One of the biggest honors I have as a designer is people trusting me with the most intimate and expensive investment that they own – their home. So, when someone asks you to design not one but two of their home’s most important spaces at the same time, it’s a large compliment and responsibility! I loved the challenge of providing a fun and enjoyable design and remodel experience for the client on this dual project.
His-and-Hers Bath Inspirations
When culinary photographer, chef, and media personality Megan and her husband Mark came to me for his- and hers- bathroom remodels, I just knew our collaboration would yield incredible results! They had exciting inspirations for their baths and were willing to explore some out-of-box design concepts that made the dual project especially enticing. In the hallway bath, they were hoping to make better use of adjacent space and enlarge the room to create a spa getaway for Megan. Meanwhile, their en suite master bath was outdated and seriously lacking in both style and storage for Mark's taste. They came prepared to our initial consultation with several inspiration photos to work off of for both space planning and material selections. Megan’s inspirations were light, airy, and leaned into some beautiful physical and visual textures. Mark’s inspirations were dark, moody, and included woodworking details and wainscoting reminiscent of a cigar lounge or country club.
Smart Selections for a Dual Project
While any bathroom remodel is in an undertaking, the hall bath was going to be by far the larger project and investment. Knowing that Megan and Mark wanted to do these bathrooms simultaneously, we wanted to make sure we were budget-conscious without sacrificing the design in either room. Because we were designing the rooms side-by-side, we gained cost savings through the use of the same large stone remnant for each countertop. I also proposed sourcing from the same manufacturers where possible to create cohesive lead times on product and streamline deliveries. You’ll see Kohler’s Purist Collection featured throughout both baths, along with Schaub Pub House Collection pulls for decorative hardware.
Wet Room Oasis
By far my biggest challenge on this job was selling the concept of a wet room to the installer. Wet rooms – where a bathtub is contained within the shower space – have been popular in Europe and Asia for some time now, but are less common in the states and just now gaining traction. Creating a wet room design allowed us to incorporate a bathtub in a space that otherwise would have been too small to accommodate it.
There were some small surprises after demo with an HVAC duct running right up the center of where we were going to do a niche feature in the wall above the tub. We ended up splitting it into two niches. We designed and built the shelves onsite (the carpenter was amazing!) with the parts intended for the first niche.
I love the custom tall shower niche with Ann Sacks Savoy ribbed 2x8 tile serving as a focal point. There are three textures at play, and even though they’re all neutrals, the combination is lovely and adds dimension. There are four different types of tiles in the hall bath, but it doesn’t feel busy or disruptive. Through this layering of visual textures, the whole room feels soft and bright without at all feeling stark or sterile.
The vanity features Dura Supreme cabinetry in the Hudson door style, using knotty alder with a Coriander finish. Lighting the vanity we have Melange 10” elongated sconces by Kelly Wearstler.
Master Bath with Masculine Style
During installation of the master bath, I was reminded that sometimes the best details are unplanned. A hidden pipe in a wall had us troubleshooting in the field. With such a narrow room requiring a likewise narrow (custom depth) vanity cabinet, we opted to do a wall-mount faucet to save on counter space. But once in the field and ready to execute, there was a large pipe right where we wanted to place said faucet. On top of that, the faucet didn’t have enough length on the handle screws to mount around both the wainscoting and the stone backsplash. We ended up mounting it higher than originally designed, achieving a unique look!
Some of my favorite features in the bathrooms are the little details. In the master, it’s the beautiful accent tile ‘rug’ we created with Liason Mulholland Small in Silver Blend Honed by Kelly Wearstler from Ann Sacks. The scalloped ends on the backsplashes lend an air of sophistication. The warm wainscoting (Dura Supreme wall paneling in quartersawn oak with sesame finish) against the navy blue and white marble offers some drama. All the material elements play together to make the room feel masculine without being theme-y. I love the feeling we were able to accomplish in here!
Besides being so proud of how both room designs turned out, by far the best part of this project was working closely with Megan to create these spaces. Now Megan and Mark both have their own getaways from the crazy busyness that comes from everyday life!
Megan Gregory is the Chief Brand Ambassador and Media Representative for Skinny Butcher. With her roles, she is working on building marketing relationships with local culinary artisans as well as media appearances both locally and nationally. Megan is a Michigan born native and currently resides in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. @chefmegangregory
