Home & Design

A sculptural tub from Vintage Tub & Bath perches in front of an airy shower brimming with natural light. 

Treetop Aerie

A third-floor owners’ bath in Potomac embraces the outdoors

After buying a secluded Potomac property, a couple tapped architect Jim Rill to update the residence. “They loved the concept of a house in the woods with a strong connection to nature,” he recalls. On the wish list was a third-floor owners’ suite from which they could enjoy the bucolic scenery.

Working with Thorsen Construction and designer Laurie McParland, Rill devised a plan featuring a charming bathroom retreat. It tucks into the roofline beneath a slanted ceiling and centers on an existing skylight. A roomy shower, positioned to take advantage of the skylight, “feels like you’re showering in the woods,” says the architect. A built-in bench sits within a niche in the shower; it is embellished by marble tile in a tactile mosaic pattern.

A sculptural tub from Vintage Tub & Bath perches in front of the shower, which is enclosed in clear glass so as not to interrupt the flow of light to the room. Marble surfaces are warmed by a walnut vanity and shelving, both crafted by Danish Builders. V-groove siding on the ceiling adds character.

Renovation Architecture: James Rill, Rill Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Laurie McParland, Laurie McParland Design, Olney, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Thorsen Construction, Alexandria, Virginia.

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