Guest Blogger: Design Galleria Kitchen & Bath Studio, Part III

Editor’s note: To kick off showhouse season, we’ve asked Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio for a sneak peek into the firm’s design process as it prepares for the opening of the 43^rd annual Decorators’ Show House & Gardens on April 26. 

The firm’s task: To update not one, but three spaces in the historic Atlanta mansion, built in 1926 with a prominent location on West Paces Ferry. With just six weeks until the Show House’s official opening, Design Galleria takes over AH&L’s blog to chronicle their adventures in remodeling. 

Modifying spaces to adapt today’s lifestyles and marketplace is a challenge we face daily at Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio. This master suite was even more challenging due to the homes historical significance and short timeline to complete the work. The previous homeowner made some unusual bathroom changes to the original master suite layout. A very feminine bathroom with a pedestal sink and shower appeared to be in its original location between the two large bedrooms at the front of the house. A small “Debbie” sitting room off the larger bedroom was made into a masculine bathroom with a sunken tub, fireplace and open shower. This bathroom could be completely open to the master bedroom with a seven-foot wide pocket door. A very small closet with a built-in armoire was between these two bathrooms. The entrance into the two bedrooms was peculiar because they each had a separate door but there was a shared hallway behind these doors.  

We decided to utilize both of the bedrooms in order to create a grand master suite complete with a his-and-hers closet and a luxurious master bath. We’d also return the sitting room to the master bedroom. 

The smaller bedroom has four windows, two entries, a linen closet and a fireplace. These are not ideal conditions for bathroom space planning, but its what we had to work with. Rather than creating a separate his-and-her bathroom, we created a semi-private open bathroom with separate vanities and water closets. A peninsula of rooms, so to speak, was centered on the fireplace and in between the front two windows. This peninsula contained the two water closets, hers with tall toiletry storage, a curbless glass enclosed shower with doors on each side and a sculptural MTI Baths tub centered on the fireplace. His-and-her vanities are on opposite sides of the space along with alcoves for furniture or seating to make each space more personal. Her side has direct access to her closet from an original pocket door we moved.  

Calacatta Gold marble tiles from Crossville that were installed in a herringbone pattern instantly brightens and unifies the space. A new Francois and Co. Scagliola mantle picks up the warm tones of the marble floor and complements the custom Crossville shower mosaic and the breccia marble columns fabricated by Marmi. A sense of history is evoked by the antique brass Rohl plumbing fixtures and unusual Campaign-style decorative hardware on the painted vanities. Additional privacy, sound absorption and luxury are added with the swagged curtains on each side of the vanities by Clay Snider Interiors. 

The original feminine bathroom was converted to her glamorous closet complete with backlit shoe storage, a packing island and a combination of mirrored and open hanging storage. The original closet was converted to his closet with the addition of more hanging and shoe storage besides the existing armoire. A very shallow wall displays ties, belts and a holds a flip-down, leather-topped packing table. 

All in all, the dramatic changes to this important space still feel appropriate to this home but satisfy and even overindulge the current needs of today’s homeowners.

Please join Mary Kathryn Timoney next week for an in depth look at the pool house renovation.

Written By Matthew Quinn