Page 73 - Canadian House & Home - xxx 2010

SLEEK SANCTUARY
FROM TRAD VICTORIAN TO
FLOAT A VANITY — OR TWO CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC.
To maintain a light, airy vibe, Riesco
Even though Karin Smith’s
designed two floating vanities in
Vancouver home had undergone a
bleached oak — a practical his-and-
renovation about five years ago, she
hers solution. Each features a wall-
was never happy with the ensuite.
mounted faucet and frameless mirrors
“It was pretty,” says designer Nancy
above Carrara marble slab counters
Riesco, “but Karin realized she
and backsplashes.
Sink, Catalano; faucet, Grohe. wanted something more modern.”
Making it contemporary, but not
too cutting-edge, meant sticking
DEFINE THE WET ZONE
to a mostly white palette with
Oversized white subway tile on the
modern fixtures, and injecting
walls of the wet room was a budget-
references to the past, like the
friendly move. “It’s a simple tile —
classic Carrara counters,
using an abundance of it made the
freestanding tub and hexagonal
look more interesting,” says Riesco. floor tiles. “I think all rooms need
Tub, Acri-tec; tub faucet, Aquabrass.
to be mixed up a bit,” says Riesco.
Behind glass doors is the focal point:
a wet room housing the tub and
double shower. “I love the whiteness
of the room; it makes me feel calm,”
Karin says. “When we have guests,
my husband always brings them
up here — he loves to show it off!”

BEFORE

Photography by Donna Griffith (opposite)/Janis Nicolay (this page)

RENO WHERE TO SPLURGE
IDEAS
• Custom oak vanities
• Freestanding tub
• Carrara marble for vanity
tops and backsplashes
WHERE TO SAVE
• Oversized subway tile
in wet room

• Hexagonal floor tiles
• Frameless mirror panels
over vanities

SEE SOURCE GUIDE H&H FEBRUARY 2010 71

12/8/09 6:26:37 PM
FEB - Bathrooms.indd 6
FEB - Bathrooms.indd 6 12/8/09 6:26:37 PM