Vintage Vibe

Remodeler: VK Kontrakting, Chicago

Designer: Kitchen Vitality Design, Clarendon Hills, Ill

In a Nutshell: In addition to seeking more space and a new look for their small, dated master bath, the homeowners were also concerned about potential water damage from the existing glass-block window. 

Solutions: Although the clients favored a classic style, they wanted the design to remain aesthetically relevant for today. With this in mind, the team at Kitchen Vitality Design chose white subway tile with a beveled edge. The bevel adds texture, visual interest, and a contemporary flair to subway’s timeless appeal.

In order to create more room, a Roman corner tub was removed, the vanity relocated, and a pocket door selected for the bathroom entrance. Pocket doors add an average of 10 square feet of floor space and are a great option when there’s not enough room for a swinging door. That said, because of the way they sit on their tracks, pocket doors don’t seal as tightly as their hinged counterparts. This makes them perfect for a bathroom en suite, but less well-suited for a more public area. 

It was determined that the window in the tub area was in excellent condition, so rather than replace it, a frame of white quartz was installed, which serves to accent the tile and provides a ledge for soap and shampoo. 

The vanity was relocated to the adjacent wall and replaced with a Dura Supreme gray Shaker-style piece. “I’m all about the view as you enter a space,” says Danielle Burger, owner of Kitchen Vitality Design. “I want you to get the visual ‘Wow.’ Now, when the homeowners walk into their bathroom, they get to see that vanity with the two sinks.” 

White quartz with warm veining was selected for the vanity top. Tall, beveled mirrors from Pottery Barn contribute to the vintage sensibility, while filament-bulb glass sconces add a subtle, industrial touch. Richly colored navy blue paint provides contrast and excites the eye.

The brass light fixtures are part of an interesting new trend. “It’s really popular to mix finishes now,” Burger says. “Not every room has to have all chrome or all brushed nickel. So we mixed chrome faucets with the brass of the light fixtures.” 

See the full list of winning entries here.