Click on the images for a larger view! A pyramid-shaped ceiling marks the entrance to this master bathroom. Maple cabinetry and limestone surfaces are main features of the master bedroom. Symmetrical vanities are positioned on either side of a make-up area. Layering the separate elements of the cabinetry and countertop was a way to add visual interest, says architect Tim Bjella. The spa bath is set on a raised plinth of limestone, designed to look like a solid block of stone. Cut-outs in the wall behind the tub connect the bathroom to the bedroom. Part of this area is screened with sandblasted glass, etched with clear strips for a textural look.

Solid columns and a pyramid ceiling make a feature of the entrance to this master bathroom

Master bathrooms are seldom a simple add-on to a bedroom these days. They are increasingly designed as a separate sanctuary, which reflects the importance placed on the creation of a soothing environment.

This new bathroom was designed to make such a statement - starting with the entrance. Creating a visual separation between the bedroom and bathroom was an essential part of the design, says architect Tim Bjella of Arteriors Architecture.

"Using the transition space to create a formal entrance was a way to give the room its own identity," he says.

Four solid columns, topped with a pyramid-shaped ceiling, were also designed to add a look of substance.

"They help to convey a slightly formal, classical look, which was requested," says Bjella. "However, the owners didn't want the room to be too conservative, so we introduced some playful, contemporary elements, such as the sandblasted glass screen and cut-outs in the walls."

Even though the bathroom was designed to stand alone, Bjella says it still needed to connect with the bedroom. To this end, he left openings in the wall beside the bath tub. One of these features the sandblasted glass screen, which is etched with narrow, clear strips to provide a textural look.

"The translucent screen is also a visual counterpoint to the heavier mass of the entrance and the raised tub deck," he says.

A make-up area and twin vanities are positioned opposite the entrance and beneath an arched ceiling. "These create a formal symmetry in keeping with the classical theme, but the playful elements are still there," says Bjella. "The twin vanity mirrors, for example, are suspended on wires and have sandblasted edges that match the glass screen beside the bath tub."

Bjella says the mirrors were kept small, to limit the reflective area of the walls.

"Layering the separate elements of the vanities also adds visual interest, with surfaces such as the countertop appearing to slice through each other."

Maple cabinetry and limestone help create a subtle, monochromatic color scheme that ties in with the rest of the house. As well as featuring on the bathroom countertops, limestone is used for flooring and the tub deck.

"The spa tub is set within a raised, tiled limestone plinth, which was designed to convey the sense of a large mass of stone," says Bjella. "We wanted this corner to look as though it could have been sculpted from such a mass." Sculptural elements are also a feature of the interior architecture in the rest of the house.

"In that sense, there is a strong continuity in the design," says Bjella.

The master bathroom also features a limestone-tiled shower, to the left of the entrance, and a separate toilet room. A concealed sliding door at the bathroom entrance offers additional privacy.


Resource List
Architect: Tim R Bjella, Arteriors Architecture
(Wayzata, MN)
Main contractor: Titus Construction
Cabinetmaker: Steven Cabinets
Vanity cabinetry: Maple in natural finish
Basin: Kohler Rhythm in Mottled Stainless Steel from Pipeline Supply
Basin faucets: Arc from Hastings
Spa bath: Pearl Bath Andorra
Bath faucets: Kohler Taboret from Pipeline Supply
Shower fittings Kohler Master from Pipeline Supply
Vanity countertops: Limestone
Flooring: Limestone in Antalya
Tub-deck tiles: Limestone in Ravena
Toilet: Kohler Wellworth in Biscuit from Pipeline Supply
Vanity mirror lighting: Eureka
Mirrors: Cable-suspended, sandblasted glass, custom designed by Tim Bjella, Arteriors Architecture
Accessories: Gatco
Glass wall around bath: Sandblasted glass from Minneapolis Glass

Photography by Tim Maloney

Preview the book this story came from
USA Bathroom Trends. Volume 17. Number 7