MERIT BEST POWDER ROOM—REMODELED HOME
AT 24 SQUARE FEET, THIS DIMINUTIVE, half-capsule–shaped powder room was the epitome of a tight and awkward space. But its wedged location in the floor plan (and the fact that the house already had four other bathrooms) made expansion out of the question. And besides, the owners wanted to preserve its signature round wall, in keeping with the home's curvilinear architecture.
Stelle Architects discarded a clunky old vanity, resisting the temptation to cram more standard fare into small confines. Instead, a spare aesthetic accentuates the room's graceful lines. Penny-round floor tiles reinforce the circular theme, creating the look of scattered pebbles. The tank of a Duravit wall-hung toilet disappears into the wall cavity, as do the shelves of a builtin medicine cabinet that sits flush with the wall. A Starfire etched glass counter-top, custom cut in a half-moon shape, fits demurely into the curved alcove wall. Along its edge, a stainless steel angle (outfitted with a sleek towel bar, no less) conceals a fluorescent strip of undermount lighting, casting a diffused glow. The frosted glass door and glass vessel sink complete this translucent composition.
Entrant/Architect: Stelle Architects, Bridgehampton, N.Y.; Builder: Atlantic Collaborative, Bridgehampton
ON THE SURFACE Texture is more easily appreciated in an intimate space that puts visitors up close and personal with building materials. But it's important not to overdo it. The walls in this water closet hit a subtle note with a waxed plaster finish. “It's a durable surface with a modeled effect that's not as plain Jane when you're working over sheetrock,” says architect Greg Tietjen. “We use it a lot in wet locations.”
