Room of the Week: A Luxurious Timber-clad Bathroom in New York
Violet onyx slabs, white oak cladding and brass fixtures give this master bathroom dramatic style
Bryan Anthony
2 August 2015
The town of Chappaqua, a hamlet in north Westchester County, New York, is filled with historic homes, including one purchased by Bill and Hillary Clinton in 1999. More recently, Dana and Mike Kraus purchased a 1920s Tudor-style home for their family of five. Its renovated master bathroom is a showcase of style inspired by local and international design.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here Dana and Mike Kraus and their 3 daughters
Location New York
Size 8.4 sq m
Designer Elizabeth Strianese of Elizabeth Strianese Interiors
Using the Find Pros section on Houzz, Dana came upon the projects of interior designer Elizabeth Strianese and quickly discovered the right person for the job of redoing the master bathroom.
With its rippled waves of purple, brown and grey, the violet onyx selected for the trough basin and shower dictated the rest of the room’s design. ‘Once we chose the onyx, we knew we had our star,’ Strianese says. ‘The other materials were selected to complement it.’
Basin; shower, both Terra Tile & Marble.
Who lives here Dana and Mike Kraus and their 3 daughters
Location New York
Size 8.4 sq m
Designer Elizabeth Strianese of Elizabeth Strianese Interiors
Using the Find Pros section on Houzz, Dana came upon the projects of interior designer Elizabeth Strianese and quickly discovered the right person for the job of redoing the master bathroom.
With its rippled waves of purple, brown and grey, the violet onyx selected for the trough basin and shower dictated the rest of the room’s design. ‘Once we chose the onyx, we knew we had our star,’ Strianese says. ‘The other materials were selected to complement it.’
Basin; shower, both Terra Tile & Marble.
A few years ago, in the nearby town of Beacon, New York, Strianese renovated a boutique hotel and restaurant that included a series of bespoke pendant lights made by Niche – an international lighting company based in Beacon. When Dana and Mike discovered that Strianese had been involved in that project (one of their favourite restaurants), they wanted to know if they could score a trio of the pendant lights for themselves. ‘It’s not a product available on their website,’ Strianese says. ‘But luckily they still had the design on file.’
See why you should think about installing twin basins
See why you should think about installing twin basins
Rift-cut white oak was used to cover the vanity area. ‘We wanted wood to add warmth to the space,’ Strianese says. ‘It was important to choose a clean-lined oak that wouldn’t look too busy when paired with the onyx.’
When it came time to select fixtures for the bathroom, Dana showed a picture of a tap that Strianese was already familiar with and excited to use. ‘Two years ago I took a holiday to Scandinavia and fell in love with the region’s design,’ the designer says. ‘When Dana showed me the Vola tap, I knew we’d found the perfect fixtures for the room.’
The Scandinavian-designed taps were selected in a unlacquered brass that begins to develop a patina as soon as it comes out of its packaging.
Wood cladding, Delnero Furniture.
Get expert advice on choosing the right taps for your bathroom
When it came time to select fixtures for the bathroom, Dana showed a picture of a tap that Strianese was already familiar with and excited to use. ‘Two years ago I took a holiday to Scandinavia and fell in love with the region’s design,’ the designer says. ‘When Dana showed me the Vola tap, I knew we’d found the perfect fixtures for the room.’
The Scandinavian-designed taps were selected in a unlacquered brass that begins to develop a patina as soon as it comes out of its packaging.
Wood cladding, Delnero Furniture.
Get expert advice on choosing the right taps for your bathroom
With an eye towards one day growing old in their home, Dana and Mike wanted a large, open shower with no kerb so they could get in and out of it with ease.
Two book-matched slabs of violet onyx make up the shower’s back wall. White tiles on the other walls and floor brighten the space. A skylight brings in lots of natural light.
Onyx shower tiles, Terra Tile & Marble. White shower tiles, Ann Sacks. Floor tiles, Artistic Tile.
Two book-matched slabs of violet onyx make up the shower’s back wall. White tiles on the other walls and floor brighten the space. A skylight brings in lots of natural light.
Onyx shower tiles, Terra Tile & Marble. White shower tiles, Ann Sacks. Floor tiles, Artistic Tile.
The onyx trough basin doesn’t have much room for a soap dish or toothbrush holder, so Strianese had a large niche cut into the white oak cladding to create storage and display space. The two medicine cabinets are recessed, providing additional storage.
TELL US…
What do you think of the materials used in this bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you think of the materials used in this bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Thanks so much. My bathroom i was going to be tiled, but I saw this on Houzz one evening in late June, just before I was due to leave on vacation with my contractor rebuilding my bathroom. I said (tentatively) that I had a new idea. he said, "Me, too. I saw something you need on Houzz last night." Same thing. The niches which he tiled and edged beautifully. Thanks again.
Have a faux painter paint your outlet covers. I did that in my kitchen because I have a very busy granite backsplash. It will be the best $50 you ever spent $50!
Exceptional use of products, lighting, and I personally love the rectangle niche. Nice touch. Well done!