“A master bathroom is not the first room a guest may see, nor does it remain the tidiest room in your house, but it should still remain a sanctuary and a retreat. It is where you organize your thoughts at the beginning of a day, and where you wind down at the end of the day,” says Blair Parkes of Parkes & Lamb Interiors. Together Blair and Susan Lamb create serene spaces that range from warm and moody to crisp and clean. The enviable style in each of the five master bathrooms below is in thanks to this dynamic interior design duo. “We look for ways to reflect our client’s style and personality in our master bathrooms, while also making it a refuge and a beautiful extension of the rest of their house,” Susan Lamb tells us. You will feel rejuvenated by simply seeing these spaces.
A Stylish Retreat
A true complement to the style of the rest of the home, this bathroom artfully marries a light and airy design with darker tones and strong lines. “This particular master bathroom feels somewhat edgy and moody with its dark plaster shower walls, yet still crisp and structured with its matching warm white his-and-hers vanities that pose as pieces of furniture,” Blair tell us. “Elements of the interior of the home were translated into this space. The talented local iron artisan who made several custom items throughout the house made the mirrors and steel shower door.”
Not your typical bathroom floor tile, the porcelain resembles wood. Atop the floor a rug is placed to make the space feel more livable. “In all of our bathrooms, we like to bring in antique rugs, stools or furniture typically found in a living space,” Susan explains. In this instance, the rug is grounding as it brings color to the room and helps tie everything together.
Neutral and Bright
With this bathroom as proof, you can never go wrong with a neutral color palette. In the space, neutrals and grays create a crisp look. Tile limestone, the shower’s rock floor and a marble vanity top bring added interest and texture to the room. Two sinks are separated by a small sitting area. “This bathroom was designed for a young family who lives in a vibrant, energetic neighborhood. We wanted to create a space that felt tailored with current fixtures and finishes, so we decided to combine gray tones with brass accents. The room had tall ceilings and a lot of light, so we decided to maximize the space by doing a wall-to-wall mirror that would reflect the light and the surroundings to make the room feel even more impactful,” Susan shares.
Related: Interior Designer Crush(es): Blair Parkes and Susan Lamb
His & Hers
Dark and light color schemes define these his-and-hers bathrooms, respectively. In the bathroom for him, dark shades of gray and natural elements come together for a masculine aesthetic. The non-traditional vanity features wire-brushed oak with a natural finish and a waterfall countertop. In the shower, the walls are lined with limestone, and the floors are made of a smooth river rock, to tie in the natural elements. One thoughtful detail to note is the inlaid nickel that runs along three sides of the shower.
In her space, the muse was marble. “It’s almost like walking into a cloud when you walk in the space,” Susan tell us. “The floors are honed white marble, and the shower walls are honed Calcutta marble with an inlaid brass detail that plays off the antique brass lighting and cabinet hardware.” The brass accent in the shower mirrors the nickel accent in his shower. In addition to the shower, there is a free-standing tub that sits between a water closet and the shower. Above the vanity, a gold mirror floats over a large mirror. “The client had a beautiful gold antique mirror that she wanted to use, so we decided to install it over a wall of paneled mirrors,” Susan says. The creative solution makes the mirror a focal point in the room.
An Oasis for a Weary Traveler
As a regular traveler, the owner of this bathroom was looking for a relaxing space to escape. “We wanted to make sure that she came home at the end of the day to a peaceful sanctuary where she could relax and unwind,” Blair says. “The neighborhood is quiet with beautiful wooded views, and we wanted to reflect this in the design.” With cypress lining the walls and ceilings, the organic nature of the space is apparent. A natural hardwax oil stain was used on the wood and gives it a slight green tint — in its natural state, the wood holds red tones. Custom mirrors were used to accentuate the height of the room. The mirrors hang above his-and-her vanities, which have muted green undertones. Brushes of femininity are found in the chandelier, rug, art, brass fixtures and antique mirror sconces and help prevent the space from feeling too rustic or masculine.
Many thanks to Mary Craven Photography for the stunning photos.
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