Designing the primary bathroom this time around wasn't as easy as I expected. As our architect and I embarked on planning our new bathroom, I quickly realized how challenging it can be to balance aesthetics, functionality, and personal preferences.
This was the initial design. I was adamant about having separate vanities in the bathroom (in an effort to avoid all the beard hair from Mr. Serpe LOL), which led us to this layout. The idea was to have a massive shower with a window and the tub positioned right in front of it. I found some inspiration photos for this layout that were absolutely dreamy. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. Due to moisture concerns, we needed a vinyl or fiberglass window in the shower, and we couldn't match the aesthetic of that window to the wood windows chosen for the rest of the house - you can read all about our windows for this house here. This forced us to rethink the design.
Image - Amber Lewis
Image - Homeward Design
Image - Pinterest
Image - Denise Mcgaha Interiors
I loved the idea of placing the bath under the window - both option 2 and 3 have this in common. It’s the first thing you see when you enter the space, and I envisioned making this view super dreamy, perhaps with a stone wall feature, similar to the first image.
Initially, this option seemed perfect. I liked how the shower and sauna were slightly set back and not perfectly in line with the water closet wall - if the 3 (water closet, shower, sauna) were in line, I felt like it would create a hard stop in the centre of the space and there would be too many doors side by side.
However, after some consideration, I realized that I didn't want the sauna wall to be all glass - I didn't want the wood interior to be the focus of the room. If I enclosed the sauna, the back wall (highlighted in pink) would then create a hard stop near the back of the room, and cut the bathroom short.
On to the next one...
Image - Studio McGee
Image - Fossil Interiors
Initially I didn't love option 3, because of the water closet and sauna door being side by side. Then I recalled a bathroom design by Amber Lewis, which made me reconsider this option - I love the unique sauna door she designed! I also loved how the shower in this layout was at the back (water closer, sauna, shower), allowing a view through to my imagined vintage linen cabinet (see inspo below). and the feature wall behind the tub. This openness and continuity sold me on this option.
Image - Amber Lewis
Image - Amber Lewis
Image - Pinterest
The Final Decision: Option 4
After some discussion with our architect/builder Nick, we landed on a version of Option 3 that wasn’t initially pictured. This final design combines the best elements of the previous layout with one small change. Instead of an exterior door to the sauna, the sauna will be accessible through the shower. Where there was a sauna door in Option 3, there will now be a wall where I plan to hang some beautiful art. This arrangement hides the infrared sauna from view when you first enter the space, adding a touch of elegance and surprise.
Wrapping Up
Deciding on the perfect bathroom layout was quite the journey, filled with back-and-forth decisions and creative rethinking. In the end, we found a design that balances our aesthetic desires with functional needs. Although I'll now have to sacrifice my sanity and share a vanity with Joe's beard hair, I can’t wait to see our vision come to life. Here's to creating a beautiful, functional space that feels like a dream every time we step into it!
Xo
Caroline
