Baths!
For the past 20 years, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles has been celebrating the best baths in the city with our annual Bath Contest issue, which always brings in a slew of dazzling entries. And this year, amid the flurry of more entries than ever, our expert judges picked three favorites that made the most of the modern bathroom, with magnificent design innovations and chic decorative elements—from graphic tile and personal touches to antique finds and crystal chandeliers that glimmer in the sun. Diverse, complex and elegant, each reflects the different design directions Atlantans love: contemporary conveniences coupled with a never-failing reverence for classical principles. Most importantly, sound architecture, executed with practicality and propriety, simplifies these spaces (all three were renovations), to create baths that are soothing places to retreat, whether for a morning ritual or to unwind at the end of the day. More than ever, we see our city’s baths presenting good design without compromise; each winner exudes enduring quality and timeless design that will serve its homeowners for years to come.
Traditional Redux
Designer Shon Parker gives a longtime client a masterful retreat that heeds historical precedent while forging forward with modern innovations, tactile details and artful accentsTraditional Redux
Written by Kate Abney
Photographed by Chris Little
The owner of this 1920’s Arts and Crafts-style bungalow was looking for the coziness of traditional design, but at the same time wanted fresh style, too. Enter Shon Parker, who deftly mixed different eras in this winsome master retreat.
“Before, the bathroom was dark and cave-like, with no windows,” says the designer. “We wanted to keep the house in the same rich architectural style of the neighborhood, but update it to fit today’s new look.”
Undertaking a massive renovation, Parker and his team first tore off the top floor of the house, in the process creating a cathedral ceiling. The new height allowed them to install quaint cottage windows at each end of the room, maintaining privacy while letting in just enough natural light. And, while the paneling was initially installed on just one wall, Parker soon decided that he loved the look of it wrapped around the entire room.
“Painted in a muted, quiet tone, it feels really old-school,” he says. “It has a warmer and more sophisticated look than an all-tile bathroom.” But the wall covering is more than a striking façade. Ingeniously camouflaged within the wood paneling is storage that discretely holds towels and other bath-time essentials.
“The homeowner indulges in bath rituals daily,” explains the designer, “so it was essential that bathing be the focal point of the space.” To that end, Parker also added a quartz ledge behind the soaking tub, providing a place for everything from shampoo bottles to artistic touches.
A floating glass shower is all but invisible, letting the room’s new architectural assets shine through. And the vanity, located directly across from a newly expanded closet, streamlines the process of getting ready.
The designer knew that the crystal chandelier would be perfect in the bathroom, adding glamour as light streaming through the windows dances off each prism. And nearby, an 18th-century chair takes on a sculptural quality, mingling with the nature-inspired tusk table and wall-mounted antlers.
“When [the owner] lights the candles and dims the chandelier, the shadows play off the antlers and the room takes on a whole new feeling, of a time when candles were the only source of light,” says Parker. “It’s soothing.”
VANITY FIXTURES Kohler CABINETRY Custom through Shon Parker Design Inc. TUB FAUCET Kallista ART Lumiere Gallery TUSK TABLE Baker Furniture ALL OTHER RESOURCES Shon Parker Design Inc. RESIDENTIAL DESIGN & INTERIOR DESIGN Shon Parker, Shon Parker Design Inc., (404) 784-7463, shonparkerdesign.com
Crowning Jewel
A discriminating homeowner is given the bath of her dreams at the hands of designer Amy Morris, who reflected her sophisticated style in the form of an elegant and efficient sanctuary Crowning Jewel
Written by Kate Abney
Photographed by Steve Pomberg
Produced by Rachel Cardina
The goal in this elegant bathroom was straightforward: The man of the house wanted to give his wife the one of her dreams. “She is known for her very sophisticated style,” notes designer Amy Morris. “She dresses very cleanly and simply, adorned in beautiful jewels, handbags and shoes.”
Ousting the abundance of dark green marble and a choppy layout, Morris and her team first switched up the floorplan, taking their inspiration from the owner’s immaculate form of dress and creating a cleaner look. “From the beginning, I knew I wanted to find a mirror and chandelier; I’m just lucky that I found the perfect ones. We were out looking for lighting at Foxglove Antiques, and we saw it,” notes Morris of the 19th-century French mirror. “I said, ‘That’s it. That’s the one.’ ” Meanwhile, the show-stopping amethyst-embellished French chandelier and crystal sconces were discovered at Edgar-Reeves. In this well-lighted bathroom, they sparkle like fine jewelry.
Gleaming nickel “Etoile” fixtures and hardware from Waterworks were must-haves from the beginning, as was the six-foot “Empire” tub, a stunning focal point in front of the towering palace mirror. A large, glass-encased shower—the husband’s sole request—features groutless slabs of Calcutta Borghini marble and a rain showerhead for the ultimate in luxury. But all of the glitz and glam is softened by silk window treatments and wood-paneled walls painted a unique gray-green, reflecting the homeowners’ love for the verdant hue. Beneath it all, wood floors, extended from the master living area, provide an undeniable warmth and elegance that will serve the couple well for years to come.
In keeping with the bath’s high style, Morris also designed a custom vanity, streamlined dressing table and an armoire in her client’s closet. With drawers deep enough to house bottles and other necessities without having them topple over, the dressing table makes getting ready that much easier while the armoire keeps the owner’s collections of shoes and handbags organized without a hitch.
TILE AND MARBLE Walker Zanger PLUMBING FIXTURES Waterworks MARBLE FABRICATION James L. Stack Inc. CUSTOM CABINETRY John Gorrell Woodworking Inc. CHANDELIER AND SCONCES Edgar-Reeves Lighting & Antiques FRENCH MIRROR Foxglove Antiques & Galleries ACCESSORIES Waterworks & Restoration Hardware WINDOW TREATMENT FABRIC Zimmer & Rhode through Ainsworth-Noah & Associates WINDOW TREATMENT FABRICATION Judy Prat INTERIOR DESIGN Amy Morris, Amy D. Morris Interiors, Atlanta 30319, (404) 389-0628; amydmorris.com ARCHITECTURE Brad Heppner, Bradley E. Heppner Architecture, LLC, (404) 734-6687 CONTRACTOR Lindsay Mateer and Ashley McQueen, M2 Construction, (770) 455-9400, (404) 276-2927
Modern Mosaic
Graphic touches and well-placed angles establish a bold and high-performing bathroom with sleek style, modern conveniences and ample storage space.
Written by Kate Abney
Photographed by Steve Pomberg
Produced by Rachel Cardina
Although it’s hard to discern from its current chic state, the master bathroom in this traditional ’80s-era home formerly featured an extremely outdated layout. Dated countertops, a garden-style tub—as well as a wasteful use of space—made homeowners Larry Hoskins and Jim Wildermuth feel cramped in their quarters. But a renovation at the hands of Mark Williams—who began the project while part of his former firm, Laslie-Williams Inc.—transformed the space with his new team at Mark Williams Design Associates.
Working with project manager Niki Papadopoulos, Williams’ team created custom cabinetry in rich, dark brown mahogany for a strong, masculine style, but designed the vanity to have a floating appearance to lighten the look. In contrast with the sandy-colored limestone countertops and floors, the furniture-like piece takes center stage, its aesthetics almost upstaging its high functionality.Clean, architectural angles were just the thing to take this modern update to its greatest heights. “The rectangular soffit built over the sinks brought in a totally different dimension and broke up the angularity of the wall,” Hoskins says. Meanwhile, a spacious shower—in a scale large enough to require no door—features two showerheads and a partial glass enclosure. Nearby, a Duravit[link to http://www.duravit.com/] soaking tub provides the ultimate, indulgent luxury. Making the most of integration, the tub deck extends into the shower, where it serves as a convenient bench. Meanwhile, a tower of glass mosaic tile—looking as brilliant as an art piece—forms niches for toiletries and shower controls on the other side.
Adding polish to this bath are sleek hardware, modern lighting and a final, personal touch: Williams gave the homeowners, avid orchid cultivators, a custom trough where they can saturate their prized plants fully and let them bask in the sunlight.
“It was a space the couple liked least but had to use the most,” says Williams. “With a simple reorientation of space, it is now their favorite.”
SCONCES ON VANITY Boyd Lighting “Belmont,” through Jerry Pair WALL SCONCES Estiluz, through Illuminations Contract Lighting SURFACE-MOUNTED FIXTURES Luce Plan “Metropoli,” through Illuminations Contract Lighting HARDWARE AND FAUCETS Kohler, through Ferguson Enterprises TUB Duravit, through Renaissance Tile & Bath GLASS MOSAIC TILE “Oceanside” in Iced Tea, through Renaissance Tile & Bath LIMESTONE FLOOR AND COUNTERTOPS G&L Marble CUSTOM CABINETRY AND MILLWORK Empire Woodworks TOILET Toto, through Renaissance Tile & Bath WALLCOVERING MDC Wallcoverings ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN Mark Williams & Niki Papadopoulos, Mark Williams Design Associates (project begun as part of Laslie-Williams Inc.), (678) 539-6886 markwilliams-design.com CONTRACTOR, Steve Garret, (770) 653-4122
ABOUT OUR JUDGES
ROBERT BROWN, Allied ASID
A graduate of the University of Georgia and a 20-year veteran of the fashion industry, Robert Brown, who has worked in interior design for eight years, launched his eponymous design firm in 2005. He has since gone on to win dozens of prestigious design awards, including more than 20 ASID Design in Excellence awards. Brown has designed private residences, show houses, historic homes, country clubs and commercial interiors across the country, from Florida to Washington. He currently serves on the Atlanta board for DIFFA and has previously co-chaired the organization’s Dining by Design gala. Brown, whose work has been published in a number of regional and national design publications, recently announced the launch of a furniture collection for Holland & Company. robertbrowninteriordesign.com
SIMONE FELDMAN, CKD, CBD
The owner and operator of her own residential design/build firm for more than 25 years, Simone Feldman studied at the School of Architecture & Arts in Rio de Janeiro before earning her Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) accreditation in 1993 and her Certified Bath Designer (CBD) status in 1995. At Simone Feldman Designs, LLC, she has developed strong relationships with her clients, forged by her ability to stay within a home’s architectural parameters and the clients’ budget. Feldman’s work has been published in a number of regional and national design publications.
JOEL KELLY
After graduating in 1991 with a degree in architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Joel Kelly went on to earn a master’s degree in architecture from Princeton University in 1993. Three years later, he launched his own practice, Joel Kelly Design. Kelly’s highly successful residential and interior design practice continues to be recognized, awarded and published in the local and national press. joelkellydesign.com
GEORGIA TANAJEWSKI, CKD
A native Atlantan and principal of design firm oneIIone Studio, Georgia Tanajewski majored in art and minored in business at the American College for Applied Arts before achieving Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) status in 1996. After spending some time in northern California, she returned to Georgia and in 2007 opened the firm oneIIone Studio, which combines Atlanta style with the simplicity and ease of California living. Tanajewski is an executive board member for the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), a member of the Westye Independent Design Forum (WIDF) and an active participant with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).