W hat really shapes a bath? Is it the owner, the location, the trends of the moment? We spoke to two designers who started with something in common—beautiful Kohler designs for the bath—to explore how their paths diverged. Christa O’Leary was designing for a home in a coastal town in New England. “So I wanted it to be a refreshing take on traditional that was not fussy but elegant, timeless and sophisticated,” she explains. Her clients requested the bath feel like a spa oasis, while still remaining functional. Meanwhile, Michele Plachter was working a little closer to home in Haddonfield, N.J., which she describes as “a picturesque small town that exudes classic Americana.” Her homeowners requested a bathroom that would feel fresh, open, and stylish. Functionality was a priority for them as well. So, with fairly similar requests, how did they arrive at these distinctive results? What speaks to the designers matters. “I am obsessed with pattern play,” explains O’Leary. “ I love creating refreshing pattern combinations that are unique and inspir- ing.” She started with the decorative wall marble, allowing that to inspire choices like the hexagonal floor tile, which in turn led to the cabinet hardware. Meanwhile, Plachter moved upward. “We fell in love with the floor tile at ‘hello’ and the inspira- tion flowed from there,” she says. The pattern has the appearance of interwoven wood weathered to varying shades. This led to anchoring the space with darker cabinets and fixtures, while keeping “the envelope of the bathroom light and bright.” The result is a sophisticated study in contrast. The designers also shaped their respective rooms to fit their clients’ routines. For example, though the tub is definitely the focal point in the bath O’Leary designed, the gentleman of the house prefers a rain shower, which she tucked behind a wall. But for days when the lady of the house doesn’t want to get her hair wet, her showering T E X T PAUL HAGEN PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL J. LEE DESIGNERS TAKE DIFFERENT PATHS TO TWO UNIQUE BATHS
Christa O’Leary brought her “Home in Harmony” philosophy to this home.
Versatile Kohler bath designs look just as at home on “his” vanity as “hers.”
www.KOHLERbyGPS.com
KOHLER Signature Store by GPS
11
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online