Designers Tamara Robbins Griffith and Jess Dybenko bring luxury and the feel of a bright, breezy summer day to a space-challenged bathroom.

Light and bright meets luxe and sophisticated, with a distinctly French accent, in this primary ensuite designed by Kerr + Field Interiors.

“Our clients requested a spacious shower, a vanity with lots of storage, and a freestanding soaker tub
with a view of the ravine behind their house, all while delivering luxe Parisian style,” says Tamara Robbins Griffith. The challenge? “An extremely long and narrow – only five feet wide! – footprint,” says Jess Dybenko. Every trick in the design duo’s toolbox was employed to imbue the room with an expansive feel while ensuring optimum everyday functionality and the luxuriousness of a boutique Parisian hotel suite.

Here’s how the designers orchestrated the feat and gave the room the easy sophistication that the French are famous for.

Insider Advice

Rethink your space

Radically reconsidering the layout enabled the designers to take the room from utilitarian to spacious and spa-like. “We decided to build a big, bright wet area that accommodates both the shower and the tub and kept the toilet out of sight in a water closet,” says Tamara. A single pane of glass seamlessly separates the wet area while simultaneously forging flow and an open feel all the way to the room’s focal point: the oversize window and its leafy ravine view.

Merge function and form

Tiles are a dominant element in bathroom design: they’re essential for functionality and largely determine aesthetic direction. The designers combined large- and small-format tiles to delineate surfaces. “A smaller- format tile is key in a wet room or on a shower floor,” says Jess. “Not only does it prevent slipping, but a mix of different sizes and formats of tile adds dimension to the room.” Mostly white surfaces open up the space, but when employed in different applications and patterns they keep the design dynamic.

Get beauty on a budget

The wall tile in the wet room provides optimal functionality and has big impact on the room’s style. “If slabs of stone are beyond your budget, consider large-format tile. With minimal grout lines, it can offer the look of stone-clad walls at a fraction of the price,” says Tamara. The pattern also connects inside and out, thereby expanding the space even beyond its walls. Tamara adds, “We really love
how the veining mimics and flows with the tree branches outside, and the jamb [trim] around the window frames the view perfectly.”

Add a fine finish

“Unlacquered brass fixtures and hardware add a lot of depth to the space, and their finish will develop a patina over time,” says Tamara. They also communicate luxury in one grand gesture.

Reflect on this

“In a small space, use a large mirror to reflect light,” says Jess. “This one was custom-made to fill the wall and boasts a slim-profile brass frame.”

Build a style story

The homeowner, who works in fashion and travels to Paris often, wanted the ensuite to reference her love of French design. “I think Parisians take a less-is-more approach to interior design, as they do in fashion,” says Tamara. “They are the mix masters of old and new, ornate and minimal.” She and Jess channelled that vibe in subtle ways, like combining a clean-lined modern vanity with Art Deco-style pendants and luxe unlacquered brass fixtures.

Make a point and counterpoint

While expanses of white visually widen the extremely narrow room, all-white could be overly clinical. The fix? A wood vanity, wood accents and matte brass metallic finishes all bring warmth and balance.

Store more

A wall in the wet room was built out to accommodate plumbing and now also does double duty as a ledge for accents and necessities like bath products, soap and a candle. “A ledge is a great alternative to a niche in the wall,” says Jess. Plenty of drawers in the floating double vanity keep everyday items stashed yet handy.

Accessorize artfully

Accessories aren’t major reno decisions, but a few select accents should be chosen to support a room’s design. Says Tamara, “The right towels, soap dish and other accessories tie the look together and complement the bigger investments.”

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