Kitchens By Request designed this contemporary bathroom with naturalistic views using the oval Air Tub as the focal point.
Of course, the Vollerthums had previously worked successfully with Arnold, and he had a good feel for their taste, which tends to be contemporary. “Blue worked with us on two previous occasions, so he knew what we liked,” says Ellie. “First he showed us the materials, and we made some very minor changes. Then he put everything on the computer to show us how the room would be laid out.”
Built in the 1980s, the home had a deck that the couple never used. It was torn out to make room for the 12 by 16 foot addition. Arnold installed arched ceilings that follow the lines of the house, and the windows afford a view of dense foliage. “The addition fits perfectly with the exterior of the rest of the house,” says Arnold, who is both a Certified Kitchen and Certified Bath Designer. Arnold turned the original bathroom into a beautiful walk-in closet.
The centerpiece of the new bathroom is an oval Air Tub. “Instead of water jets, the Air Tub has effervescent bubbles that make it seem like you are bathing in warm champagne,” says Arnold. “Directly above the tub are five beautiful chandeliers that were made in Murano, Italy.”All of the stone for the floor and walls was custom-cut and quarried in Bogata, Columbia.
LEFT: Blue Arnold softened the hard angles of the room with the very curvy linear fronts of the two mirror-image vanities and tub surround. RIGHT: The walk-in shower is equipped with a showerhead that sprays like rain without the splash.
“One of the bath’s unique elements is that there is no separation between the bathroom and the bedroom,” says Arnold of the bathroom that has been awarded one of the top three prizes in the Large Bathroom category of the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) competition. “I wanted to meld this spa-like space with the bedroom. Everything is soft, and nothing stands out as a single element.”
Arnold, the current president of the NKBA’s Baltimore-Washington Chapter, softened the hard angles with the oval tub and the very curvy linear fronts of the two mirror-image vanities. The vanities do not touch the floor by about a foot and a half, but each is grounded visually by an adjoining linen closet. “I wanted the feeling of a cantilever…it’s cool to see something that looks as if it should fall off the wall but doesn’t,” he notes.
In spite of the Vollerthums’ preference for contemporary design, Arnold managed to work in elements that pay heed to the past. For instance, the faucet in each of the sinks resembles a miniature water pump. The walk-in shower, which allows one to sit as well as stand, has a shower faucet that looks antique with its exposed valves and tubing to the showerhead, but still has a modern feel. “The shower head allows the water to come down like rain without splashing, so there was no need for a door to the shower,” says Arnold. “I often act as a psychologist who is trying to extract information from my clients…I’m turning their emotional desires into a physical reality.”
“There is something that we crave about a spa-like setting…something that really calms us down. This is a master-bedroom suite that really is more like a master-bedroom spa.”If Arnold plays the role of psychologist, he also acts the part of philosopher. “I think the reason bathrooms are such a big deal today is that they are the one place in this hectic world where one can truly relax,” he says. “There is something that we crave about a spa-like setting…something that really calms us down. This is a master-bedroom suite that really is more like a master-bedroom spa.”
LEFT: Coyote-glass-river-copper sinks add elegance to this contemporary bathroom. RIGHT: Kitchens By Request used rounded cherry allegro custom vanities in this contemporary design.
If Arnold plays the role of psychologist, he also acts the part of philosopher. “I think the reason bathrooms are such a big deal today is that they are the one place in this hectic world where one can truly relax,” he says. “There is something that we crave about a spa-like setting…something that really calms us down. This is a master-bedroom suite that really is more like a master-bedroom spa.”
A key element of the spa-like experience is the bathroom’s gas stainless-steel fireplace. The spaces to the right and left of the fireplace are connected by a solid surface top resembling limestone that can serve as a sitting area. The cabinetry underneath features a cherry veneer with tiny squares set on a 45-degree angle, and a toilet is semi-concealed by pony walls.
Finally, Arnold tied the entire room together with a dark border of Oceanside Glass’ recycled glass. “This really draws one’s eye down to the tub and connects the entire space,” says Arnold. “The glass’ iridescent quality reflects many different colors.”
So, were the clients happy with the result? “‘It’s absolutely stunning’ was Ellie and Bill’s reaction,” says Arnold.
Mary Medland is a frequent contributor to ChesapeakeHome.
Contact:
Kitchens by Request: kitchensbyrequest.com or 410-557-6957
