A Fresh Take on 4 Bathrooms

2012-Spring-Central-Oregon-Home-And-Design-Bend-Remodel-Interior-Design-whole-bathroom-tub-sinks
A warm and modern bathroom in Bend. / Photo by Christian Heeb

Ever wish you could look inside everyone’s bathroom for inspiring ideas for your own remodel? We do, and we did. In this piece, we look into four distinct styles of bathrooms, from a simple powder room to a complete bathroom overhaul, all cleverly designed in their own way. Peek into the creative ideas behind a Craftsman in southeast Portland, a custom beach house in Neskowin, a lodge-style home in Bend and a contemporary abode in Lebanon, Oregon. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ECLECTIC BATH, REVISITED

THE HOUSE

A uniquely designed home in northwest Bend that uses multiple construction types and features a second floor bridge that connects the main house to the garage with an upstairs living space; originally built in 2002, and bought by its current owners in 2011.

THE HOMEOWNER

Steve Porino, 48, broadcaster; and Amanda Atwill, 32, finacial adviser.

THE CHALLENGE

To overhaul an unsightly, 78-square-foot, L-shaped, hodgepodge of a bathroom over the garage whose original décor, recalls Porino, included “a fiberglass shower, orange linoleum floor, sponge-blotted walls of blue and gold, and a lonely gray commode out in open space.” The homeowners wanted to do as much of the work themselves as possible, and the updated room needed to accommodate both Porino’s affinity for contemporary interiors and Atwill’s love of the cozy, French country aesthetic.

THE FIX

Designing an enlarged, 130-square-foot rectangular space that feels simultaneously warm and modern, to please both homeowners. The room blends elegant, low-maintenance materials, such as porcelain tiles made to resemble marble, with practical considerations. such as a double vanity, a two-person soaking tub, and a walk-in shower. A new window brings in much needed light, and radiant floor heating links to the house’s existing system. Porino and Atwill kept costs low by doing much of the labor themselves, including some of the drywall hanging, tile setting and most of the demolition.

DESIGNER TIP | Kirsti Wolfe, Kirsti Wolfe Designs

THINK BUDGET BEAUTIFUL

Increasingly, there are exciting and surprisingly affordable options on the market for clients who are drawn to clean lines and natural stone. Calcutta Bianchi Porcelain is such a product. I have not been a fan of porcelain tile until lately. But I must admit, it’s truly amazing what manufacturers are designing, and it keeps getting better.

PLAN CAREFULLY

When space is at a premium, think creatively about the big picture. Here, there was a lot that the owners wanted to fit into the existing space. After some discussion, they decided to open up the entire room and start from scratch. After the walls came down, planning the room became much easier.

THE GOODS

Toilet: Toto, George Morlan Plumbing

Soaking Tub: Forma, Jason

Vanity: Millia (mirrors, sink and fixtures), modernbathroom.com

Tile: Calcutta Bianchi Porcelain, United Tile; Athens Gray Marble Tile, Daltile

Linen Cabinet: Beny Ambauen of Swiss Woodworking

Barn Door: Handmade by Porino


DESIGNER | Kirsti Wolfe Designs | kirstiwolfedesigns.com

BUILDERS | Jay Bird Construction | Jeff Loudermilk | 541.390.8725

A BATHROOM WITH A VIEW

THE HOUSE

A custom, contemporary oasis of a home that overlooks the Santiam River in Lebanon, Oregon, and was completed in 2010. 

THE HOMEOWNER

Jennifer Walter, 56, a retired attorney and current sixth grade teacher.

THE CHALLENGE

To build a stylish, modestly sized master bathroom on a budget that feels like a retreat and complements a magnificent river view. An additional goal was to tastefully reflect the homeowner’s love of the color blue.

THE FIX

Creating a tranquil, 80-square-foot space with large windows that help establish the river as the focal point. Walter installed a tub that overlooks the water and a tile shower, which is decorated in calming shades of blue and gray. The room makes the most of a modest footprint through the use of floating cabinets.

DESIGNER TIPS | Barbara Sumner

INCLUDE FLOATING FURNITURE FOR TINY SPACES

In a smaller bathroom, floating cabinets allow the space below to expand without sacrificing counter space.

USE SHADES OF GREY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

When working with shades of blue, I like to add a lot of grey to the palette. As a rule, color intensifies when placed on all four walls of a room.

DON’T NEGLECT YOUR CEILINGS

Run wall color up onto the ceiling. This softens the color and instantly opens up the room. Knobs are the gateway to storage, but too often, the aesthetics for these essential items are an afterthought. Spruce up your bathroom with beautiful and local hardware.

THE GOODS

Soaking Tub: Fiber-Fab, George Morlan Plumbing

Tile: Interstyle Supergres Nouveau Gris; Pebble Mosaic, Baptista Tile

Paint: Benjamin Moore 


ARCHITECT | Nathan Good | nathangoodarchitect.com

BUILDER | Kevin Rea | reaco-nw.com

DESIGNER | Barbara Sumner | sumnergray.com

A TINY, CLASSIC POWDER ROOM

THE HOUSE

A charming 1913 Craftsman in southeast Portland.

THE HOMEOWNER

David Spencer, 61, a stay-at-home parent; his partner, Jerry Petty, 51, a senior human resources analyst; and their 10-year-old son, Jack.

THE CHALLENGE

To improve an inefficient layout and update the interior of a cramped downstairs powder room with cracking plaster walls that Petty dubbed “Third World.”

THE FIX

Renovating and subtly shifting the shape of the room, which resulted in a handsome, understated 17-square-foot space that feels like it has always been there. The new and improved version brings in creamy bead board walls, a classic checkered floor made of modern vinyl composition tile and a series of picture rails that the homeowners can use to highlight an ever-changing lineup of framed artwork. A Vintage-inspired sink and toilet seal the deal.

DESIGNER TIPS | Charlotte Cooney, Alice Design Domestic Arts

PAY ATTENTION TO SCALE

Don’t try to force too much into it. Here, we used a tiny wallmounted sink for washing hands. Even a small pedestal would have been too much for the space.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

The homeowners had a small antique mirror they loved, a lot of artwork and a hanging fixture with a beautiful shade. These things help personalize the powder room.

MAKE IT LAST

Permanent features in a bathroom should stand the test of time from both practical and aesthetic viewpoints.

THE GOODS

Toilet: St. Thomas Creations, Richmond, American Home Plus

Sink: Crane, Lowes

Flooring: Vinyl Composition Tile, Nagl Floor Covering

Light Fixture: Old Dominion Pendant, School House Electric

Light Shade: Hand-Painted Parakeet, Rejuvenation about ten years ago

Paint: From Pratt & Lambert, Colonial Williamsburg Collection


CONTRACTOR | Hammer and Hand | hammerandhand.com

DESIGN | Alice Design Domestic Arts | Charlotte Cooney and Kevin Fisher

SOPHISTICATED BEACHSIDE BATHING

THE HOUSE

A custom-designed, contemporary residence in Neskowin that overlooks the beach and was completed in 2009.

THE HOMEOWNER

Jay Keck, a 55 year-old software manager who works from home.

THE CHALLENGE

To build an open, visually interesting space with natural materials. Keck’s overarching goal for the home was that no room, including the master bath, would make him feel like he was being boxed in. He wanted to carry the open feeling of the beachside landscape into the house itself.

THE FIX

Creating an organically inspired, 133-square-foot bathroom with no shower doors or enclosures. Striking, silver floor-to-ceiling marble was installed. An inconspicuous spout in the ceiling fills up the ofuro, or cedar Japanese soaking tub. The streamlined countertops are made of concrete. Two windows provide views of the ocean—one is behind the sink, and the other is a peephole visible only from the soaking tub.

DESIGNER TIPS | Milan B. Patel, Boora Architects

MATERIALS MATTER

Material choice is critical in design and weighs heavily on the concept. Here, the ofuro soaking tub is a key element in the space. The richly variegated stone tile complements the tub beautifully and creates a simple monolithic backdrop.

PARTITION WITH CARE

In this bathroom, we created separate spaces for the toilet, sink and shower without actually dividing the room. Partial -height walls allow light and maintain an open feeling, yet create distinct areas. These walls also function as storage devices and tie back to materials used in other parts of the house.

PLACE WINDOWS WISELY

Thoughtful window placement addresses many important design issues; in this case, larger operable windows take advantage of natural light, ventilation, and the sounds of the ocean, while the smaller bump-out window highlights the view and preserves privacy.

THE GOODS

Toilet: Kohler Stanton

Soaking Tub: RH Tubs in California

Stone: Athens Silver Creme marble from Ann Sacks

Countertops: Coulee Concrete in Lake Oswego


CONTRACTOR | Emmerson Morgan | emmersonmorgan.com

ARCHITECT AND DESIGN | Boora Architects | boora.com

DIY: BATHROOM KNOBS

Knobs are the gateway to storage, but too often, the aesthetics for these essential items are an afterthought. Spruce up your bathroom with beautiful and local hardware.

OLAF POTTERY | STARTING AT $7/KNOB

Ted Olaf Juve from northeast Oregon produces functional stoneware from his studio located in the Wallowa Valley. Olaf is well known for the resulting bronze colors and crackled glazes. For custom orders, [email protected].

FEATHER & WIND | $5.50/KNOB

Portlander Sarah Bradford creates hardware that stems from her love of restoring old treasures. For custom orders, [email protected].

SWEET MIX CREATIONS | STARTING AT $7/KNOB

Focusing on customizable décor for children, mother of three Helen Brookes fills a niche with kid-pleasing drawer knobs. For custom orders,      [email protected].

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