A couple building a custom home on the James River in Williamsburg enlisted Atlanta-based kitchen-and-bath designer Shirley McFarlane, who had worked with them on previous projects, to collaborate on their sprawling new riverfront abode—which would include a luxurious master-bath retreat boasting a stunning river view.
“We spent a year in the planning stages,” McFarlane recounts. “They had a very strong vision for space.” At the top of the owners’ extensive wish list was contemporary hanging cabinetry with clean, spare lines; a sculptural statement tub sited in front of a window wall with the expansive water view beyond; and a light, airy feel.
“It was a fun challenge to figure out how to make space work,” says McFarlane, who designed glass enclosures for the shower and WC that enhance the sense of openness in the space. A passageway between the enclosures leads to the closet. For the sake of privacy, the glass surrounding the WC is frosted.
Cabinetry from Premier Custom Built is made of fumed, quartered eucalyptus wood with a high-gloss, exotic-wood veneer. It flanks the door to the bedroom, with open shelving and storage on one side and his-and-her sinks and a makeup table on the other.
Classic Calacatta Gold marble tile was used on the floors and in the shower to soften the bathroom’s contemporary lines. A mosaic pattern from New Ravenna on the floor mimics an area rug, while heavily veined marble distinguishes the shower enclosure. Calacatta Manhattan marble tops the cabinet surfaces.
Sinks by Lacava and a Victoria & Albert soaking tub are paired with sleek Dornbracht faucets. Sconces by Hudson Valley Lighting provide a transitional touch.
Architectural Design: Carroll W. Johnson, Residential Designs, Ltd., Chesapeake, Virginia. Bath Design: Shirley McFarlane, CKD, McFarlane Design, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia. Builder: Butch Palmer, Palmer & Co., Williamsburg, Virginia. Photography: Tony Giammarino.
See More Rooms We Love: