California Cool in the Castro

Two Modern Spa-like Bathrooms

This Castro neighborhood remodel presented the challenge of converting two rather ordinary, windowless bathrooms into modern spa-like rooms. We drew upon water for our inspiration to create a cool and refreshing feeling. The primary bathroom tone is established by Carrera marble floors and walls of handmade glass mosaic tiles the color of water flecked with subtle streaks of dark red. A wall-hung wood vanity inspired by a piece of modernist furniture appears to float above the floor. Decorative light fixtures placed directly on the wall-to-wall mirrors bring together the tones of the wood cabinet, polished chrome plumbing fixtures, and the white porcelain sink. In the powder room, a backlit shoji screen in a narrow slot opposite the vanity was introduced as a lighting element, creating the impression of natural light from a window. Stacked Himachal stone strip tiles behind the bathtub and on its face create a distinctive textured finish highlighted by the downlighting while the playful asymmetrical composition of the vertical mirror and horizontal display shelf complete the design.