The Best Bathrooms of 2021
Eight loos that sparkle with sophistication and delight
Creating the Space When the original bath didn’t have room to accommodate a tub, homeowner Anna Slade converted the sitting room into a deluxe soaking lounge. | Photo by Andrew Forino
Victorian Reno
Photo by Andrew Forino
PROJECT INFO Historic renovation in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, 220-square-foot bathroom
DESIGNER’S TAKE When Anna Slade and her husband Isaac purchased a restored 1890’s William Lang Victorian, they slowly set about updating elements of the home while maintaining its historic charm.
The original bath (shown here) adjoins the tub room through the double doors. “There wasn’t room for a separate tub and shower in the bathroom,” says Slade, “and since a bathtub is a must for me, I decided to give it a prime spot in the turret.”
The light-filled room is a retreat from the Slades’ busy life. “I wanted this space to feel like a peaceful retreat from the busyness of life.”
DESIGN TIP “If you set out to renovate a historic home, plan to start with structural and electrical repairs—they’re unavoidable, and it’s less costly and stressful to fix them up front than inevitably having to stop a project and do them anyway. ” — Anna Slade
DESIGN TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGN Anna Slade, homeowner BUILDER Tarl Ford, Highland Renovations LLC STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Delchi Fafach, DLK Engineering
RESOURCE GUIDE The vanity is a hand-painted antique Tibetan cabinet to which the owners added an integrated counter and sink; Rohl Arcana Widespread Italian Lavatory Faucet; mirror and chandelier were antique store finds; Restoration Hardware Bistro sconces. {Header image above}: Clawfoot Shropshire Slipper Bathtub from Victoria and Albert; Sign of the Crab Freestanding Faucet with Telephone Sprayer by Strom Plumbing
Light & Airy
Photo by Kimberly Gavin
PROJECT INFO New build in Old Town Arvada, 160-square-foot owner’s suite bath
DESIGNER’S TAKE “The clients wanted their home to reflect Modern Farmhouse elements, and to celebrate natural light and natural materials,” says Kaufman. “So we brought in neutral textures and tones to play off the natural light, which helped us create a relaxing space. Incorporating elements of nature—like the wallpaper and the reclaimed wood stool— speaks to the clients’ love for Colorado and the mountains.”
DESIGN TIP “Incorporating a freestanding tub in a bathroom can spatially be a challenge. Selecting more of a free-form style tub can allow you to arrange the tub at unique angles within the space, allowing for more flow around the fixture.” — Rebecca Kaufman
DESIGN TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGN Rebecca Kaufman, Owner/Principal, rebaL design BUILDER John Kurowski, President, Kurowski Custom Homes & Remodeling
RESOURCE GUIDE Wild Tundra wallpaper by York Wallcoverings from Moda Antica; Uptown Tile from Crossville Studios; Juliet 2 Freestanding Tub by MTI, Litz Freestanding Tub Filler and 24” Towel Bar in polished nickel by Brizo, all from Winnelson Plumbing; Reclaimed Fir Timber Stool from Room & Board
Telluride Modern
Photo by Julie Soefer
PROJECT INFO New construction in Telluride, 60-square-foot guest bath with shower (no tub)
DESIGNER’S TAKE “The house is in a Mountain Modern style, so we were going for something strong yet organic,” says Interior Designer Linda Eyles.
To achieve that balance, Eyles juxtaposed strong black marble tile and white walls with natural wood cabinets and hardware with a warm finish. “The contrasts are sharp, and yet the space comes off as warm and welcoming because of the rich textures and brassy-gold accessories,” says Eyles.
DESIGN TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGN Linda Eyles President, Linda Eyles Design ARCHITECT Peter Sante, Sante Archictects BUILDER David Gerber, Gerber Construction
RESOURCE GUIDE Wallace Creek Marble, 12” x 24”, from Artistic Tile; Joelle One Bird Mirror in polished brass from Made Goods; Zone Bath Bar sconces from Tech Lighting; custom wood vanity by Jensen Design Cabinets; Duravit Sink and Kohler Purist hardware in Brushed Moderne Brass from Fixtures & Fittings; Elgin soap dispenser and dish from Pigeon and Poodle
Optical Illusion
Photo by Shawn O’Connor
PROJECT INFO New build in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood; 42-square-foot powder room
DESIGNER’S TAKE “This modern Tudor-style home is an entertainer’s dream, so we wanted to make a playful yet sophisticated statement for guests,” says Interior Designer Pamela Chelle. “Because this is the main powder room, it needed to shine day and night, which we achieved through the composition of materials and layered lighting.”
Design Tip “The bath had a small footprint, so to make the space feel larger, we carried the mosaic floor tile all the way up the vanity wall. Also, the asymmetrical window location and mirror needed to complement each other and not fight for attention, so the asymmetrical swagging pendant selection was a huge part of that decision process.” — Pamela Chelle
DESIGN TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGN Pamela Chelle, Pamela Chelle Interior Design ARCHITECT Godden Sudik Architects BUILDER Andrew Rotta, Farm Ethics Real Estate, LLC
RESOURCE GUIDE Houndstooth Carrara Blend Marble Mosaic tile by Viviano Marmo from Floor & Décor; Niva Mirror by Uttermost and Egg Drop Pendant by Arteriors, both from FUSION Light & Design; Duravit Vessel Sink and Delta Vero Vessel fixture, both from Ferguson; custom walnut counter by Eden Oaks Designer Woodware
Joyful Powder
Photo by Eleanor Williamson
PROJECT INFO Renovation in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, 23-square-foot powder
DESIGNER’S TAKE “Having open-minded clients who don’t fear color is such a treat! Never once did they want to reign in the design and play it safe, says Interior Designer Momo Wong.
“They shared a photo of Denver Damask wallpaper (a collaboration between WallTawk’s Batya Stepelman and Denver-based artist, Meredith Feniak) at our first meeting, and we knew we had to use this amazing wallpaper somewhere in the house. We were able to customize it by selecting our own paint color (Benjamin Moore 588, Luck of the Irish).”
Design Tip “Powder rooms are a great place to add color and wallpaper. It’s a small space, so spending a bit more per square foot doesn’t break the budget, and it’s a room that everyone will use, so it’s a great space to have some fun!” — Momo Wong
DESIGN TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGN Momo Wong, Owner, Naka Interiors ARCHITECT Andrew Schmidt, Design Practice Inc. BUILDER 5280 Contracting
RESOURCE GUIDE Denver Damask wallpaper by WallTawk; Metal Arch Shelf Mirror by West Elm; Hex Matte White with Black Flower Porcelain tile from The Tile Shop; Console Pedestal with Fauceture Concord 20” Console Sink Basin from Kingston Brass; Forever Brass Widespread Lavatory Faucet by Newport Brass and Kohler Memoirs toilet, from Dahl Distributing
Lofty Industrial
Photo by Kylie Fitts
PROJECT INFO Renovation of a downtown Denver loft, 60-square-foot guest bath
DESIGNER’S TAKE “We strived to maintain the industrial details of the original loft space while incorporating finishes and fixtures reminiscent of Brooklyn lofts, where the owners, Charlotte and Heimata Rutgers previously lived,” says Chris McGovern.
“The column was original to the space and initially posed some challenges. We landed on an asymmetrical sink placement but extended the vanity the full length of the wall, which provides ample counter space and additional open shelving underneath. For the cabinet, the millworker used reclaimed wood that complements the original column.”
Design Tip “In this case, we custom-fabricated the vanity, but even when using ready-made vanities, custom-fabricate your countertop. This allows you to use the same material for other accents like shower niche shelving, door saddles, and a custom backsplash.” — Chris McGovern
DESIGN TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGN Chris McGovern, Principal Designer, McGovern Project LLC DESIGN/BUILD Heimata Rutgers, Co-Owner, Rutgers Construction
RESOURCE GUIDE Ladena sink and Purist wall-mounted faucet in polished nickel, both from the Kohler Signature Store; counter and backsplash are Mont Blanc Quartzite from The Stone Collection and fabricated by Custom Stone LLC; custom vanity made by Rutgers Construction in Aspen; Dot Knobs in polished nickel from Atlas Hardware; Pivot Mirror and Pittock Double Sconce in polished nickel, both by Rejuvenation
Color Happy
Photo by Eleanor Williamson
PROJECT INFO Renovation in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, 77-square-foot kids’ bath
DESIGNER’S TAKE “Our clients wanted the home to be joyful and encouraged us to use color, especially in this area, which their children would enjoy daily.”
Design Tip “Function is the most important thing to consider when designing a bathroom. Who will be using it? How? Although this bathroom is compact, it was critical to include storage and a separate toilet room, since two people would be sharing the space.” — Momo Wong
DESIGN TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGN Momo Wong, Owner, Naka Interiors ARCHITECT Andrew Schmidt, Design Practice Inc. BUILDER 5280 Contracting
RESOURCE GUIDE Custom vanity by Heartwood Carpentry, painted Ben Moore Majestic Blue; counterop is Pental Quartz in Polished Venoso, fabricated by InStone Granite and Marble; Caxton sink, Underscore tub, Fairfax polished chrome fixtures and towel bar by Kohler, from Dahl Distributing; Keystones floor tile by Daltile installed by Croy Tile and Stone; wall tile is Artisan Porcelain Tile in Frost with CBP Dove Gray grout, from Floor and Décor; solid brass shower curtain rod in a flat black finish from Ferguson
Elegant Retreat
Photo by Kimberly Gavin
PROJECT INFO New build in Denver’s Belcaro neighborhood; 198-square-foot owner’s suite bath
DESIGNER’S TAKE “The owners have traveled quite a bit, and liked the wet room concept, which is more common in Europe,” says Armijo, “so we designed the layout so that the wet room is half the room, and the other half is vanity and sinks.”
Design Tip “We’ve begun adding what we call a ‘potions cabinet’ to the bathrooms we design, and clients love it! We find a space within the 2x4s and create a recessed medicine cabinet; all you have to do is adjust the framing and put mirrors or wood panels on the doors.” — Beth Armijo
DESIGN TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGN Beth Armijo, Principal Designer/Owner, Armijo Design Group ARCHITECT & BUILDER Larsen Design & Build
RESOURCE GUIDE In the wet room: MTI 66” Soaking Tub in Matte White and Brizo Tub Faucet Trim Kit in polished nickle, both from Ferguson; Maiolica Grigio Glossy 4”x12” wall tile by Iris Ceramica and 2” Ash Gray Honed Hex floor tile, both from Pinnacle Flooring in Denver; Brizo Shower Head (D81398PN) and Slidebar Mount Hand Shower (D88798PN), both in brilliance polished nickel and from Ferguson. Sink area: White Oak, 12-ply dovetail cabinet by Aspen Leaf Kitchens Limited; countertop is 2cm honed Cremo Delicato, and floor tile is Origami Burokku 6” Polished in ash gray, both from Pinnacle Flooring
