He Said, She Said Barbara Zimmerman and Bill Christian are having quite a design dilemma with their 1950s style master bathroom. Bill wants to preserve what he refers to as "charm." He feels the existing bathroom is functional and is happy just changing the faucet fixtures. Barbara, on the other hand, wants to gut the entire bathroom and start from scratch. Bill prefers pedestal sinks; Barbara wants a vanity for storage and counter space. She wants a whirlpool tub and a more open shower; He, of course, feels both the tub and shower are functional and just fine the way they are. Barbara prefers ceramic tile; Bill wants natural stone.
Shopping for Solutions
Designer Michael Payne suggests reorganizing the tub, toilet and shower. The new configuration, combined with new materials, will create a more open and updated feel. Barbara and Bill agree to Payne's plans and head off to shop for fixtures and sinks.
Barbara wants to maintain the vanity look for storage and counter space; Bill prefers pedestal sinks with classic lines. She decides pedestal sinks will be fine as long as they have a large surface area to place things on and a storage cabinet between both sinks for storage.
Payne, Barbara and Bill now try shopping for floor and shower surfaces. Bill wants natural stone everywhere, but Barbara feels ceramic tile in a sophisticated color will add just the touch she's looking for. In the end, Barbara gets the ceramic tile she wanted in the perfect combination of green and beige. Bill also gets the natural stone he desired on the floor. Together the two styles will create a handsome look for their 1950s bath.
A Happy Ending
The bathroom that once made Barbara feel claustrophobic is now an open, sophisticated room both she and her husband will enjoy. Bill sacrificed his peach tile to get his pedestal sinks, and Barbara sacrificed her vanity for a whirlpool tub and a new, more spacious shower. The compromises are evident everywhere you look in this timeless bathroom.
tile (Walker Zanger - D-Line)
tub (Hydro Systems - Solo 6032 or Solitude 6030)
toilets (Kohler - Memoirs/Stately, K-3439-96 in Biscuit)
wall paint (Benjamin Moore - #409)
Roman shades (Smith & Noble - #492 Regatta Khaki)
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