Williamson creates functional, elegant bathroom

An Elaine Williamson Designs product story

Edited by the Interiorstalk editorial team Jul 22, 2010

Elaine Williamson of luxury interiors group Elaine Williamson Designs has created a functional, elegant bathroom for a couple who have recently moved from New Orleans to Dallas.

Williamson was challenged with making the shotgun-style bathroom flow with elegance to meet the clients' needs.

Williamson worked with the builder to reconfigure the floor plan to better accommodate the master bath area

One important focus for the couple was the master bath area, as the configuration set by the builder was not conducive to the couple's desires for a quiet, intimate and personal space.

The design of the original floor plan showed the master bath area as large and boxy, giving a feel of wasted and unusable space.

Williamson worked with the builder to reconfigure the original space plan; this required moving several rooms throughout the home to accommodate this layout.

With respect to design elements, Williamson incorporated a two-tone Italian handcut tile on the wainscoting and the chair rail using a harlequin pattern as a central decorative feature, intended to reflect the couple's New Orleans background.

Heated travertine flooring was installed - a feature that the couple wanted despite the mild Dallas winters.

To give a textural dimension to the walls, a handcrafted sandstone mica metallic wallpaper was used; the mica is intended to provide a soft reflective glow when the room is lit at night.

Williamson also provided an oversized Jacuzzi tub and a dual head steam shower.

With the help of a local cabinet maker, she designed a French linen cabinet for the couple as well as an armoire that holds a small kitchenette, where a coffeemaker, a sink and an under-counter refrigerator are hidden from view.

Finally, three antique chandeliers were positioned to run the length of the master bath, giving the space a traditional elegance.

Design elements of the project included: antique honed travertine 18 x 18; hand-poured harlequin tiles in two colours for the wainscoting; specialised mica handmade wallpaper; three chandeliers; two stained-glass pendants in the dressing area; a custom French linen cabinet for towels and bath items; Botticino marble countertops; a Kohler memoirs sink; and glass Cristallo tiles for the risers on the stairs.