Room of the Day: Crisp Details Add Style to a Classic White Bath
Gatsby-era detailing jazzes up a condo’s master bath
Updated features combined with 1920s Gatsby style make this bathroom a crisp and classic stunner. While it’s a study in high contrast between black and white, closer scrutinizing shows how designer Corine Maggio softened the look with subtle details. Straight lines meet circles, glossy black and bright white meet gray marble veins, and the patina of antique brass accents meets on-trend black faucets. It’s the details that keep the clean style from looking too sterile.
BEFORE: The bathroom was functional but dated. It lacked the classic notes, high contrast and clean look the clients were after.
A separate water closet across the room from the vanity provides privacy. You may have noticed just a sliver of this wainscoting in the first photo — the high-gloss black millwork continues around the entire bathroom. “It just make the room feel more complete and grounds the room,” Maggio says.
It’s hard to make out in the photo, but above the wainscoting the walls are covered in a textured wallpaper. This is one of those subtle details that prevents the look from becoming sterile and adds warmth to the small space. Glass doorknobs are a classic touch that adds some age. The art pieces are vintage photographs of San Diego and nearby La Jolla.
Ceiling light: Alderly flush-mount, Circa Lighting; wallpaper: Rhea White, Graham & Brown
It’s hard to make out in the photo, but above the wainscoting the walls are covered in a textured wallpaper. This is one of those subtle details that prevents the look from becoming sterile and adds warmth to the small space. Glass doorknobs are a classic touch that adds some age. The art pieces are vintage photographs of San Diego and nearby La Jolla.
Ceiling light: Alderly flush-mount, Circa Lighting; wallpaper: Rhea White, Graham & Brown
AFTER: Because they have a tub in another bathroom, the couple used this space for a large shower stall with the open feeling they wanted in here. Maggio chose a divider with black mullions to amp up the contrast. “The black mullions give it that classic feel — clear glass would have looked too modern,” she says.
Also high on the homeowners’ wish list — a rain shower head. At first they wanted to remove the skylight to be able to accommodate one, but the designer knew her clients would miss the great natural light. Instead she found a rain shower head that mounts to the wall. The fixture also has a vintage look.
Another nod to 1920s style lies on the floor of the shower. Small black and white hex tiles break things up. “The bathroom is pretty sophisticated. The smaller pattern adds a playful, more casual touch,” the designer says. She chose elongated subway tile for the walls to give the popular look an updated twist. Speaking of twists, she laid the 18-by-18-inch marble floor tiles in the rest of the space in a diamond pattern to add to the different rhythms going on in the room.
Shower floor tile: Arizona Tile; shower head: Dornbracht
Also high on the homeowners’ wish list — a rain shower head. At first they wanted to remove the skylight to be able to accommodate one, but the designer knew her clients would miss the great natural light. Instead she found a rain shower head that mounts to the wall. The fixture also has a vintage look.
Another nod to 1920s style lies on the floor of the shower. Small black and white hex tiles break things up. “The bathroom is pretty sophisticated. The smaller pattern adds a playful, more casual touch,” the designer says. She chose elongated subway tile for the walls to give the popular look an updated twist. Speaking of twists, she laid the 18-by-18-inch marble floor tiles in the rest of the space in a diamond pattern to add to the different rhythms going on in the room.
Shower floor tile: Arizona Tile; shower head: Dornbracht
For extra jewelry storage, Maggio added this apothecary cabinet. Drawers on the bottom are just the right size for laying out earrings, necklaces and bracelets, while the top portion allows the homeowner to display her favorite pieces.
A clock adds another vintage touch. “Having a clock is a great way to keep track of time when getting ready in the morning,” Maggio says. “I like to add older pieces. They make the home feel lived-in and add character.”
Apothecary cabinet: Restoration Hardware; Giuliana small pendants: Arteriors
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A clock adds another vintage touch. “Having a clock is a great way to keep track of time when getting ready in the morning,” Maggio says. “I like to add older pieces. They make the home feel lived-in and add character.”
Apothecary cabinet: Restoration Hardware; Giuliana small pendants: Arteriors
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Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple of newlyweds and the husband’s teenage son
Location: Downtown San Diego
Size: 75 square feet (6.9 square meters); main bathroom area is 12 by 5 feet (3.6 by 1.5); water closet is 3 by 5 feet (0.9 by 1.5 meters)
Designer: Corine Maggio of CM Natural Designs
To stay within the budget, Maggio ordered an off-the-shelf vanity with a marble top. “We replaced the faucets and hardware to customize it,” she says. She also added a towel ring to the right side of the piece, a handy spot that’s tucked away.
Antique brass finishes are a favorite of the homeowners, and they show up here on the hardware, the mirrors and the three hanging pendants. Black faucets add an up-to-date contrast against the light colors. “It’s exciting when you have a client who is up for trying new trends,” the designer says.
Vanity: Virtu USA, Wayfair; faucets: Moen; floor tile: 18-by-18-inch Bianco Carrara marble, Arizona Tile