Suzanna's architectural approach came into play when transforming a family home-turned rental property in South Austin. With only one shared shower for the whole house, it was clear that some retrofitting needed to be done to accommodate two full bathrooms.
Written by Wilson HackThe renovation began with the existing hallway bathroom. Two glaring issues: no storage and ugly HVAC drop-downs over the shower needed refined solutions. Moving the entry door over slightly allowed for a fixed and functional vanity. The ceiling was also altered in order to hide the duct work and allow for a clean height throughout.
In keeping with the original spirit of the 1946 house, a mid-century modern credenza found at an antiques store in Austin was turned into a vanity with impactful storage. Drawers in the center are flanked by two cabinets providing ample space. White reflective subway tile from Home Depot envelops the walls in order to brighten and enlarge the space while dark penny tile punctuates the floor, a decisive and durable surface selected with utility in mind. A fun, "science-y room" Chicago faucet gives off a playful vibe, as does the vintage first-aid cabinet over the toilet. Suzanna and her husband took a basic IKEA mirrored medicine cabinet and transformed it into a custom feature by wrapping it on all sides with welded steel plates. Lights from Schoolhouse continue the industrial classroom theme. A vintage Persian rug and towels, finds from the Round Top Antiques Fair, introduce playful and soft textures into the space. Overall, careful changes were made in order to brighten and streamline the space into a delightful and functional guest bath.
The master bathroom originally started out as a tiny half bath with no shower. Another full bath was necessary for the house to function but there was no clear answer for expansion. Suzanna solved the problem by moving the entire entry, formerly positioned in the middle of the space, over to the back wall, thereby opening up space for a shower. In a similar style to the hall bath, floor-to-ceiling white reflective subway tile was used to make the space feel more open and bright; however, the organic texture of the tile chosen elevates the bath to a slightly more luxurious feel. Off-white industrial square swimming tile helps to balance the natural texture of the tile as well as the wavy grain cascading down the custom oak vanity. The mirror mimics the existing casual but elegant elements. The Schoolhouse light fixture above the vanity was a splurge yet adds significant joy and character. Ceramics were hand-made by Suzanna herself, a therapeutic nod to her detailed design involvement. In addition to adding a shower to the master bath, a closet was also added to the bedroom in order to make the space a proper master suite. Suzanna’s eye for spatial planning enabled this project to be functionally successful while bringing character and joy into the design and execution.
