Behind the Scenes - 2022 Pasadena Showcase Young Adult Ensuite - Part 2

As an award winning interior designer I am often asked, “How did you come up with this idea?” I’m not sure most people understand how much work and thought go into getting from point A to point B. This write up is Part 2 of taking you behind the scenes on the Young Adult Ensuite space which proved to be extremely popular at the 2022 Pasadena Showcase House. Enjoy!

It’s at this point that I start looking at finishes and colors and adding fun details throughout the space. For this bathroom, I wanted the space to be modern but to also honor the English Tudor style of the home. So it was important to incorporate materials and architectural details that would implement both styles.

One problem that I solved fairly quickly was that the room is naturally on the darker side because of where the window was located. Lights would need to be on likely at all times while the bathroom was in use. However, I didn’t want the room to feel like it was being artificially lit, which meant I needed to minimize the number of light fixtures. My initial design called for a custom cove on the upper half of the room that would house up lighting and give the feel of natural light to the room. In this way I could maximize the use of natural marble on the walls and match the grandeur of the English Tudor home. Problem solved.

My first finish to pick was the marble. Of course I visited the stone showroom myself and browsed the aisles picking some of my new favorites. With the concept in hand the choices become obvious and narrowing down my choices were simple. In the end, the Brazilian cloud white marble fit the bill to perfection. Not only would the marble slabs line all the walls, it would also be used to create custom molding on the door and window in the space.

Next was the flooring. I needed the floor to be a natural stone, textured to ensure no slippage while wet, and it needed to fit the budget. After ordering about ten different samples of stone/faux stone tile and seeing them in person (you can’t trust computer screens no matter how amazing they are) I found one that looked like an unpolished, muted version of the cloud white marble. It was a perfect compliment and would not take attention away from the marble.

The appliances and fixtures also needed to fit into my concept. I aimed to incorporate natural elements into the ensuite as much as possible. To fit into the concept I also needed to maximize smooth shapes and I also needed to keep everything simple. I ended up choosing the Purist line from Kohler for fixtures and appliances – even the name fit into my concept. I chose a brushed nickel finish, a humble finish, in order to minimize distraction. The Ripple sconce from ET2 also fit into the concept, replicating flowing water. I wasn’t able to find any mirrors that were special enough for the space, so I designed a dripping mirror that would help add to the restorative element of my concept.

For the vanity, I designed a floating vanity that was ultra simple. I chose a white oak white washed finish to subtly incorporate the wooden element into the bright bathroom. Having no hardware was a deliberate choice to keep the vanity as simple as possible. I also chose to bring in plush white towels with no decorative features.

Also deliberate, was my decision to have no shower door or walls. Although glass enclosures minimize the feeling of making spaces smaller, they still do. And in this ensuite, I really wanted to maximize the openness of the space. We don’t see wet rooms a lot here in the United States, but they are common around the world and have been around for a very long time.

Finally, I chose to incorporate two olfactory elements into the space. I brought actual natural plants into the space which would bring oxygen into the space. And I also brought an At-Aroma professional diffuser to subtly disperse a customized scent into the room.

With all the finishing details decided and signed off by the client, it was time for the next part – the execution.