Bathroom: Asian Influence Creates a Multifaceted Retreat

Each area of this home is decorated in a specific Asian theme, an ode to various countries the homeowner has visited on frequent travels throughout Asia. With so many themes under one roof, creating a visual impact required close attention to detail and a true understanding of interior design.

Holliday Group president Craig Holliday collaborated with interior designer Pandora Seibert because of her extensive background in Asian design. They converted the home's master suite into a "harmonious, flowing, miniature Zen area," says Holliday, who credits Seibert with ensuring that the finished product's style was authentic.

The resulting 250-square-foot, Thailand-inspired master bathroom is split on either side of the master bedroom. One area houses an alder and teak vanity with dual vessel sinks, a water closet and a frameless shower enclosure. The balcony on the other side of the master bedroom became a Zen rock room, with a stand-alone shower head and whirlpool tub. The black slate floor underneath the Mexican beach pebbles is waterproof, and with the drain closed, the rock area can be transformed into pond. Holliday and Seibert used concrete under slate tiles to create slightly elevated steppingstones to the tub's teak deck, giving the impression that one actually is walking on stones.

The $50,000 bathroom was part of a $200,000 whole-house remodel.

When clean lines and simplicity are essential to a space's architecture, measuring accurately and hiding unattractive functional elements take on added importance. The homeowner wanted nothing but trim (no backsplash) between his vanity top and its mirror. This required the vanity to be custom-built for the space and called for a completely concealed plumbing system for both areas of the bathroom. The drainpipes for the sinks were custom-made to be routed around the top area of the vanity rather than appear below, and the valve for the rock room's shower is mounted by the tub, which conceals it. In addition, all lighting transformers are hidden, and there are no light switches. A rheostat controls all lighting in the home. Photos by Bob Mauer

Remodeler: Holliday Group of Sarasota Inc., Sarasota, Fla.

Interior designer: Pandora Seibert Interiors, Sarasota

Project location: Sarasota

Age of home: 20 years

Scope of project: new master bath and Zen room in a completely gutted home

Sinks, tub and faucets: Kohler

Tile: Dal-Tile

Lighting: Lightolier

Vanity/cabinets (custom): Foote Woodworking (Sarasota)