Today I thought I’d show you a stunning master ensuite that I had the privilege of designing for the loveliest of clients. She’s a woman with exquisite taste, is thoughtful and kind, and she trusts me implicitly {read: THE BEST}.

This was a renovation project, and as such, the floor plan wasn’t really up for negotiation. Moving the plumbing stack for the toilet would have just been too costly, and that was really the only change we would have considered (swapping it with the shower). Thankfully it was a generous space to start with and we were content with the placement of all the key elements. Our biggest change in the end was to add a 2-way fireplace…but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Regardless of whether you are renovating or redecorating, I always say you should start from your inspiration point and work your way out. As you’re coming to learn about me, I start with art whenever possible, but with a bathroom I start with the tile and the vanity design. Tile is not just tile anymore, my friends. Tile is an opportunity to work with colour and texture in some really inspired ways, especially if you think outside the box.

 

In the case of this bathroom, “outside the box” was about how we used the tile that captured our hearts: a Vein-Cut Ocean Travertine. We fell in love with it for its quiet, watery palette, but my creative imagination was already one step ahead with the excitement of what could be done with it.

What I love about the Vein-Cut stone is the linear grain structure. While it still has some natural swirl and variation, it has a much cleaner, more contemporary feel than Cross-Cut stone. This worked beautifully for this Master Ensuite where we wanted a warm but modern feel to the space.

Rather than just lay it straight, I chose to have the 12″ x 24″ tiles cut into 2.5″ wide planks (like hardwood flooring planks). I then designed a tile carpet, and the inset of the carpet was carefully crafted out of these 2.5″ x 24″ planks to create a stunning yet subtle, beautifully textured herringbone pattern. (Confession: I am addicted to all things herringbone!)

I designed the herringbone tile carpet to be bordered with a combination of 5/8″ x 5/8″ moonstone mosaics (5 rows) and then on either side of that, a single strip of 5/8″ x 6″ moonstone to create a clean finish. The remaining outer portion of the floor was set with uncut 12″ x 24″ tiles.

The photo above shows you one of my favourite details with the vanity. We used the same travertine in 1 1/2″ thick slab for the countertops (double the standard thickness of 3/4″). I wanted the vanity to feel like a furniture piece, so I decided to set the stone down into the top of the centre, raised drawer section to mimic a leather damper on an old fashioned desk. The beveled wood edge that slopes off from the stone inset is a simple but extremely elegant detail.

The placement of the tub over the border edge of the tile carpet really makes the tile carpet feel like an area rug in the middle of the space. I love this effect. It takes the plumbing fixtures and cabinetry to a whole new level while anchoring each element, tying them together as with an area rug in an elegant living room.

This photo shows our grouping of 3 small pieces of art leading into the bathroom (all from a series by David Gillanders via Art Interiors). For this project, the art was one of our finishing touches rather than our starting point, but the watery, blue-green palette is just perfect for the tile’s inspirational story line. I love how these 3 smalls connect so beautifully with the quiet colour and texture of the tiles.

 

 

The shower’s tile inset reflects the border on the main floor’s tile carpet with the addition of a chair rail in the natural polished moonstone. So delicious you could almost bite it! I love the dimension the chair rail gives this shower detail.

Tomorrow I’ll share a bit more about the vanity and reveal the amazing 2-way fireplace we created. It’s a stunner! Can’t wait to share it with you.

xo
s.

All photos courtesy of Jordan Fretz