And here was
another client wanting to get rid of the 90’s oak
cabinetry/Formica counter “kiss of death”. Starting to see a
pattern here? This bathroom was divided into two spaces –
one with the vanity and the other with the toilet and
Fiberglass bath/shower combo. Aside from being outdated, the
major complaint about this bathroom was the lack of elbow
room. In the mornings, the mom and two elementary-aged boys
had to share this space, which as you can imagine didn’t
always go so well.
After determining
that the dividing wall was not load-bearing, we tore it out.
What a world of difference that made! From there we ripped
out everything else and started over. The goal was to create
a serene and clean-lined space which was not too fancy given
that it belonged mostly to the young boys. It also needed to
be timeless enough to grow with the children and accommodate
the changing needs of their growing bodies. The first plan
of attack was to raise the countertop height from the
standard 32” to 38”. That’s about 2” taller than your
standard kitchen counter. While in the short run the boys
will have to stand on their tippy-toes to reach the faucet,
it will pay off in the long run by not having to bend over
so far to wash their faces.
By taking out that
dividing wall, we were able to implement another part of the
“designing for longevity” piece. The existing Fiberglass tub
was only 60” long (meaning that the tub basin was even
smaller). But with an expanded space now available we could
bring in a 66” cast iron tub making a huge difference in
legroom and “sit” of the bath-taking experience. The rest
was a matter of finding the perfect match of tile, paint,
and wood stain to create an earthy, textured, natural
atmosphere. Mission accomplished.
Best Bath
Semi-Finalist
Portland IDS Distinct Style Awards 2010
