Bathroom

1st Place Winner

Project:

Young Residence

Firm:

Neil Kelly

503.288.6945

http://www.neilkelly.com

Budget:

$50,000

Interior Designer:

Martha Kerr

“Simple, clean, elegant, timeless.” —Chuck Miller

Nestled in a forested area of Northwest Portland, this house pays homage to its surroundings with an abundance of natural wood in its interior. The owners of the Northwest Contemporary home decided to remodel their master bathroom with that in mind, emulating both the aura of the house and that of its exterior environment. They also wanted a clean, contemporary space that felt comforting and serene.

An angled ceiling line and a water closet that could not be moved due to plumbing constraints presented challenges, but designer Martha Kerr successfully negotiated around these limitations, effectively turning them into assets. To counter the way the low end of the ceiling vault falls sharply over the new freestanding tub, Kerr placed a deep skylight overhead; this adds height while simultaneously bathing the room in much-needed daylight. A floating vanity constructed of vertical-grain fir offers generous open shelving and enclosed storage. Above-counter basins add to the room’s sleek styling.

The bathroom’s elegant and unimposing style is enhanced by a set of materials that unify the room. Slate flooring, a common thread throughout the house, links the new space with the surrounding rooms, while tile adds texture and interest to the wall behind the new soaking tub. Contemporary chrome fixtures and lighting finish off the scheme and add just the right amount of sparkle to this gem of a bathroom.

- Audrey Alverson