Room of the Day: Materials Make This Master Bath
Rustic brick veneer, wood cabinetry, glass tiles and classic marble countertops create a modern old-world bathroom retreat
Inspired by the old-world charms of Tuscany, this busy Maryland family wanted a rustic master bathroom that could stand the test of time. But rustic didn’t mean roughing it. A brick shower surround and knotty wood cabinetry merge with sleek glass tiles and nickel-plated hardware to create a woodsy spa-like retreat.
A large remnant of Calacatta Gold marble for the countertops got the ball rolling when it came to materials. “We found this beautiful piece of marble and knew we had to have it, but rather than dictating the other materials we selected, it motived us to choose those that inspired us the most,” Cohen Raymond says.
Finding the right paint color, the final design decision, was a classic example of “last but not least.” “We had large swatches of paint all over the walls. It was important to find just the right neutral shade to tie all the distinct materials together,” Cohen Raymond says.
Finding the right paint color, the final design decision, was a classic example of “last but not least.” “We had large swatches of paint all over the walls. It was important to find just the right neutral shade to tie all the distinct materials together,” Cohen Raymond says.
Making this long and narrow room feel more spacious was the biggest challenge. The clients wanted a large shower and enough space to use the sinks without bumping into one another. The original concept was to include a stone veneer on the outside walls of the shower; however, the engineering required to hold the weight would have taken up too much space, so they went with a thin brick veneer for the exterior instead.
Tile by Hunt Valley Tile and Stone: 24-inch square Pretios (main floor), Rio (shower floor) and O.S. Glass series (shower surround)
Tile by Hunt Valley Tile and Stone: 24-inch square Pretios (main floor), Rio (shower floor) and O.S. Glass series (shower surround)
The wall tile in the shower was quite a splurge, so they chose a porcelain floor tile for the main space instead of a more expensive polished and stained concrete floor.
“I think the material selections are what makes this bathroom exceptional. I love the contrast of the rough texture of the brick on the outside of the shower with the sleek, large-scale glass tile of the interior,” Cohen Raymond says.
Explore more bathrooms that embrace brick
Explore more bathrooms that embrace brick
Location: Hunt Valley, Maryland
Size: 230 square feet (21.4 square meters)
Designers: Peter Twohy, 2e Architects and Beth Cohen Raymond Interior Design
The homeowners, one a CEO of a large company and the other a music teacher and performer, instituted a strict timeline for the bathroom redesign. This meant designer Beth Cohen Raymond was often juggling multiple meetings between plumbers, lighting designers and contractors. “Fortunately these clients are very decisive and know what they like. When given a few options, they invariably selected the more interesting choice and never looked back,” the designer says.
Countertop: Calacatta Gold marble, Rock Tops Fabrication; lighting: Jones Lighting Specialists; fixtures: Artifacts collection, Kohler; wall paint: Ashley Gray, Benjamin Moore; dressing table and stool: Frontgate