Bathroom of the Week: Wavy Tile and a Japanese Soaking Tub
This spa-like basement bathroom includes lots of warm teak for a relaxing post-workout vibe
Looking to create a post-workout spa retreat in their refinished basement, a Maryland couple hired designer Meghan Browne to come up with a functional layout with a Zen-like vibe. Browne responded by relocating the laundry facilities to another area to expand the footprint of the bathroom, then used lots of wavy tile and teak, including a teak Japanese-style soaking tub.
Browne used a runner of graphic floor tiles surrounded by quartz, the same quartz used for the waterfall countertop. “Using the runner rather than fully covering the floor allowed the tile to stand out without becoming too busy,” she says.
She picked a vanity color that closely matches the countertop so the tile and teak would stand out more.
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She picked a vanity color that closely matches the countertop so the tile and teak would stand out more.
Shop for wall and floor tile
Simple creamy white subway tiles laid in a vertically stacked pattern behind the vanity keep the lines clean and, again, allow the other materials to draw most of the attention.
The homeowners had just returned from a trip to Israel before embarking on this remodel, and they loved all the wavy tile they’d seen in hotels overseas. Browne used this wavy cement tile in the shower to help create the calming, Zen-like retreat the owners wanted.
The teak floor consists of slatted panels that sit over a traditional drain pan. The owners can lift up the panels to clean underneath or get to the drain.
Soaking tub: Zen Bathworks
The teak floor consists of slatted panels that sit over a traditional drain pan. The owners can lift up the panels to clean underneath or get to the drain.
Soaking tub: Zen Bathworks
After: Browne added a contemporary-style wall-hung sink and wrapped the walls in the same tile used behind the new vanity. She capped the tile with a strip of teak to connect the design with the rest of the bathroom.
A new pocket door connects the updated water closet with the rest of the bathroom.
This detailed floor plan shows the layout of the renovated bathroom, with the water closet at the bottom right and the soaking tub at the bottom left.
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More on Houzz
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Bathroom
5 Ways With a 5-by-8-Foot Bathroom
Get bathroom design ideas
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for bath products
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a college-age daughter
Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Size: 106 square feet (9.8 square meters)
Designer: Meghan Browne of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath
After Browne relocated the laundry area and drew up the layout for the new bathroom, she realized the space to the left of the vanity would be perfect for a teak soaking tub. The family has a basement gym and loved the idea of being able to soak after a workout. The wood provided a jumping-off point for the style direction. A teak niche above the tub adds visual warmth amid walls wrapped in wavy tile.
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