Kitchen & Bath Business September/October 2023 - 47

designs that turn a corner - was trapped in the
crook of the counter with the dishwasher and
range right beside it. That made it impossible
to stand at the sink and open the dishwasher or
oven door. "
As she developed plans to solve the design
faults of the space, Weekley also recognized
ways to elevate the health and wellness standards
of the kitchen. She dimensioned the
space to have a 7-foot turning radius for wheelchairs.
Lighting fixtures have LED lamping,
supporting visual acuity. To curtail off-gassing,
she specified low-VOC paint for the walls
and formaldehyde-free cabinetry with a water-based
finish. LEED-eligible quartz countertops
also advance the environmental quality
of the room.
Weekley reconfigured the kitchen into a
U-shape plan with a peninsula. This allowed
electric lines for the air quality-friendly induction
range and outlets to be run through the wall
and into the peninsula without breaking into the
floor. The new energy-efficient refrigerator was
relocated to the adjacent wall, and the sink was
moved a few inches - the maximum distance
possible - out of the restrictive corner and onto
the back wall, where it was fitted with a low-flow
faucet.
FOCUS ON WELLNESS IN THE BATH
The designer also worked on the bathroom in the
loft, which she said had good bones but lacked
light. " It had a curious faux metal insert by the
toilet, some DIY stainless-steel sticky-back tile
on the wall and a one-piece stainless-steel shower
insert that was dangerously slippery, " she added.
While upgrading the look of the bath, Weekley
also addressed the health and safety concerns.
A new comfort-height toilet stands between the
vanity and the shower. She replaced the slick
metal surfaces of the shower with ceramic tile,
using patterned hexagonal wall tiles and penny-sized
floor tile to bring both traction and an
arty appearance to the space.
Blocking was strategically located in the walls,
anticipating future installation of grab bars. The
lever faucet is easy to grasp, as are the deliberately
oversized cabinet pulls. In a touch of quiet luxury,
a ceiling-mount rain shower is teamed with a
water-saving, wall-mounted shower that can be
converted to a hand-held sprayer. The vanity was
resurfaced with NSF-certified quartz.
Using clean materials and sustainable technology,
the loft design now supports well-being in
mind and body.

ABOVE While the original
metal cladding of the shower
enclosure was replaced with
slip-resistant tile, the original
vanity was retained, albeit
with a new LEED-eligible
countertop that ties into the
lightened color scheme.
SOURCES: DESIGN: Amber Weekley, Crystal Kitchen + Bath; PHOTOGRAPHY: SpaceCrafting ● KITCHEN BACKSPLASH
TILE: Mosa Terra Tones; CABINETS: Crystal Cabinets; CABINET HARDWARE: Amerock; COUNTERTOPS: Cambria;
DISHWASHER, MICROWAVE, RANGE & REFRIGERATOR: GE; FAUCETS: Delta; PAINT: Benjamin Moore; SINK: Blanco
BATHROOM COUNTERTOP: Cambria; FAUCET & SHOWER FITTINGS: Delta; LIGHTING: Stanton; MIRROR: Baretta Modern;
SINK: Kohler; SHOWER ENCLOSURE: Custom Shower Glass; TOILET: American Standard; TILE: Ragno USA
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Kitchen & Bath Business September/October 2023

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