Best of Show – Bright & Bold Baths

A global pandemic could not stop these amazing designers and trade professionals from creating gorgeous spaces in 2021. We asked our customers to submit their best bathroom projects and we were NOT disappointed. In fact, it was hard to narrow down the top six! We know you’re going to love the results of these bold and beautiful transformations.  

Herringbone Black and White Spa 

Gather and Spruce holds itself to a high standard of design for its clientele. Their belief is that quality of life is directly tied to the beauty and functionality of one's surroundings. Their founder, Cherstin Toney, has the raw talent, education, and experience to bring a fresh and timeless perspective to every project. 

With every job, Gather and Spruce makes a commitment to maximize value and bring together smart design, products and services that suit every client’s personal taste and lifestyle. They have a very collaborative design process with clients and how they function and operate in their homes, looking for existing inspiration throughout the home, either in physical aspects such as existing art, or architecture of the home. Gather and Spruce believes the space should give a nod to the uniqueness of each individual occupying the space, while being beautiful and functional.   

This property, a ranch located in Crestmoor Park in the greater Denver area, was built in 1955 and converted to California Modern Style: with white walls, light floors and open and airy warm elements throughout. A unique thing about this property is that many features were built throughout the kitchen and bath to make life more convenient for German wirehaired pointer Stanley and Irish Wolfhound, Mortimer.  

For the bath, they transformed an old school primary bath with a corner jetted tub, small shower and open, exposed toilet into a beautiful, functional, updated space featuring a large shower, wet room, and jetted tub. The half wall creates privacy for the toilet and floating vanity as well maximizing floor space. 

For this primary bath remodel, the design played with pattern to create a bold visual impact (the designer credits the tile installer who nailed the herringbone, which they say is easy to flub!). The rift-sawn white oak floating vanity adds a perfect touch of warmth and texture to this cool and modern space. 

A Room with a View 

A leader among Arizona architects, Soloway Designs is an award-winning architecture and interior design firm. They specialize in green home design, otherwise known as sustainable architecture. Starting with the basic design of a home project, green home design is not just about using solar panels or tankless water heaters; It begins with how a project is designed in conjunction with its environment.  

Sustainable architecture is more intentional and thoughtful than other methods, taking into account topography, sun orientation, cross breezes, natural light, solar exposure, rainwater harvesting, and more. Green home designers also make an effort to use local materials to cut down on shipping, reducing the project’s carbon footprint. LED lighting is used in lieu of incandescent bulbs to cut down on heat load as well as elongate the life of light fixtures.    

Located in a beautiful, expansive canyon in Arizona, this modern hillside home takes full advantage of the surrounding views, and the bathroom was no exception. The tile, natural wood and floating vanity create a connection between the interior and the landscape. 

The result was a perfect balance of nature and luxury nestled in the stunning terrain of the desert. This bathroom feels at once open and insular; a place to relax and let go. 

Blue Tile En Suite 

Samantha Oaks (she prefers "Sam") has great taste and an eye for timeless design, having been in the fashion industry for 20 years. From the start of her career in the residential design industry, she noticed a gap: the demand for a high-end look without the exorbitant price tag. 

Sam traded in her Manolos for measuring tape and began designing under the name "Lucien Porter Design," based in Nashville, Tennessee. Where did the name come from? Having survived Hurricane Katrina, Sam needed a bit of light and hope. In French, “Lucien” means light...and with her sweet and loyal canine companion Porter by her side, she had the name for her firm: Lucien Porter Design Co.  

With this project, located in the heart of Nashville, it was important to restore the existing house and be true to its original style. The owner also wanted a few fun additions: a secret passageway to a reading nook in the attic, a hidden entrance from the dining room to the basement, and custom LPD tile installations. 

Because the bathroom is located in an older home, and due to historic home restrictions, there were some design limitations. For example, there was a window that couldn’t be moved, which left the challenge of placing a freestanding tub at the entrance of the room. Luckily, Ferguson provided several tub options that not only fit the scale of the space but also fit the design style. There was also no storage built into the existing design. Sam added a wall-mounted vanity with six large operable drawers for storage. Storage problem solved!  

Sam was grateful for the shopability of Build.com and her local Ferguson Showroom.  

Timeless Grand Retreat

The team at Thakkar & Co is made up of individuals from many different backgrounds and experiences, which is why they are able to work so well with clients across many different walks of life.  

They describe their design process as “iterative and incredibly fun” as they work and rework to find the perfect design for a space. First taking into consideration the overall style of the home, their team always begins the process by starting with cabinetry, which they feel sets the foundation for the space.  

For this home, they first considered the neighborhood, Highland Village in Houston. Says Thakkar, “The homes located in this area are a good mix between modern, transitional and traditional. We wanted to achieve a transitional home aesthetic that leaned towards being modern... the end result was a beautiful home which we felt walked the line perfectly.” 

For the bath, Thakkar & Co wanted to stay true to the transitional style of the home while adding some cleaner, more modern lines. They reached this balance with European style cabinetry, marble tile and aged brass fixtures and hardware.   

Luckily, many selections were available at Ferguson Showrooms and Build.com to achieve the final fabulous look.  

Old World Oasis 

The sister designers who lead LMOH Home call their signature style "functional luxury” which they describe as “homes that feel as good as they look.” 

To achieve this, they begin their design process by being thoughtful about the distinct rhythms and values that reflect their clients' lifestyles. They then translate that into “a space that embodies their [client's] essence in a way that is timeless, distinctive and unexpectedly practical.” 

For example, this client had an affinity for onyx and classic architecture, which heavily influenced the design direction. Additionally, they considered how the space would be lit and planned: a layered lighting design from multiple sources to ensure the best function and aesthetics. They utilized light tunnels and windows to provide ample natural light while recessed lights in multiple areas ensure practical task lighting. Sconces and chandeliers over the tub and vanities provide statement and ambient lighting. 

This space is truly an oasis. The client’s wish list included everything for a spa-like sanctuary: a dry sauna, a jetted, multi-user tub, and a steam shower — all to remain accessible for the clients as they aged.  

The steam shower includes Color and Sound Therapy. Separate areas are designated according to function, including: a vanity room, shower, sauna, and bath area. Inspiration was drawn from the client’s love of natural stone, traditional architecture, and ancient Roman baths. Marble, warm woods, and exotic onyx-clad walls play up the old-world luxury. 

Stone and Tile Transitional Space

Brianna Sheehan, Principal Designer and owner of Brianna Michelle Interior Design, takes a unique approach to her craft. With every project, she examines her client’s lifestyle with the goal of creating an aesthetic that is beautiful, functional, and ready to be lived in. This distinctive technique results in spaces that are unique to each client as well as consistently sophisticated and welcoming.  

Brianna loves the construction process. For this project, she partnered with the homeowners and contractor to translate the client’s vision into a true dream space.  

Texture and mixed finishes played a big role in the design of this bath, using materials and fixtures that will age well and look beautiful. The result is a bathroom that is comfortable and enjoyable for everyone-- no matter what time of the day.   

The possibilities are unlimited when it comes to home design, especially when the designer sets out to create spaces that are stylish, functional, and comfortable. This bath weaves together mixed elements such as wood, metals and greenery to accomplish a design the homeowner fell in love with. 

View each of these bathrooms, the final photos, and even shop the products that made each of them our stand-out projects for 2021 on their Shop By Look pages!