Editorial: My Newest Composition
I am now in the midst of a bathroom remodel having completed the tower with the elevator last year. The bathroom will be an ensuite and take over the space where my darkroom was, and after that, it was my computer room. There will be space to also add a second floor laundry. My quest for all of this construction is to set up my house for the future so I can not only remain here, but be able to easily get up and down to my studio on the third floor as well as my bedroom on the second floor.
A friend mentioned this morning while we were walking that I should have a podcast on construction from a homeowners perspective with lots of tips. I decided to do this instead since I have no clue how to do a podcast. I always become somewhat of a general contractor with these projects to oversee everything. In the process, I learn a lot about construction and materials. I am currently learning about plumbing, tile, and fixtures.
Coming up with the final design is a process. I try to always approach every design the way I approach a photograph taking into consideration the final composition with good use of color, contrast, texture and design. There is a pretty interesting correlation between what we do to create an art piece and how to design a new bathroom. I am sure a lot of people would not understand that, but I know that artists will get it.
I started, of course, with the focal point, which is not where my contractor would have started. He wanted tile and fixtures. I am trying to get him to understand that design does not start with the supporting elements. I wanted something to become the main interest that will draw the eye and then become the catalyst for all the rest of the textures and colors. I chose a beautiful quartzite slab to be the shower wall that you see as soon as you enter the room. My first job was to choose that stone slab. It will only be on the one wall facing the entrance, so I needed then to find tile to complement it on the other two walls of the shower.
Sales people kept showing me light gray tile that went with the background color in the slab, but it created no contrast. The gray was not ok, even though they all seemed to be gravitating to it. There was no contrast. The slab had the overall brightness value of what they were showing me, so it did not pop. If you want something to have contrast, it obviously needs to be lighter or darker than the value next to it depending on which is more important. If the eye is always drawn to light colors and I went with the light gray, the eye will not be drawn to the slab. I needed the slab to be lighter than the side walls. I chose charcoal gray. When I put my sample slab next to it, the slab popped forward. The shower wall tiles are now chosen. This also includes the color paint to go around the room on the walls so all the verticals are the same charcoal color with the slab becoming the focal point. The room is super bright with windows and new lighting, so I am not worried about the dark color at all. It will be striking.
The vanity is going to have the same stone top taken from a part of the big slab that has some honey color veins that match the color of the oak dresser that will become the vanity. The sink will be undermount to keep the quartzite top in clear view. There are off white veins in the slab, so I will pick this color up with an off white sink and toilet. That color will also be used on the trim and ceiling to keep that color consistent and help carry the eye throughout the room.
Now on to the flooring. I am still in the process of looking for floor tiles. At first, I was thinking of the honey color to pull that out of the slab veining. The tile trend is not heading over to beige yet, but i was told it is coming back. The manufacturers are not set up for it yet. Gray is now out. I would not want the dark gray on the floor. It would show all the spots and dust. I am now leaning towards the off white to not add a new color. I will let you know what I find. Having three colors would be enough.
There are a lot of local fixture and tile places to work with. Whenever I do a new project, I always get at least three estimates no matter what it is. That is where I learn about what the project entails, what materials are needed, and what questions to ask. It gives me an opportunity to get to know the vendors and the quality of the materials they use. I often do not go with the lowest estimate once I am confident that I know enough to choose the best value and a company or project manager that I like dealing with. Like everything else in my life now....it has to be fun, and feeling comfortable with my choices is a big part of it. Stay tuned. Once done, I will share some before and after photos. Here is the before and after of the tower construction.
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