Guest Bathroom, Saratoga, CA

My clients' old bathroom was like an archeology dig: tile and sinks from the 1950s lay beneath lighting from the 1960s and wallpaper from the 1970s. There was no choice but to gut it all (including the odd soffit over the vanity which felt like something was pressing down from above) and start from scratch. We did not have to look far for a concept: since my clients love to vacation on Maui, we were able to bring in elements from the Hawaiian islands. Natural wood, Mother-of-Pearl shell mosaic sconces mounted on a framed mirror, sand-colored granite, water-y toned crackle glass tiles, and ocean-colored ceramic crackle glazed door and drawer hardware achieve the feeling of being at a spa resort in the tropics. The new glass-enclosed shower was clad in a tile with a rock-like pattern reminiscent of split bamboo while a crackle glass "waterfall" cascades down the hardware wall. The shower floor is lined with pebbles from Island Stone; the same material is featured in a "rug" on the mossy green floor of the bathroom, which is now a constant comfortable temperature thanks to radiant heat. Clean-lined shower and sink hardware give the space a tranquil sense so my clients can feel as if they are vacationing in paradise everyday. Photo by Fiorito Interior Design