A back-lit shoji screen emits soft light behind the soaking tub.
The owners of a (Asian Flair) post-and-beam deckhouse in Annapolis hired interior designer Lisa Publicover to overhaul their circa-1980s master bath. Working with kitchen-and-bath designer Tracy McGuinness, she created a clean-lined, modern space to complement the style of the house.
“The post-and-beam construction really drove the design,” McGuinness says. “The house is nestled in the treetops and the wood is a connection to the outdoors.”
The existing bath comprised two rooms: One held a vanity and linen closet, while the other housed a dated built-in tub, shower, and toilet. In the vanity room, the linen closet made way for attractive storage towers flanking a sleek, new vanity. The floor-to-ceiling wall between the two rooms now rises only partway for an airier feel. A graceful Victoria & Albert soaking tub and floor-mounted faucet replaced the original boxy version, with its obtrusive deck.
Publicover selected light quartz countertops and limestone-like porcelain tile for practicality—and lots of wood. “I wanted to incorporate tones that worked with the exposed-wood ceilings,” she says. Quarter-sawn walnut cabinets with a strong linear grain extend the vanity space visually, while mahogany trim complements the cedar beams above.
The biggest challenge was a lack of natural light, as the bath had skylights but no windows. To address the problem, Publicover suggested adding a shoji screen door between rooms that would admit light but provide privacy. Another shoji screen on the wall behind the tub is back-lit to mimic a window, giving the illusion of soft, natural light. “The bath is restful,” McGuinness observes, “with a touch of Asian flavor.”
BATH DESIGN: Tracy McGuinness, AKBD, Kitchen Encounters, Annapolis, Maryland; Lisa Publicover, Lisa Publicover Interior Design, Annapolis, Maryland. BUILDER: Riley Custom Homes & Renovations, Annapolis, Maryland.
RESOURCES
Cabinetry: neffkitchens.com. Countertop: cambriausa.com. Tub: vandabaths.com. Sinks: mtibaths.com. Faucets: newportbrass.com. Lighting: hubbardtonforge.com; George Kovacs through ferguson.com. Shoji Screens: cherrytreedesign.com.