In Robin and Ian Smith’s 200-year-old stone house on a lake outside Hudson, Quebec, country influences and inspiration weren’t hard to come by. In the 25-by-25-foot combined bathroom and dressing room, original features such as the hand-hewn wood beams and 14-foot ceilings were preserved, adding warmth, character and a unique framework to the former attic storage room. “We were used to having our own bathrooms,” Robin says, “so we wanted space. We decided to make one big, comfy bathroom.” The result, spa-like in its expansiveness, holds a generous two-person vanity, an oversized tub set under the window, and a glass-enclosed shower/steam room that boasts all the modern amenities.
Yet, though a creamy white is the primary colour, traditional elements prevail to create a look that is comfortable, textural and slightly rustic. Grey-and-peach tile – a reference to the old fieldstone used in the home’s construction – covers the floor and two walls of the shower. The lever-style faucets and drawer pulls are brushed pewter, the cabinetry and tub enclosure are faced with traditional panelling, and two tall mirrors were given distressed-finish frames.
Though the design of the bathroom is eminently practical, Robin appreciates the room as much for its sensual qualities. “The mirrors reflect the lake view from the window,” she muses. “My grandkids use the big tub as a swimming pool. And I love the warmth of the stone and the wood.”
Essentials
Heated floors are a wonderful addition: You can keep the heat quite low, yet the tiles are warm underfoot all the time. The Smiths wouldn’t want to forgo them.
Consider a higher-than-usual vanity height. Standard counters would ordinarily be about four inches shorter than the Smith’s, and the sinks add more height, but it works well in a large space, and is very comfortable to use.
Make it country
Small, low floral arrangements plucked from the back garden, or a handful of ferns from a woodland walk, make the best impromptu country touches – simple, yet they add a jolt of colour and vitality to all-white spaces. Use the humblest containers you can find: glass will ‘disappear,’ while clay adds character.
Layering texture in a room makes it interesting. An old-fashioned waffle weave gives plain white towels a homespun look.
Read more in Before & After and Bathrooms
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