Bathroom of the Week: Modern Space With a Coastal View
A wall of shiny blue tile nods to the waters of Puget Sound in this spa-like bathroom near Seattle
This remodeled bathroom in Mukilteo, Washington, shows how a sleek, modern, spa-like space needn’t be overwhelmingly white. Designer Kristine Tyler of Tree Frog Design took a cramped, dated master bathroom and created a whole new look, with a gray, white and blue color scheme, a wet room with frameless glass, a sculptural freestanding soaking tub and an eye-catching chandelier. “I came in and took measurements, did a case study of the space and asked, ‘How do we make this a more functional space?’ ” Tyler says.
Before: Here’s a look at how the wall tile was limited to the shower area. The whirlpool tub and enclosed shower took up much of the space. “They had a larger, built-in tub before and a framed shower with a curb,” Tyler says.
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After: A soaking tub was on the homeowners’ wish list, so Tyler sourced this sculptural beauty, along with an elegant floor-mounted tub filler. The team also installed a wall-mounted towel warmer. A view of Puget Sound through the window is an added bathing treat.
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The chrome-finish tub filler with hand shower adds an architectural element to complement the sculptural curves of the tub.
The unique spiral pendant light makes a striking statement above the tub. The swirling fixture uses an integrated LED bulb that projects light inward for a soft glow.
Before: The previous bathroom was functional but a bit cramped and needed refreshing. “Mostly they were interested in turning a dated bathroom with lots of beige into a sleek, contemporary bathroom to suit their taste,” Tyler says.
After: The team removed the enclosed shower and replaced the original cherry vanity with a sleek new floating version to completely transform the space. Tyler replaced the long mirror with vibrant blue tiles in random lengths on the vanity wall to enliven the space with color.
“The textured look behind the glass and the different sizes add an interesting texture to the backsplash,” she says. The fixed glass pane that replaced the tiled pony wall helps contain overspray from the shower, and it’s a space saver. “It feels a little more open. You’ll get a few more inches of space versus a wall, and they liked the contemporary look,” Tyler says.
Backsplash tile: Summer Nights in gloss, Verve collections, Bedrosians Tile & Stone
“The textured look behind the glass and the different sizes add an interesting texture to the backsplash,” she says. The fixed glass pane that replaced the tiled pony wall helps contain overspray from the shower, and it’s a space saver. “It feels a little more open. You’ll get a few more inches of space versus a wall, and they liked the contemporary look,” Tyler says.
Backsplash tile: Summer Nights in gloss, Verve collections, Bedrosians Tile & Stone
Tyler had a TV installed on the wall next to the vanity, a fun new addition to the room that can be viewed from the tub, shower and vanity.
The custom vanity was built with plenty of storage, including open shelving for towels. The white quartz countertop is a smart contrast to the dark-stained wood cabinets. There’s an LED tape light in the vanity toe kick that can be turned on and off via a wall switch or remote. On the blue-tiled wall, the recessed medicine cabinets have mirrors with a beveled edge. Slim pendant lights add to the contemporary appeal.
The walls of the shower area are lined with large-format (12-by-24-inch) gray concrete-look porcelain tiles with a matte finish. The tiles on the floor are lighter gray with a natural finish, also measuring 12 by 24 inches. Tyler used the same light gray tile on the TV wall next to the vanity. The spa-like shower area is equipped with a rain shower head and separate handheld shower, along with chunky modern chrome fixtures.
A mini waterfall gushes from the elegant single-hole sink faucet.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple in their 50s
Location: Mukilteo, Washington
Size: 176 square feet (16 square meters)
Designer: Kristine Tyler of Tree Frog Design
Tyler used dark and light gray large-format tile across the walls and floors. She persuaded the homeowners not to cut off the tile on the back wall at the shower and instead to extend it across the entire wall. “It makes the space feel more expansive. In the ‘before’ picture you notice that the tiles are only encompassing the shower, and it divides up the room and makes the space feel more choppy,” she says.
Tyler stopped by the site one day during the renovation and made sure the tile was installed up to the ceiling peak in the shower area. “The tile installer mentioned that they were planning on capping it off at 84 inches. The homeowner met me there and I encouraged them to extend the tile all the way up, so the eye isn’t drawn to the transition,” she says.
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