Kitchens & Baths
Now and Zen
A Fremont bathroom goes from the '80s to the 21st century in record time.
BY
Allison Lind
PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael Jensen

Whoever said your home is your haven hadn't seen John Vecheys master bathroom two years ago. A tub that leaked into the kitchen below, windows that seeped cold air and tile that always looked dirty were just a few of the problems. "It was just plain ugly," says interior designer Christine Colman, of Design In Time.

The space was beyond a superficial makeover, so Vechey, a computer executive, called in the experts--Colman and contractor Tom Boyd, of TAB Renovations--to do a complete overhaul.

And these experts didn't hold back; they removed everything: the tub, sink, cabinets, flooring. Most importantly, they nixed the gray, black and gold 1980s motif, giving Colman a clean slate on which to design.

Vechey's only criteria? Serenity.

Because so much time is spent in this space, the owner wanted his bathroom to evoke a "serene, spalike" feeling, Colman says, to be "a calm place where he could start and end the day."

The springboard for her design was a pale green glass bowl sink; its color and simplicity served as inspiration for the rest of the room.

To complement the color and material of the sink, Colman created a backsplash from beach-glass tiles in varying shades of green. The walnut color of the travertine countertop--also used on the floors and in the shower and bath surround--warms the room while creating an organic feel, which is furthered by the sporadically placed floor tiles made of green-hued stones.

"John has a beautiful view from the bathroom window," Colman says, "so I wanted to evoke the feeling of bringing the outdoors in with the use of colors and materials."

The soft tones were strategically offset by bold espresso-wood cabinetry and matching window frames. "It adds a nice contrast to the soft tones and evokes a serene feeling for the room," Colman notes.

Other additions include a soaking tub, an extra-large glass shower (to accommodate the 6-foot-something homeowner), a heated towel rack and light dimmers. Custom cabinets include a pull-out hamper and feature space for a TV and stereo.

But all that functionality is a mere bonus to the aesthetic transformation this remodel accomplished. "It turned out just as I had hoped," Vechey says. "From the use of the tree outside the window to the relaxing feeling of dimming the lights during a bath, it all really works together nicely."

From a cold, tacky '80s motif to a serenity-inducing, spalike space, this bathroom has truly become this homeowner's haven.

Allison Lind is the assistant editor for Seattle Homes & Lifestyles.