Old House, New Point of View

For the primary bath, we wanted to push the design in a more contemporary direction while still making it feel completely at home within this historic house.

The dramatic arch became one of the defining architectural elements of the room. It frames the bathing area, softens the more contemporary lines and gives the space the kind of architectural presence the original house was missing.

Warm walnut became another thread throughout the room. Fluted walnut panels wrap the walls, reflect endlessly in the vanity mirrors and continue around the shower, adding warmth and depth. Textured wallpaper brings in pattern, with a menswear-inspired companion paper in the toilet room.

The tile story is equally layered. Teal pulled from the wallpaper gives the shower its rich color, while a marble accent wall uses a ribbed treatment for texture. The same marble appears across the floor in three different sizes and patterns, changing at the tub and shower to define each area without breaking up the room. The result is more contemporary than the adjoining spaces, but the arch, walnut, marble and layers of pattern give it a sense of permanence. It feels new, but not new to the house.