At the Intersection of Art, Architecture & Design » A vibrant yet serene bath remodel – At the Intersection of Art, Architecture & Design

A vibrant yet serene bath remodel

Jackie Braitman — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 18:46:43 +0000

The Glass Countertop is the Centerpiece of the Bath

We just completed an unabashedly modern bath in this 1864 row house in the Dupont Circle neighborhood in Washington, DC. The bath had been allowed to deteriorate badly (see before image at end).

Glass Countertop Is A Dramatic Centerpiece: The centerpiece of this bath remodel is a custom glass countertop with integral glass sink. The unit is very large – the countertop measures 88” long with a sink formed as part of the countertop that measures 28” x 15” x 6” deep. The glass — 3/4” thick – has been sandblasted on the back. The glass is standard float glass – like what you have in your windows. We don’t see the green tint unless you look at the glass on edge or you sandblast it as we’ve done here. The glass is raised 1/2 “above the vanity with chrome standoffs (the round discs you can see through the countertop in the image below).

Wall-mounted soap and cup holders help keep clutter off the countertop – as does the large 52” high 8” deep cabinet above the toilet.

The Custom Sink is Large & Deep

Roomy, Light-Filled Shower: Large format (12” x 24”) porcelain tile used for the backsplash and for the shower almost perfectly matches the tint in the glass. The tile has slate blue and grey veining which is repeated in the grout color and the custom grey stained cabinetry.

Light-Filled Shower

The Shower measures 48” x 36” and features a multi-function shower head and 2 body sprays. My client can use just the shower head, just the body sprays or both. A recessed niche has separate shelves for soap and for bottles. The l-shaped end wall allows the bather to see the window and helps the long, narrow room feel more porous.

A corner bench and end grab-bar makes it easier for my client to wash her feet or shave her legs. The shower pan is a solid surface material.

Well-Fitted Shower

Vanity with lots of drawers for storage.

The custom vanity is 57” wide with 6 drawers. It size and spare lines are quite modern – and it certainly pushes the boundaries of what’s feasible. The top and middle drawer boxes are cut out around the sink basin and plumbing. The selection of drawer pulls continues the modern lines but also helps make opening these large drawers effortless.

Custom Vanity with Lots of Storage

A Modern Jewel Set in an Historic Home.

Notice the 5” wide original moldings around the door and window. The scale and details work well with the modern lines of the new bath. We restored the transom over the bath door but replaced the original flat panel door with a frosted glass door with sticking that matches the sticking in the original flat panel door.

Modern Lines Within Historic Framework

Several Levels of Lighting

The bath has 5 layers of lighting:
- Two Skylights – one original and one matching new one
- Dimmable Sconces on both sides of the bath
- Low-Voltage Cans to Illuminate the Glass Sink
- Ceiling Lights
- A Dimmable Shower Light

Color Palette

The color palette is at once serene and vibrant. The main elements of the palette include the green of the glass and the tile, slate from the veining in the tile and flooring and the stain of the cabinetry, white of the fixtures, polished chrome, and red Marmoleum sheet flooring. The ceiling is a very light violet to complement the greens. The color palette helps the modern lines blend with the historic home.

Before Picture - Looking from Doorway

Bathroom Sinks – The Pros and Cons

Jackie Braitman — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:27:52 +0000

I did a post recently about bathroom sinks. One of you commented that you thought that glass sinks and vessel sinks weren’t practical. So I thought I would do a more extensive report about sink types and materials.

You’ve got 4 different sets of choices when it comes to sinks. The previous article dealt with type. This article concentrates on Material but also with reference to style and function.

Material – ceramic, stainless, porcelain, stone, etc.
Type – drop-in, vessel, undermount, etc.
Function – corner, small space, multi-use,
Style – contemporary, traditional, transitional, etc.

MATERIALS:

Ceramic, Vitreous China, & Fireclay Sinks

Square Modern Undermount Porcelain Sink

Pros: They have a smooth, non-porous surface that won’t rust, fade, or discolor. They are relatively easy to clean & maintain with non-abrasive cleaners. There are many styles, shapes, colors and designs to choose from, plain is very affordable. Follow this link for more information on the difference between these materials. Ceramic and china sinks offer the greatest diversity in terms of style and function. You can buys pedestal, drop-in, undermount and vessel sinks in this material. You can buy ones that are square — and coordinate with a modern theme, or ones that are ornate and coordinate well with very traditional themes. Personally, this is usually my sink of choice when remodeling my own bathrooms or those of my clients — unless I’m trying to make a visual statement with stone, glass, metal or concrete.

Cons: There are few cons. While they can chip or crack – they are much harder to chip and crack that most materials. Their cost is largely dependent on the style and function.

Stainless Steel

Modern Stainless Steel Undermount Sink

Pros: Durable, easy to maintain, better quality (18 gauge) resists water spots, dents and scratches, thinner is readily available and very affordable. Some suppliers (Artisan) offer 16 gauge stainless that’s even heavier and less prone to dents than 18 gauge stainless. High nickel content gives the sink a smoother, shinier look. Stainless is more resilient that china or most other materials so fragile items dropped into a stainless sink are less likely to break. I prefer a brushed finish since most scratches can be brushed out. I only use undermount or vessel sinks in the bath.

Cons: Stainless steel is really only appropriate in contemporary or modern style baths. Stay away from thinner stainless (22 gauge) which is easily dented and shows scratches more easily. If used as a drop-in, grime can get concentrate around the rim.

Enameled Steel

Pros: Lightweight, thin.

Cons: I personally tend to stay away from enameled steel. Enamel finish can chip and repairs are difficult and noticeable.

Enameled Cast Iron

Circa 1925 Enameled Cast Iron Pedestal Sink

Pros: Thickness gives solid look, affordable, easy to clean, chip-resistant and available in a wide range of colors. Most enameled cast iron sinks are vintage sinks such as this sink circa 1925 or reproductions of vintage sinks. Cast iron holds water temperaturs better than most sink materials — which is why cast iron is good for soaking tubs. If you hand-wash and want to let items soak in hot or warm water frequently, you should consider cast iron.

Cons: Heavy – Countertop may need extra support, do-it-yourselfers may need extra hands to install. Colors and special shapes can be pricey.

Cast Polymer & Solid Surface

Integral Solid Surface Sink and Countertop

Pros: Stain resistant, lots of colors & looks (can look like stone or concrete). The sink and countertop can be cast as a single integrated unit — which is a very functional and clean look.

Cons: To my taste, the integrated sink and countertop look is very institutional. Check to see whether installation must be by a licensed installer in order to maintain the warranty.

Other Materials – Glass, Stone, Metal, Concrete

Pros: For a powder room, using an unusual material is a great way to create a custom look. While expensive, it can be a cost-effective way to create a big statement.

Cons: These materials can be very, very expensive. Glass, stone and concrete can all chip. Glass is particularly inappropriate for most moderate to heavy use — for example, a steady stream of hot water while shaving can create enough of a temperature differential that the glass can crack. But I will admit that, if my client is so inclined, I will recommend these alternate materials in powder rooms to create a statement. Here are 2 that I’ve used:

Stone Pedestal Sink by Stone Forest

Custom Glass Vessel Sink by Jackie Braitman

Some Thoughts About Bathroom Sinks

Jackie Braitman — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:37:11 +0000

Let’s talk today about 4 types of bathroom sinks: vessel sinks (which sit on top of the countertop — like a bowl or vessel, drop-in sinks that have a rim that sits on top of the countertop but the bowl is beneath the countertop,undermount sinks that are mounted underneat a hole in the countertop, and pedestal sinks.

Vessel Sinks: Both sinks, above, are vessel sinks. I like the flexibility of vessel sinks — they give you the opportunity to have a countertop that’s at desk-top height (or lower) with the sink raised to a higher level so you don’t need to bend as far over to use the sink. The first rule in choosing fixutres such as bathroom sinks is to think function. As beautiful as it is, the glass sink, above, is really only practical in a powder room — or perhaps a guest room bath where you expect the primary user is a woman. Glass breaks! It chips when hit with a hard or sharp object and it can crack as a result of thermal shock, if for example, a man shaving leaves hot water running on a single spot on the sink for an extended period. Glass sinks also usually don’t have overflow protection. This means if you stopper the sink and leave the water running, it will overflow and cause a flood.The porcelain sink, on the other hand, is quite practical. it’s wide enough and just deep enough to hand-wash delicates. It provides an extended surface that’s raised above the counter-level. While the counter is low enough so that you can use it as a vanity or other functions that you might want at desk-top level. In this case, we were also able to accomodate a narrow vanity area leaving more floor space. The wall-mount faucet works well both visually and practically.

Drop-In Sinks: The sink, above, is a drop-in ceramic sink. The wide oval rim coordinates well with the rim of the oval tub. Additionally, we wanted to use the same large-format limestone tile on the vanity countertop as we did on the floors, shower and tub deck. The rim allows us to do so. It would also allow us to use less costly laminate surfaces.

Undermount Sinks — Undermount sinks – often used in kitchens — are also available for bathrooms. One of the biggest values is the ability to push water or suds off the counter directly into the sink. This is particularly valuable in a kitchen but also helpful in a bath. They also provide a very clean line that works well in modern designs. They can be porcelain over steel — like the one above — or stainless or other metal or solid surface material.

Pedestal Sinks — They can be modern or traditional in style. They’re particularly useful where you don’t have a lot of room. The pedestal sytle not only has a small footprint but it also helps make a room look larger.

Sources:
Glass Vessel Sink: Jackie Braitman
Drop-in Sink: Barclay
Undermount Sink: Lacava
Porcelain Pedestal Sink: Home Depot
Granite Pedestal Sink: Stone Forest

Images courtesy of Braitman Design/Build

Focal Points – Small Changes can Focus Attention or Diffuse It.

Jackie Braitman — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:35:43 +0000

Black Faux Granite Sink

Even small choices can make an impact in achieving your design goal. Let’s look at this kitchenette that’s part of a basement media room. The sink we chose is a solid surface material made primarily from black granite (Blanco 515-539). It blends seamlessly into the ubatuba granite countertop except that it has little sheen. The room painted in a dark charcoal, floored in slate, and furnished with dark upholstery is meant to absorb light and to create an almost womb-like feeling of enclosure and protection. The reflective stone backsplash, stainless steel faucet, and yellow entry wall create a counterpoint to the deep matte colors in the rest of the room. The sink is meant to become part of the absorptive background — it’s not meant to attract attention.

Same Kitchentte w/ Stainless Stink

In the photo, above, I altered the image to depict a stainless steel sink. The reflective surface of the stainless sink would have broadened the focal point. Instead of the focus being tightly on the faucet, the focal point becomes more blurred and therefore less effective. Admittedly, the difference is subtle — perhaps a little more apparent in person than in a photo. However, keeping a tight visual focal point can make the difference between a good design and one that fully meets it’s objectives and gets rave reviews.

All images courtesy of Braitman Design/Build

A Touch of Custom Make Stock Materials Shine

Jackie Braitman — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:00:25 +0000

Custom Glass Sink & Tile

Splurging on just one custom detail can make a budget bath really stand-out. In this article we’ll show you 4 hand-made sinks that make stock materials shine!

In the Powder Room to the right, the custom glass sink is accompanied by coordinating custom glass tiles. However, all the remaining materials are mid-priced to low-priced stock materials. The price for the countertop was limited to the homeowner’s own labor — the cararra marble was salvaged from the junk pile of a marble installer. Since the room is slightly less than 3′ wide, only a small piece was needed. The countertop sits on a console table purchased unfinished online. The home-owner blended a custom stain for the vanity and for the mirror frame. The faux slate on the walls was purchased for less than $2/sqft. The faucet from Grohe was less than $250.

custom glass sink & glass tile

This powder room also features a salvaged countertop and stock tumbled stone tile (purchased from home depot for <$5/sq ft.) alongside a custom
glass sink and coor-dinating custom glass tile. We’ve used this
faucet from Porcher several times because the lines coordinate well with the glass and it has the height needed for tall vessel sinks. At trade prices, we’ve purchased it for about $400.

custom glass sink

In this master bath, we again used custom glass sinks juxtaposed with rough, tumbled stone. We kept costs down by purchasing stone by the pallet from a wholesale supplier. Using the same stone throughout the house (kitchen, fireplaces, and baths) we created
continuity as well as saving money.

custom glass sink

The vanity to the right is the wife’s side of the master bath, above. The sink has a more fluid form. The beadboard wainscot (80″ high) throughout this bath is from sheet goods which has a lower material cost and a much lower labor cost than tongue and groove beadboard siding. The tile countertops are significantly less expensive than stone or solid surface materials and still give a luxurious feel.

In these 3 baths, the custom touches are the focal point. The stock materials so beautifully compliment their respective looks that they feel much more expensive than they are.

Custom Sinks & Tile by Jackie Braitman
All images courtesy of BraitmanDesign/Build