Bold Blue Bath

2020 ASID NJ Bronze Award for Design Excellence - Small Bathroom

BATHROOM PROBLEMS:

The 40 square foot ensuite bath in this 1960s ranch was tired, dated, poorly organized and cramped. There was not enough storage.

BATHROOM SOLUTIONS:

TSID's mandate was to create a highly functional and colorful bathroom within the existing footprint. All the pieces in the final design fit together like a puzzle, providing improved functionality, storage and high style. The clients now have a bright, organized, healthy space to start and end their day.

All elements were selected to improve functionality in a modern, tailored and streamlined look. The full height tiled shower wall that contributed to the claustrophobic feeling was replaced with a half wall topped with glass to allow light into the shower and enhance the feeling of spaciousness. The shower was widened from 32" to 35" to the inside of the half wall. The clients work-out regularly, so their showering experience is vastly improved, as the body sprays relax their tired muscles. The half wall projects past the vanity with space for a hand towel hook and a 26" shower door. The 18" towel bar was sized and ordered after the shower door was installed to confirm the clearance of the door swing.

We all love the WOW of the bold blue tile color! All other color decisions served to keep focus on the glass tile, so the vanity is a more muted blue and the walls even more subtle. The contrasting 10 x 30 white wall tile allows the color to be in the spotlight. The 12 x 24 porcelain floor tile is a neutral color that fades away, but is not white which is impractical to keep clean in a bathroom. The warm brushed bronze finish is a beautiful complement to the blues and white. The countertop is white with sparkly chips of reflective material embedded in it.

The small vanity needed to pack in a lot of storage. Installing the hot grooming tools bins on the vanity door makes use of an otherwise dead space.

The main lighting is conveniently integrated in the medicine cabinet so no additional wall light is needed. The LED bulbs are rated for 59,000 hours. There is also a wet location 4" recessed LED light in the shower. Both light sources are rated at 3000K (a neutral light ideal for overall bathroom aesthetics as well as tasks) and 90 CRI (provides true color rendering for makeup and other tasks). The exhaust fan has an automatic humidity sensor to help with avoiding mold and mildew.

Several notable sustainable aspects: the glass tile is handmade from 70% recycled content. The countertop is GreenGuard certified for indoor air quality. The shower head, faucet, body sprays and comfort-height toilet use water conserving technology. The paint is no-VOC.

LOCATION: West Orange, NJ
SIZE: 40 SQ FT (4'-6" x 8'-11")
CONTRACTOR: Robert Carlsen Fine Finish Carpentry, Inc.