Lewis|Schoeplein architects transform a Los Angeles beach bungalow bath
Personal and energetic were the watchwords for a 1940s Los Angeles bungalow makeover recently completed by Lewis|Schoeplein architects. The L. A.-based firm is known for their California sensibility in the use of color, texture, and light, for creating connections with the landscape, and for their respect for the environment. For this project, the homeowners came to them excited about transforming their home and open to incorporating unique materials and color.
While much of the space was being remodeled, the primary bath is newly constructed, part of an addition at the rear of the house. Working with the homeowners, the designers envisioned a primary bath space that serve as a retreat from the active spaces in the home, which includes the homeowners’ living and work spaces. Calm but vibrant colors and natural materials that were both complementary and distinct from the rest of the house were the starting point. Working with the homeowners, the designers landed on the idea for a wet room for the space.
Using deep blue tile on the floor and rear wall created an ethereal look that sets a distinctive tone and accentuates the unusual slope of the ceiling. The custom wood cabinets and mirror ground the space nature, reinforcing the sense of the space as a retreat.
According to the designers, a freestanding bath was essential to the project. “The room is not large, but using the freestanding bath allowed us to achieve a sense of openness in the room that would have been impossible to achieve with a built-in tub.”
The designers selected Hydro System’s Newbury for the space. The simple elliptical shape of the tub works well with the angles of the ceiling and drama of the tile, the designers say. It appears as a floating element, both beautiful and functional. The high, sloping ceilings and tall slot windows allow natural daylight to surround the tub, reinforcing the sense of being connected to nature. “It also has a beautiful finish, which was important as it is highlighted so dramatically as the feature of our wet room,” say the designers. The elements all combine to create a clean, modern sensibility that centers the bathing experience.
In addition to its aesthetic qualities, the Newbury is designed for comfort (“not to be overlooked,” the designers say). This project fits perfectly into the understated, sophisticated beauty of the overall remodel and addition.
