Soft Modern in Kirkland
By: Anna Popov
Soft Modern in Kirkland
By: Anna Popov
Finished Project photography by Anton Benedikt
Looking at our portfolio, you may be led to believe that we only take on large-scale, large-scope projects in homes with plenty of natural daylight, spacious rooms and beautiful views. Although those types of projects are plentiful for us, this could not be farther from the truth. Although we may not photograph every project we complete, they are all dear to us and they all get the same dedication, diligence and commitment.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
A perfect example of this is our Soft Modern Project that we completed earlier this year. The homeowners came to us looking to update two small bathrooms in their 1970’s split level home in Kirkland WA. One bathroom was on the main floor and the other was in the basement. The bathrooms were both very small (the main floor being 7ft x 9ft and the basement only 6.5ft x 7.5ft) and the family had no idea how to make them more functional in such tight quarters. What they did have however, were realistic expectations of what could be achieved, a strong sense of the style they wanted, and probably most importantly, an understanding of good design and how in the right hands, these bathrooms could be greatly improved long term.
Existing Floor Plan
New Floor Plan
MAIN FLOOR BATHROOM
With no extra space to borrow from, we set about space planning. When clearances are tight and high function is required, we have to be extra clever about our layout and literally every inch counts. The clients really wanted to keep a bathtub in the room, so there was no other option than to keep the layout as it is, update the clearances and use clever detailing to make the room not feel so cramped. Next, we moved to materiality. Often people think that to make a small room feel bigger, you have to go all white. Although keeping things light with a very modern vibe was a priority for us, we know that this is achieved with thoughtful material choices and a holistic approach. We chose off white tiles but made sure they had subtle texture and hints of soft warmth about them. We brought the modern look with stunning matte black plumbing fixtures layered with brushed nickel accessories.
Next up was lighting. Good lighting is one of the main factors in taking a dull, dark room and giving it life. The homeowners wanted light they could control and enjoy for different purposes. We added a custom backlit vanity mirror with an intersecting bar light for a touch of drama as well as a concealed strip light within the shower niche for some nighttime ambience. We made sure they had plenty of functional lighting too.
We are big believers in and always advocate for a custom vanity. That way we can make it work perfectly for our clients and fit into the perimeters of our design. We used some tricks to make this vanity function to the max including an offset sink, wall-mounted faucet, power outlets integrated and storage for hair appliances, electric tooth, accessories and storage. It may be small, but it packs a punch!
The results are pretty dramatic, and we must say that we are delighted that our clients now have a beautiful, functional and modern space to enjoy for years to come. Scroll down for the BEFORE pictures, you won’t believe your eyes!
Existing Floor Plan
New Floor Plan
BASEMENT BATHROOM
This tiny basement bathroom had a cramped and unsuccessful floor plan with no natural light. In homes of this era here in the PNW, it is very common to have a plumbing wall, blocking off an enclosed shower, a toilet and pedestal sink and that is it. The room also had a built-in storage closet in one corner that did not help the situation. We decided to demo the entire thing and start from scratch. A fresh perspective and some thoughtful planning and we settled on a layout. Moving plumbing can be tricky and on their own, the clients may never have been brave enough to do it, but we knew it was the right thing to do, with us by their side.
With no natural light, we decided to look on the bright side and use it as an opportunity to add a little drama to this small place. We chose a 3D geometric wall tile for the back wall of the room that we lit with a continuous LED, creating shadow and interest. For the rest of the room, we chose large format tile to bring proportion and scale. We designed custom glass shower doors, a main factor in us being able to open up the space, and a space saving shower niche. For continuity, we used the same line of plumbing fixtures and bathroom accessories bringing depth for that soft modern vibe. Another backlit vanity mirror, custom vanity and decorative pendant light brought this room to the next level.
Making a room feel spacious and comfortable is all about creating a feeling. Every decision we make, especially in small spaces, comes loaded with whether that decision will make things feel bigger or not. We installed heated floors in both bathrooms to do just that; to evoke a feeling of home so these bathrooms can make you feel like you are being wrapped in a big warm blanket.
As a designer, when we are faced with limitations, that is our time to shine. That is when we are challenged to dig deep. That is when the good stuff really starts to happen, and we are pushed to be better.
MAIN FLOOR – BEFORE
BASEMENT – BEFORE
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