Bath Transformations

The sauna features a cedar interior and a hemlock exterior as well as accent lighting “to keep up the ambience,” notes designer Teri Maher.

The designer enlarged the existing bath, borrowing additional space from a bedroom closet. Opposite the main shower is a birch vanity and an adjacent water closet.

The double vanity is topped with Danby marble and features brass accents in the form of Graff sink fittings, Rejuvenation mirrors, and sconces by Kelly Wearstler.

As a nod to her clients’ affinity for Morocco, Maher selected Moorish-inspired glazed-terra-cotta tiles from Walker Zanger for the shower. “The terra-cotta comes through the glaze and helps warm up the space,” says the designer.

Restful Retreat
For their Warren, Vermont, ski getaway, a Boston family tapped interior designer Teri Maher to enlarge the primary bath and install a sauna for post-slope relaxation. “These clients asked for light, bright, warm, and modern with nods to Scandinavian design,” explains Maher, who expanded the room into an adjacent closet. “The sauna, which has a cedar interior and a hemlock exterior, includes a shower for cooling off and lighting for ambience.” Birch cabinetry and flooring, satin brass fixtures, Danby marble countertops, and glazed terra-cotta tile round out the scheme. “The clients also love Morocco,” says Maher, “so we chose Moorish-inspired shower tiles with a glaze that allows the terra-cotta to come through and lend warmth to the space.”

Project Team
Interior design: Teri Maher Interiors
Builder: Newschool Builders
Cabinetry: Pomerantz Cabinetry
Photography: Liz Daly
Styling: Melañio Gomez

In the enlarged primary bath, three-inch-square glass tiles from Waterworks cover both the vanity backsplash and the shower walls. Designer Vani Sayeed chose the tile for its “tortoise-shell sensibility” and the way its irregular surface catches the light.

The designer had to work around the three original windows that couldn’t be touched due to the home’s historic status. A frosted-glass cover protects the existing window in the new shower from moisture.

This hall bath is quite compact, but Sayeed still managed to deliver a luxurious space packed with amenities, from a well-lit linen closet to a towel warmer.

The shower niche mimics the angled ceiling of the room, which is located beneath a staircase on the second floor.

Cool & Classic

As part of the renovation of a historic Queen Anne residence in Newton, Massachusetts, designer Vani Sayeed reimagined two baths, the primary and a second-floor full bath. “The clients wanted something luxurious and timeless, but also clean and contemporary,” explains Sayeed. The enlarged primary bath, for example, “has a modern feel, but the materials are traditional,” continues Sayeed, who paired a cerused-oak vanity with quartzite countertops, porcelain flooring that resembles slate, and glass wall tile that has a “tortoise-shell sensibility and catches the light in a wonderful way.” FBN Construction built out the space, which included reinforcing the floor structure to accommodate a heavy soaking tub and installing a glass cover to protect the original window in the shower from moisture. Down the hall, a bath located under the stairs also needed a revamp. A radiator and a tub were swapped out for a shower and a new linen closet. “We wanted this small space with weird angles to feel soothing and calming, so we chose a soft blue glass shower tile that reflects the light,” says Sayeed. “The horizontal band in the pattern tricks the eye into thinking the space is larger than it is.” According to FBN Construction’s Chris Magliozzi, this room required “a lot of head-scratching to maximize space and function. There wasn’t much room for error, so it came down to tiny details to make it work.”

Project Team
Architecture: Peter Sachs Architect
Interior design: Vani Sayeed Studios
Builder: FBN Construction
Cabinetry: Venegas and Company
Photography: Nat Rea

The designer had the faucets from Watermark customized in the same bold blue hue that appears in a striped rug in the adjoining bedroom.

Benjamin Moore Nile Green was the jumping-off point in this boy’s bath designed by Nicole Hirsch. Custom cabinetry without any hardware maintains a contemporary feel.

This green shade is carried into the shower, which is sheathed in tile from Art of Tile & Stone. Hirsch chose black hardware to lend a youthful touch.

In another boy’s bath, a mostly gray palette extends to the shower, which features domed semicircular gray tiles. “Their shape works so well with the faucets, which are the main story here,” says Hirsch.

Accent Marks
Bold pops of color are the name of the game in these two en suite baths for a Weston, Massachusetts, couple’s young sons. In one bath, designer Nicole Hirsch incorporated the son’s favorite shade of green—which she describes as “alligator”—on the ceiling as well as in the shower. “The goal was to use color in a cool, timeless way as opposed to it being over the top,” says Hirsch. “We kept everything else neutral, with white subway tile, white quartzite countertops, and clean, contemporary custom cabinetry without hardware. Black accents and fittings keep the space feeling youthful.” Meanwhile, the other son’s bath features a palette of gray and blue. “I didn’t want anything to compete with the faucets,” explains Hirsch. “This bold blue really pops, while everything else is cool and calm.” Even the patterned vinyl wallpaper, with its spray-paint vibe, acts as part of the backdrop while lending some interest to the space. “When designing children’s baths, it’s important to select materials, colors, and finishes that are timeless and will grow with them,” notes Hirsch. “In this project, there are elements that pop, but everything is sophisticated and clean. Even when the boys are in college, these spaces will feel relevant.”

Project Team
Interior design: Nicole Hirsch Interiors
Builder: Lynch Construction & Remodeling
Cabinetry: Kenyon Woodworking
Photography: Sarah Winchester