Brandi Wills Michael Jacob

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Challenge:
As one phase in a whole-house renovation, the goal was to transform a long, narrow bath/dressing area with an awkward flow into one cohesive master bathroom that complements the adjoining bedroom.

Solution:
Homeowners Bill and Julie Holland enlisted Testa Renovations to plan the new space, knocking down all but one wall and closing off a portion of the room as a closet to be entered from the bedroom. The remaining space was then transformed into the couple’s ideal master bath. To achieve a brand-new look while respecting the “Old Webster” charm of the house, Bill and Julie gathered inspiration from a visit to La Meurice hotel in Paris. “We love the clean, structured ‘hotel look’ that is very popular right now, but wanted to add a few touches of warm, home-like comfort,” says Julie. Jonathan Carson of European Tile & Marble Co. was brought in to create the couple’s desired look by selecting marble colors, trim details and edging treatments. He used one-centimeter-thick White Venatino tiles on the floor, toilet-area wainscoting and shower walls, with a Carrara marble mosaic shower floor. The room was then trimmed with two-centimeter-thick Grigio Carnico marble slab baseboards, chair rail, vanity top, and shower trims, seat and shelves. “It’s a striking combination,” says Jonathan. “The Ogee edge detail creates an early 20th-century effect, but the glass and metal trims infuse the room with contemporary flavor.” Julie likes the sophistication of the black-and-white contrast. “It’s not just a ‘hotel white’ bathroom,” she says. “The black marble finishes add another dimension. They let you know you’re in a home.” The bathroom was then painted a shade lighter than the fabrics in the master bedroom, making the space an extension of the bedroom while giving it its own identity.