicity.
Interior designer Alena Capra was charged with transforming a West Palm Beach master bathroom without adding square footage.
The original bathroom was very compartmentalized, including a separate toilet room, a closed-in shower, a space-consuming corner bath and two separate vanities. Grouped together, all of these features made the bathroom seem much smaller than it really was. Capra began by eliminating all of the walls.
"My clients wanted a freestanding tub; that was their one big wish list item that needed to go in. Designing around a freestanding tub can be tricky because they require a lot of space around them, and I didn't want to waste too much valuable space," said the designer. The entire bathroom layout was shifted, leaving only the toilet in its original location. The final layout locates a glass shower enclosure next to a modern freestanding tub. The vanities were joined into one long unit that cantilevers off the wall and allows for space under the cabinet.
I am reminded of the tiled shower of my grandmother's 1930s Spanish Revival home in Los Angeles. The shower was walled in and the tub was fit into a tiled-in alcove. That physical separation eats up a good 6 to 8 inches of wall space. Because we live in more liberated times, it follows that the concept of a wide-open bathroom is more appealing today than it would have been some 85 years ago. A modern look is free and sleek. Being open is synonymous with technology and cutting-edge design.
In the end, this revamped shower enclosure looks much larger, and it holds a practical, exposed corner bench. The one vanity offers double sinks along with one large medicine cabinet and a linen tower. It is popular these days to have open shelves for stacked towels. In 1930, you would never dream of exposing storage. As our collective thinking changes, so does the way we use available space.
We see this readily in Euro-style kitchens with open shelves for dishes and glassware. This exposed concept leads to many liberating design solutions. For example, I have designed dressers and closets that are open to a bathroom area without walls separating the two.
Often the elimination of wall thicknesses allows you to capture 10 to 12 inches of valuable room. Americans have incorporated European practices into our modern, minimal design.
There is a tendency for European homes to be smaller and therefore the products used for kitchens and bathrooms respect space saving. When we do not mind seeing the plumbing fixtures and the areas for each function in a bathroom, then the entire room and all of the surfaces can work together in a fine design.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
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