People have a lot going on. Stressful jobs, busy schedules, family commitments…the list is long. Anytime anyone can find a bit of calm from the chaos, it is a welcome break. 

Oftentimes those ‘breathers’ occur in primary bathrooms, where a long soak in a sculptural tub or a rejuvenating shower under a cascade of ‘rain’ can melt away the stresses of a day. But these days, it isn’t only the bathroom where that transformation can happen. Instead, the entire primary ensuite serves as a refuge designed to make life not only easier, but more restful as well. 

This month, KBDN asked designers to share primary ensuites with amenities that are meant to soothe the soul.

Supersizing the shower was one of the key improvements for this bath. Kirby Foster Hurd also moved it to a more discreet location. Additional storage is provided by a custom, furniture-style linen hutch.

Focus on function first

Kirby Foster Hurd has found that homes, in general, have become more focused on health, wellness and relaxation. That perception is especially prevalent in today’s primary ensuites.

“It’s probably another product of COVID and having to be at home,” says the owner/principal designer for Kirby Home Designs in Edmond, OK. “People feel the need to create unique spaces that bring a sense of calm when the world can feel a bit chaotic.”

Typically, the primary ensuites she designs include a bedroom and bathroom and, when space allows, a large closet. She has also seen people include sitting areas, workout spaces and laundry solutions. Even flexible work spaces can be incorporated.

Regardless of what’s included, Hurd stresses the importance of focusing on the spatial design first, before making any of the typically more enjoyable material selections.

“Sometimes people get ahead of themselves,” she explains. “But it’s of the utmost importance to think about the layout, which, when done right, can enhance lives and make them easier.”

That concept was particularly illustrative in a recent renovation where the designer, in collaboration with Acklin Construction, completely reconfigured a primary bathroom and adjacent his/her closets. The previous bathroom, although spacious, was not well thought out or functional. A small shower was one of the first things people noticed when they entered the room, and two odd-shaped peninsulas served as the vanities, which meant there were no functional mirrors. Additionally, the toilet room was located at the far end of the bathroom, making nighttime treks inconvenient. 

Since the previous bathroom was so large, Hurd was able to allocate about 4′ of it to the newly reconfigured closet, which is now one shared space that includes an island, open and closed cabinetry, adjustable shelves and low- and tall-hanging rods.

One of the key improvements included supersizing the shower. Hurd also moved it to a more discreet location and included a variety of showerheads, a bench and a niche. Cladding it with blue/gray ceramic tile gives it a calm, spa-like feel and sets off the gold-toned plumbing fixtures.

A double vanity, positioned to take advantage of natural light from the skylight and an adjacent oversized window, streamlines the floorplan. Additional storage is provided by a custom, furniture-style linen hutch.

“Maximizing storage is another big client request,” Hurd says. “I always look at the space and consider how I can elevate it with better storage. Maybe there’s an opportunity for a linen cabinet or floating shelves or open shelves with baskets. And with vanities, it’s always important to make sure there’s enough storage for individualized needs.”

Since the previous bathroom was so large, Hurd was able to allocate about four feet of it to the newly reconfigured closet, which is now one shared space rather than separate his/her spaces. The designer also moved the toilet room into a portion of the space that was previously his closet, making it more accessible to the bedroom.

“I’m a big fan of having the water closet close to the primary bedroom,” she says. “If you have to get up in the middle of the night, it shouldn’t be too far away.”

The new closet includes an island, open and closed cabinetry, adjustable shelves and low- and tall-hanging rods.

“I encourage clients to consider cabinetry in their closets,” she relates. “Part of the beauty of today’s ensuites is that people can get ready in their closets. In older homes, the closet was inside the bedroom, therefore people changed in the bedroom. But now you can store all of your clothes in the closet and get ready in the closet.

“That also frees up space in the bedroom,” Hurd continues. “Now you can bring in a furniture piece to store items like pillows and blankets that relate more to the bedroom itself.”

Custom vanities are a way for Berwick to elevate a primary vanity. This custom oak vanity has fluted doors and drawers and a stain color that gives it added richness and warmth to anchor the otherwise monochromatic space.
Photos: Mike Chajecki
Michelle Berwick’s clients often ask for large showers. In this case, she was able to accommodate by creating a shared wall between the shower and freestanding tub, thereby saving some space that allowed for a private toilet area.

Opening up

As Michelle Berwick’s clients consider renovations to make their homes better suited to the way they live, thoughts about primary ensuites are opening up, literally.

“A fairly common and relatively new request we’ve been seeing in the last year or two is that people are wanting more open spaces in their principal suites,” says principal/founder with Michelle Berwick Design in Newmarket, ON, Canada. “They don’t necessarily mind if the closet is open to the bathroom, or if the bathroom is open to the bedroom, etc., as long as there is a door to close off the whole suite.”

As such, she has found that people are putting a lot more attention and detail into their closets.

“They are no longer just a rod inside a door,” she relates. “Instead, closets have beautiful millwork pieces that are meant to be shown.”

Take, for example, a full-home gut renovation where Berwick worked with architect Mark Weston and builder Alair Homes Newmarket to transform three levels, plus build an addition above the garage that serves as a flex space.

In the primary suite, custom his-and-her closets are tucked between the bedroom and bathroom. For her, open shelves, rods and drawers keep items tidy and accessible. For him, shelves dominate the space. Some include doors with gold grates that provide a bit of concealment while also offering circulation.

In this primary suite, custom his-and-her closets are tucked between the bedroom and bathroom. For her, open shelves, rods and drawers keep items tidy and accessible. For him, shelves dominate the space. Some include doors with gold grates that provide a bit of concealment while also offering circulation.

“He has a lot of folded items, like sweaters and jerseys, so shelves are appropriate for him,” she says, “but he also has a lot of ballcaps…which she didn’t necessarily want to see!”

A custom mirror with an arched top lends a touch of contemporary design to the otherwise traditionally designed space.

“Their design style leans towards traditional with classic lines, but they still wanted it to feel fresh, so we approached the design through that lens,” she relates.

The same concept carries into the bathroom, where seemingly traditional elements are given an updated twist. For example, the custom oak vanity by Wheelers Studio has fluted doors and drawers and a stain color that gives it added richness and warmth to anchor the otherwise monochromatic space.

“Custom vanities are a big ask for us,” Berwick relates. “They are a great way to personalize storage and to elevate the look of a space to make it feel more luxurious.”

Another frequent request is for large showers. In this case, the designer was able to accommodate by creating a shared wall between the shower and freestanding tub, thereby saving some space that allowed for a private toilet area.

Cladding the shower in two different tiles, including a low-maintenance marble-look porcelain that mimics the real marble countertops and window sills, adds interest.

“A lot of clients are looking for low-maintenance spaces,” Berwick adds. “There is a certain beauty that comes with marble, but there is also a lot of great porcelain that mimics the natural stone and requires zero maintenance.”

Not to be forgotten, the designer also designed the primary bedroom as a cozy sanctuary with an upholstered bed, wood nightstands and an upholstered bench…“so the dog has a place to sleep!” she says.

“The bedroom isn’t a huge room, but we’re finding that, more and more, even with new builds where space isn’t necessarily an issue, that people don’t want large bedrooms with sitting spaces,” she continues. “It’s nice to have a place to perch, but you don’t need a full sectional. Instead, people would rather dedicate that space for clothes storage or a bigger bathroom.”

For this renovated bathroom, Lexie Saine removed the built-in tub to make way for a large shower, which includes niches and multiple showerheads. A vaulted ceiling accentuates the room’s height and highlights the architecture.
Photos: Thibault Cartier Photography

No more obligations

Lexie Saine is thankful that rigid rules have seemed to relax as far as what people think they need in their primary bathrooms.

“People don’t feel obligated to have a set of required checklist items,” says the principal designer of Lexie Saine Design in San Francisco, CA. “Instead, they are more focused on prioritizing what is most important to them.”

The designer finds that transformation to be freeing, giving her the ability to be more creative.

“Maybe someone wants a decadent makeup area,” she explains, “or maybe an enormous shower with dual zones.”

Saine also finds that some clients are asking for closet elements to be included in the bathroom, which can be especially beneficial if one partner wakes up earlier than the other. Secondary washers and dryers can also eliminate the need to lug laundry from one space to another.

For one recent renovation, completed in collaboration with Adrian Smith Construction, clients requested that a dry sauna be part of their primary bath.

Saine’s clients requested that a dry sauna be part of their primary bath to serve as a sanctuary from their busy lives.

“They are both doctors and they wanted a sanctuary from their busy lives,” she says. “The dry sauna is a way for them to relax. There can also be health benefits related to using a dry sauna, and I have more and more clients asking to include health-related elements in their bathrooms.”

These clients also wanted a larger shower, which Saine included by removing the built-in tub positioned beneath the window.

“It was massive and took up so much real estate,” she says. “They already had a jetted tub, so they didn’t need a tub. Instead, they wanted a really big shower.”

The designer added amenities including two niches and multiple showerheads with the controls located on the opposite side.

“They don’t have to dodge water when they turn on the shower or as they wait for the water to come to temperature,” she explains. “It’s a feature I often include in big, and small, showers.”

A vaulted ceiling accentuates the room’s height and highlights the architecture while turning the shower into a focal-point feature.

“When you walk in, there’s a big beautiful moment with the window, shower and ceiling,” she relates.

Elongated subway tiles, laid in a herringbone pattern, clad the shower walls. Saine extended the tile behind the double floating vanity to add texture and give the room a spa-like feel. The rift-cut white oak vanity features a light smoke stain to prevent it from trending towards yellow. Plenty of drawers, including u-shaped ones beneath the sinks, offer organized storage. Quartz countertops eliminate stains and watermarks and wall-mount matte black faucets make clean up easy.

“I love using wall-mount faucets,” Saine says. “There is less clutter on the vanity and you don’t get any build-up around the faucets. I really encourage my clients to use them in high-use bathrooms.”

While the primary bedroom wasn’t renovated at the same time as the bathroom, the designer later gave it some updates that coordinate with the bathroom, including a new coat of paint in warm white and an accent wall in a shade of black to coordinate with the black features in the bathroom.

Laura Irion sees clients willing to spend more money on custom cabinetry and interior components. Both were also a main focus in the renovation of her own primary bathroom. 
The mural wallpaper in the vanity and tub section of the primary ensuite serves as a luxurious visual showstopper.
Photos: Michael A. Kaskel

Hold rather than hoard

High function and luxurious comfort continue to be drivers of bath design for many of Laura Irion’s clients. The former is often related to storage and organizational capabilities that help people hold, rather than hoard, their stuff.

“We’ve all been overwhelmed by our stuff in the last several decades,” says the principal designer for Laura Design Company in Wayne, IL. “People have become more aware of it and they are more interested in editing it down to what’s really needed. Then they want a place to store what’s left.

“But you can’t just throw a vanity into the room,” she continues. “It’s important to be very thoughtful about drawer and door configurations, and to know what is going inside the vanity before you finalize the design.”

As such, the designer sees clients willing to spend more money on custom cabinetry and interior components. Both were also a main focus in the renovation of Irion’s own primary bathroom, which she completed with the help of general contractor Detailed Builders and Knapp Kitchens, which created a custom vanity. For instance, acrylic drawer organizers corral small items like nail care supplies and cosmetic brushes, even index cards and a pen so she can jot down creative thoughts as she puts on her makeup. As well, in-cabinet outlets, which she highly recommends to her clients, mean that electric toothbrushes, razors and even her Alexa can be stored, and charged, out of sight.

“Drawer organizers are great for little items so they don’t slide around and mesh together,” she explains. “And with outlets in the cabinets, we have places to hide things so nothing needs to be out on the beautiful countertop.”

Luxurious comforts were considerations as well, so Irion included heated floors, which almost didn’t make it into the final plans.

“Everything adds up,” she says. “As I considered our budget, I almost cut them. But I’m glad we didn’t. With the weather turning colder, my feet are toasty warm.”

In the shower, pencil moulding mimics old millwork that dresses it up and gives it historic character. 

“Our wonderful general contractor patiently inlaid all of the trim,” she relates. “It really elevates the tile work so much.”

The mural wallpaper in the vanity and tub section of the primary ensuite serves as a luxurious visual showstopper, which is combined with a complementary wallpaper in the water closet area.

“It’s so very special and it gives the room all of its life and personality,” Irion indicates. “I jokingly refer to my ensuite as the ‘Treehouse for Girls.’ I used to volunteer at a girls’ summer camp with that name. We would forage in the woods and go frog hunting in the ponds, but we also made beautiful crafts with flowers, branches and shells. It was such a sweet, happy time, surrounded by nature and beauty. I didn’t set out to intentionally design around that theme, but as everything came together, it reminded me of it!”

Crystal in the sconce backplates and a fluted handshower serve as luxurious ‘surprises.’

“For me, unexpected details are the most exciting part of really thoughtful design,” she adds. “When you go into a room, you immediately take in the ‘wow’ factors. But once you start looking around and interacting with the space, those moments of surprise and beauty in the smaller details are a sweet spot for me.”

Up next is Irion’s primary bedroom, where the wallpaper will be the jumping off point that informs the space.

“We always create an inspiration board to use as a road map that guides the design,” she explains. “We typically renovate all the ensuite spaces at once, but if not, like in my own home, we’ll take a phased approach using the original board to refer back to for style, colors and overall feel. It ensures the home remains cohesive over time.”

When the footprint allows, Ellie Mroz’s clients often ask for vanities with a dedicated place for applying make-up, such as in this primary bathroom where it is an extension of the double vanity.
Photos: Laura Moss Photography

The rise of the ‘spathroom’

There’s no denying that the advent of technology has changed the way people live, leaving many of them constantly ‘on call’ amidst an increasingly hectic and stressful life.

“In response, primary bathroom ensuites have become more of a refuge, with a rise in the concept of the ‘spathroom,’” says Ellie Mroz, creative director/owner of Ellie Mroz Design in Westfield, NJ. “Higher-end primary bathrooms are no longer simply about functionality. Instead, they are also about indulgence and self-care.”

Design and selection choices really play into this trend, she indicates, noting that her clients often request that his-and-her walk-in closets be part of their ensuite. And when the footprint allows, they also frequently ask for vanities with a dedicated place for applying make-up.

Both ‘extras’ were included in a recent renovation where Ellie Mroz and Mike Mroz, owner of Michael Robert Construction, raised the roof, literally, of a ranch home where the new second floor includes the primary ensuite with custom walk-in closets and a make-up vanity. Her clients’ wish list for the primary bathroom also included a wet room and curbless shower. 

“They wanted an efficiently designed space,” she says, “so having the freestanding bathtub, which is the star of the show, in the shower saves space while capturing the spa-like essence. It is the ultimate place for our busy clients to restore themselves!”

Mroz’s clients also wanted a modern, serene aesthetic, which the designer obliged via selections such as the custom vanity by Russell Heard, porcelain tile floor and shower walls, lighting and marble vanity top.

“All work together to juxtapose organic elements on a modern palette,” she relates. 

These homeowners wanted an efficiently designed space, so Mroz included the freestanding bathtub with the shower to save space while capturing the spa-like essence.

Mroz encourages clients to consider custom cabinetry because it provides complete control over the design.

“In this case, the custom-made oak vanity, combined with the Carrara marble countertop with a mitered edge and apron finish, adds a quiet luxury to the space,” she relates.

“Well-chosen tile always leaves its mark, too, whether it’s a special pattern, material or both,” she continues. “We love the classic beauty and eventual patina of marble, but the large-
format porcelain floor and wall tile in this bathroom add to the natural-meets-modern luxe vibe.”

Carefully curated and placed lighting fixtures also elevate a space, as do plumbing and hardware style and finish selections.

“Whether it’s plumbing or pulls, knobs and hooks, the tricky part is making sure all of these elements play well together,” she adds. “It’s important that all of the spaces have a cohesive aesthetic.

“We also make sure that color schemes of all the spaces within a primary ensuite are either similar or complementary,” she continues, adding that, in this renovation, the bedroom and bathroom both include an organic and modern aesthetic that is reflected in the finishes, trim, lighting and overall design. “The goal is to create a self-contained private sanctuary where all of the spaces have a practical flow and cohesive aesthetic.”

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We all love a beautiful wood design element, and celebrities are no exception. A viral TikTok video catalogs the best celebrity wood boasts on home video tours: a table from Winston Churchill’s yacht, a 300-year-old backyard tree, doors from all sorts of historic homes, and lots and lots of teak. Stay up to date with our weekly roundup of headlines, product launches, events, recommended reading and more.

business news

Online retailer Overstock announced plans to move its operations to the Bed Bath & Beyond website – a decision made shortly after acquiring the bankrupt company’s intellectual property last week. As The New York Times reports, customers who visit Overstock’s website will be redirected to Bed Bath & Beyond’s, and Overstock’s mobile app and rewards program will also be rebranded as Bed Bath & Beyond. The transition should be completed by August. Overstock CEO Jonathan Johnson told the NYT that the retailer will consider a full rebrand of its business — part of its ongoing effort to update its image as a former liquidator.

Despite the increasing threat of hurricanes and extreme weather conditions, a growing number of luxury buyers are driving up South Florida home prices, reports The Wall Street Journal. According to a new report by Zillow, the Neapolitan communities of Port Royal and Aqualane Shores were among the areas with the highest typical real estate values ​​in the country, outperforming traditional luxury hotspots like San Francisco, Manhattan and the Hamptons. In Port Royal, which ranked second on the list, typical home values ​​in April were $16.46 million, almost double January 2020.

North Carolina-based textile manufacturer Glen Raven has agreed to sell its Strata geosynthetic products and related construction business to Hella Infra Market Private Limited, an India-based online procurement marketplace for construction materials. The terms of the contract were not disclosed. Strata, a solutions provider to the construction industry, was initially acquired by Glen Raven in 2007 as part of a major acquisition. According to Glen Raven CEO Leib Oehmig, the sale will allow the company to focus on its core portfolio of substances with no expected job losses or disruption to Strata’s operations.

Serta Simmons Bedding exited Chapter 11 status after completing its financial restructuring, which reduced its funded debt to $315 million from approximately $1.9 billion. Looking ahead, the company has a number of strategic initiatives planned to drive growth, including refreshing its product portfolio; increasing marketing investments; use of direct-to-consumer platforms; and improving its supply chain and manufacturing network.

According to Semafor, TikTok plans to open an online retail store and launch its own goods in a new offering separate from the existing TikTok shop feature. The company buys its own inventory for the site – including a range of toys and kitchenware – from manufacturers in China. Users can shop the selection through a dedicated e-commerce tab within the app, as well as through the TikTok Shop, which typically allows brands to pay a commission for selling their products on the platform. The feature will be available in the US version of the app and could launch as soon as next month.

Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland are partnering with Harris County in their hometown of Houston to open a permanent condominium complex, reports The Real Deal. The Knowles-Rowland project is estimated to cost $8.4 million and will be funded by the American Rescue Plan and other donors. It will create 31 new housing units in a complex designed to support residents with resources such as psychological and behavioral health counselors and transportation services. It’s not the couple’s first outing in Houston — in 1998, they used funds from their hit single “No, No, No” to build a youth center in the city.

Airbnb has listed a life size version of Barbie’s dream home in Malibu, CaliforniaCourtesy of Airbnb

Market launches and collaborations

Just in time for the release of the upcoming Barbie movie, Airbnb’s latest limited edition offering is a pink, life-size version of Barbie’s dream home in Malibu, California. According to Dezeen, the waterfront property includes an outdoor disco, infinity pool, outdoor kitchen and more. Originally opened in 2019 to celebrate Barbie’s 60th anniversary, the home has been decked out through Ken’s eyes, with elements like a western-style bedroom, cowhide rugs and horse-themed throws meant to evoke the character’s love of cowboy culture. Listing is available on July 21st and 22nd for up to two guests each, booking starts July 17th.

Californian design studio Commune is renewing its collaboration with 75-year-old heritage brand Heath Ceramics for a new line of tableware. The collection includes seven different bowl, cup and plate designs, available in three different neutral shades. A portion of every purchase benefits Art Division, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and supporting underprivileged youth studying fine arts.

Literature Recommendations

While developers typically aim to highlight luxe amenities like swimming pools and swanky gyms, a new generation of apartment complexes are targeting spend-conscious and sharing-friendly consumers. As Julie Lasky writes for The New York Times, more and more rental buildings have “commons,” which allow tenants to borrow common items — from vacuums and blenders to bikes, scooters, and trolleys — or rent them with the help of startups such as Brevvie, which allows buildings to install large vending machines for temporary use of household and leisure items.

After World War II, famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed a whopping 120 homes in 31 states. Today, a New Yorker named Roland Reisley is the last original owner of a Wright-designed home and still resides in the space the architect designed specifically for his family’s needs (changes included an additional broom closet, bookshelves, and more children’s bedrooms) . For The Wall Street Journal, Fred A. Bernstein talks to the retired physicist as he reflects on the 71 years he’s spent in the home, the community of Wright enthusiasts he’s befriended along the way, and about why he thinks beautiful surroundings are beautiful have contributed to his longevity.

State the applause

ASID announced the winners and scholars of its 2023 One to Watch program, designed to recognize emerging talent from underrepresented communities in the design industry. The program allows up to 20 winners and eight scientists to participate in ASID events and conferences, mentoring programs and networking opportunities. For the full list of winners click here.

Homepage Image: Californian design studio Commune has teamed up with Heath Ceramics for a new tableware collection | Courtesy of Heath Ceramics

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