Kitchen & Bath Business Jan/Feb 2024 and KBIS Directory - 63

LEFT The original bathroom
was dark and moody with
red wallpaper and dated
brass accents. The layout
was even more of a problem
with angled walls, a pitched
ceiling and a door in a location
that prevented a functional
fl oor plan.
Luckily, this had the benefi t of limiting the need
for plumbing work. In fact, other than extending
plumbing to the new location of the sinks, few
plumbing updates were required.
" We like to design around the mechanical
when possible because changing it can be more
expensive than we anticipate, " said the designer.
VANITY ADVANTAGES
In addition to the expanded shower, the new
vanity greatly improves the function of this bathroom.
Previously cramped along an angled wall
with an angled shape of its own and glaring overhead
recessed lighting, the vanity abutted the tub.
Thanks to the new straight wall created by
moving the door, the designers were able to install
a wide and sleek fl oating vanity. Th e countertop is
Dekton that looks like natural stone.
To further increase useable space, the team
chose to recess three medicine cabinets, which
were framed into the new wall. At eye level, the
four coordinating strips of LED lights surrounding
and between the mirrors are a big improvement
over the previous ceiling lights.
FEATURING A WISCONSIN BRAND
Th e clients had a few key style requests, such as
gold fi xtures, wall tile and a Kohler Veil toilet
with bidet seat. Th ese were elements they had
seen on their annual visits to the American Club
in Kohler, Wis.
" Th eir style is pretty traditional, but they wanted
to brighten it up and bring in a luxe, charming
look, " said Nelson.
Making the space lighter held particular significance
because there are no windows in this bathroom,
which is enclosed by interior walls, making
it impossible to add any. Choosing white tile with
a warm vein added brightness, while keeping a
sense of warmth that pairs well with the modern
brass fxture fi nish. Th e same tile was used on the
fl oor, lower walls and in the shower, creating a
cohesive space that is rich and luminous.
TAKING KNOWLEDGE HOME
Even with the many creative decisions that
turned this unusual space into a comfortable,
appealing one, the team encountered two challenges
that have adjusted their approach to
projects. Th e fi rst came in the form of the sink
faucets and the second in creating a large-slab
tile look.
Th e client had chosen the sink faucets before
any other features, and they drove the design. Unfortunately,
the faucets were on backorder from
Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic. It took
more than a year to get them. In the meantime,
the old faucets were used on the new vanity.
" Now, when we are picking selections, we doublecheck
the lead time, " said Nelson. " If we learn
it may be long, we take a down payment and order
the product immediately. "
In the shower, the clients wanted a sleek, groutless
look, so the designers explored various options
for using large-scale porcelain slabs. Th ey
learned that not only is the installation of slabs
extremely expensive, but few fabricators are qualifi
ed to install them. In the end, they used 24-by48-inch
tiles with slim grout lines and now avoid
specifying slabs.
SOURCES: DESIGNER: Brooke Nelson, Design Project Manager, Alair Milwaukee (formerly Carmel Builders);
PHOTOGRAPHER: James Meyer Photography ● ACCESSORIES & FAUCETS: Graff ; COUNTERTOP: Dekton; MEDICINE
CABINETS: Robern; SHOWER ENCLOSURE: Custom by BGS Glass Service; SHOWER FIXTURES, SINKS & TOILET: Kohler;
TILE: 21st Century Tile; VANITY: Custom by Michael David Cabinetry
ABOVE Concerned that drywall
or wallpaper would not hold
up to moisture that was sure
to aff ect the lower portions of
the angled ceiling, the team
chose to tile every inch. The
awkward available space also
meant the plumbing had to
go on the side wall because it
was the tallest, so the bench
was placed on the back wall,
which enabled it to be long
and inviting.
" The tile on the fl oor of the
shower is sliced polished
pebble, " said Brooke Nelson,
design project manager, Alair
Milwaukee. " For a shower
fl oor, we pick a 2-by-2-inch or
smaller size, so it's easier to
cut around for the drain and
slope of the fl oor. "
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