A Marble-Encased Shower Delivers a Showstopping Presentation in This Primary Bathroom
While bathtubs usually snag the starring role, it’s a marble-encased shower that steals the show in this Atlanta bathroom by Studio Entourage
As part of an overall transformation of an Atlanta home into a transitional stunner, mother-daughter duo Jane and Hillary Hollman approached the primary bathroom with one leading star in mind: an expansive shower that’s a marble masterpiece. “We wanted to capitalize on the big shower, while creating interest and comfort,” says Jane, principal designer and founder of Studio Entourage, who adds: “The bathroom had tall ceilings and big spaces, but the homeowners desired intimacy and a welcoming sense of space.”
The designers dropped the shower’s ceiling height and encased the front with a bold Calacatta Viola marble that makes a striking statement. Another moment of functionality and indulgence: the marble double-sided bench that offers a post for towels or a glass of wine, as well as a place to sit. So as not to compete, shower features were kept simple but textural, and that same marble cascades down the sides of both vanities for another dramatic effect.
Like two opposing worlds of nature and opulence coexisting in one space, sleek rift oak wood cabinetry by Keystone Millworks juxtaposes the starring marble. “We chose a minimal cabinet style to allow the beauty of the marble to stand out,” explains Hillary. Two vertical cabinet towers bookend the two vanities and are unified by a header soffit. Adds Jane, “It pulls together the whole wall, and those tall towers offer hidden storage.”
The designers called to the marble’s warm-toned veining with brass fixtures and lighting. “The brass brings some magic to the room,” says Jane, who took a “visual risk” with a brass geometric chandelier that dances above the freestanding tub. That curving light fixture and the oval tub perfectly balance the vanity and shower’s square lines. “The bathroom has strong sides that play well together, and everything is kept clean and simple to support the big moments of the shower and countertops,” says Jane, who credits the vendors for executing a complicated mission. And for the busy couple with two kids? “It’s a retreat for them to get away and be surrounded by elegance.”
Resources INTERIOR DESIGNER Studio Entourage ARCHITECT Harrison Design BUILDER Signature Homes by Gus Pounds CABINETRY Keystone Millworks SHOWER AND VANITY MARBLE Atlantis Granite & Marble GLASS AND MIRRORS ATL Glass & Mirror LIGHTING Visual Comfort & Co. TUB Signature Hardware FAUCET Newport Brass Pardees Collection