A Smart Tech Bathroom
These clients were ready to incorporate the latest technology into their primary bathroom. We created a smart tech bathroom for them that included an Alexa-enabled mirror with integrated LED lights, a smart toilet-bidet from Kohler, a TV and a tub with a Hydro Fusion system.
Our clients also knew they needed a larger space to fit everything into their bathroom. “They wanted more usable space and more modern fixtures and finishes,” says our in-house interior designer Lauren Hoke. Also on their wishlist were an open curbless shower, more storage and a large soaking tub. They did not want any sort of shower surround, including glass. Lauren worked with the clients and architect Kristen Ware to make sure the bathroom renovation met all their needs and more.
Before
Space was too limited in the bathroom to incorporate everything on our clients’ wish list. So we broke through a wall to take over to an underused hodge-podge of a walk-in closet that was adjacent to the room.
Layout
Breaking through the wall to the closet and taking it over allowed us to widen the bathroom and line up an open shower with a large soaking tub with a Hydro Fusion system behind it. Our clients were drawn to contemporary materials and gray. The floor and wall tile is a digitally printed porcelain called “Black Anthracite.” The cabinetry paint is Sherwin Williams’ Iron Ore and the countertop is Masaccio quartz.
With all the gray finishes in the room, it needed warming up. The porcelain accent tile around the shower looks like bamboo wood, and the hardware and bench base are warm metal finishes.
Tile: Ice Nebraska Tea, Porcelanosa
Before
The vanity area had limited countertop and storage space.
Smart Tech Bathroom Features
As for technology, our clients wished to have a TV in the space. Kohler’s comfort height Eir toilet is a smart toilet with a built-in bidet. And the tub has a Hydro Fusion system. This noiselessly maintains the temperature of the water without having to add additional hot water.
The mirror has integrated LED lighting that with voice control via Amazon’s Alexa. Our clients can control the lights via voice control as well as play music, check the weather, control other smart home devices, play music and more. And it has a built-in microphone and speakers, as well as integrated Alexa technology so that they don’t need to clutter up the countertop with a device.
The TV is in just the right spot to enjoy it while soaking in the bath. Sleek matte black faucets and sconces accentuate the space. The color on the walls is Reflection by Sherwin Williams, a very subtle light gray. The ceiling is Sherwin Williams’ Pure White.
This is one of two sconces mounted over the tub have an accent that brings the warm metal over to the tub side of the room. The tub fixtures have a sleek contemporary look and include a handheld wand. This comes in especially handy when washing little ones’ hair or cleaning the tub.
Small details matter. A second sconce provides good reading light for the bathtub. On the top right you can see a simple hook that keeps a towel or robe handy to grab right after a shower.
Clarkson Medium Narrow Sconce: Visual Comfort
Storage, Countertop Space and Smart Bathroom Technology
We were able to fit in a dressing table area and vanity along this wall. The cabinet tower on the left has plenty of room for toiletries and extra towels. All of the cabinetry is custom. The mirror is voice controlled through Amazon Alexa. It has integrated LED lights that can be controlled by voice commands. The dressing table area has a smaller lighted makeup mirror.
The countertop is Masaccio quartz. It has an elegant look and the lighter gray is a nice transition between the dark gray cabinetry and light gray walls.
Faucets: Jason Wu for Brizo; Agnes Small Pedant: Visual Comfort
An Open Curbless Shower
The back wall of the shower has a stunning black ceramic elongated subway tile arranged in a herringbone pattern. The floating bench is Absolute Black granite. The black provides a wonderful contrast to the bamboo-colored tiles on the fixture wall.
Speaking of fixtures, the shower fixtures include a H2OKinetic round wall mount shower head, a Jason Wu hand shower and a ceiling fixture with three heads. The temperature controller and diverter is a Tampassic Thermostatic valve by Jason Wu.
Because this is a curbless shower, the floor has an almost imperceptible slant to it that runs the water down toward a 36-inch linear drain. This drain blends right in with the rest of the shower floor.
Grout choice was important too. We matched pale umber grout to the bamboo color of the fixture wall tiles and we used black grout on the black-tiled wall.
The black herringbone tile wraps around two sides of the open shower stall.
Two niches give each of the homeowners their own spot for their products.
If you need help modifying your home to meet changing needs of any kind, please give us a call to schedule a free consultation.
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