A chic new bathroom in a brown stone from Charlestown serves as a place to shower the homeowner’s beloved dogs.michael j lee
During the renovation of the garden level of a maisonette in a brownstone in Charlestown, an unloved office was transformed into a stylish bathroom for very special customers: the owner’s two Irish setter champion show dogs. “It was a closet that she made into a home office that resembled a pantry,” says designer Lisa Buyuk. In order to optimally accommodate the owner’s canine teeth and aging parents who use the bathroom when they visit, Buyuk designed a curly-free shower that was hidden under the building’s front stairs. “There’s no curb or door to deal with, and the whole room can get wet,” she says.
1. Wall-mounted faucets and custom knobs highlight a pre-made vanity from Designer Bath in Watertown. “The unpainted brass finish will tarnish. A beautiful, timeless look when you can embrace patina, ”says Buyuk.
2. A 1950s mahogany mirror with rope holder, sourced online from Okay Art, a vintage design store in Basel, Switzerland, adds warmth and interest to a room lined with hard, mostly white materials.
3. Wall lights made of dark bronze dot the mirror and earth the room. “I prefer a mismatched, curated aesthetic,” says the designer. “Also, trying to match the interfaces between manufacturers is usually unsuccessful.”
4. The edge, the knee wall cladding and the counter are made of artificial stone with gray veins. Since the shower is mostly used by dogs, the designer skipped a separate shower head in favor of a handheld sprayer that can be mounted on a pole.
5. Machine-made subway tiles with irregularities offer a hand-made sensibility. “It’s a value-conscious way of incorporating the feel of an old brown stone,” says Buyuk. Using a single color makes the shower look more spacious.
6. Buyuk designed the Popham Design floor tiles so that the placement of the stars is just right. “I chose concrete for earthiness,” she says. “They’re sealed, but like unpainted brass, concrete is a living finish.”
Marni Elyse Katz writes regularly for Globe Magazine. Send comments to [email protected].
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