The sleek shower is the most mod fi xture in the bath. Crisp square columns support frameless glass walls that counter the rounded forms of period sinks and tub. The architects scoured Chicago’s antique shops for authentic fi ttings to match the owner’s collection, yet their simple layout of freestanding pieces speaks to contemporary living.
The sleek shower is the most mod fi xture in the bath. Crisp square columns support frameless glass walls that counter the rounded forms of period sinks and tub. The architects scoured Chicago’s antique shops for authentic fi ttings to match the owner’s collection, yet their simple layout of freestanding pieces speaks to contemporary living.

Floor-to-ceiling windows along two walls are the first hint that this bathroom was designed for an adventurous person. According to architects Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker, the homeowner is an “interesting guy who owns a telecommunications company and collects English Arts & Crafts furniture.” His distinctive combination of interests inspired a remodeled master bathroom that is traditional with a techy edge.

The house perches above a wooded ravine, which provides a measure of privacy for the new master bath. Two high-tech interior windows ensure that privacy—the glass goes from translucent to opaque at the flick of a switch. The liquid crystal product changes clarity with the introduction of an electrical current. The in-swing windows that match the home's original glazing were custom made to fit the arched openings. Windows overlooking the driveway got a more traditional treatment. Cohen and Hacker used old English painted glass panels that the owner bought years ago as a privacy screen.