BATHED IN ELEGANCE
A once dark and windowless bathroom is washed away in favour of a luxury ensuite lathered up with lots of marble, natural light and a beloved bathtub.
A once dark and windowless bathroom is washed away in favour of a luxury ensuite
T he impetus for this undeniably elegant master bathroom, reminiscent of a luxurious European hotel suite, was more humble than you might think. “I just wanted a bathtub,” says homeowner Dayna Arron.
When Dayna and her husband, Jonathan Behar, moved into their Toronto home nine years ago, they focused on redesigning the main living areas to suit the needs of their young family. When it finally came time to redo one of the couple’s spaces, Dayna pulled out all the stops, starting with hiring designers Ingrid Oomen and Vanessa Kwan of Qummunicate.
The first thing Ingrid and Vanessa did was rejig the floor plan. “The bedroom had a small ensuite and a large walk-in closet that had more space than the couple needed,” says Ingrid. So the bathroom became the closet, and the walk-in became the 11-by-11-foot setting for a dream bath – a smart, splurge-worthy switch. “Moving the plumbing and adding the window were expensive endeavours,” Dayna admits, “but the room needed natural light.”
That light now bathes a classically inspired space enlivened by judiciously chosen contemporary elements. “I’m drawn to the juxtaposition of old and new,” says Ingrid. “While the floor tiles and the wall panelling are traditional, the pendant light and sculptural bathtub are sharply modern.” It’s a mix Dayna also loves. “The classic features are balanced with a slight edginess that gives the room energy,” she says. “In fact, the contemporary pendant light in front of the window is almost as compelling as the tub. Almost.”