Traditional Mix

The Schuettes wanted to create a master bath in their home on Nagawicka Lake that would provide the privacy and space they desired. Dream Kitchens of Delafield found the answer by decreasing the size of an upstairs patio and using the space for a new master suite. The master bath includes an oversized walk-in shower with granite walls and double sink vanity with an open shelf cabinet that houses a flat-screen TV, towels and accessories. Before their new suite was created, the couple shared a tiny upstairs bathroom with other family members. What makes it Anne Schuette’s dream bath? "No question about it — the granite shower, with the body tiles."

Details, Details

The award-winning historical renovation of this East Side Milwaukee home includes a second-floor master suite addition. The master bath, converted from a small bedroom, includes many his and her amenities, including separate Kohler sinks, medicine cabinets, tall linen storage units and a makeup area for her. Designer Tove Kenyon, interior specialist with B&E General Contractors, Glendale, employs the use of a rain glass privacy panel between the Kohler undermount soaking tub and toilet area. Costa Esmeralda granite tops the tub deck and the vanity, which are encased in custom Crystal cherry cabinetry. The floor is 12-by-12 porcelain tile; small stones and pebbles form a "river" around the tub and also on the shower floor. The shower walls are a marble mosaic with glass tile accents. The shower — the homeowners’ favorite feature — also features a built-in bench and fixed and hand-held shower heads. Other highlights of the renovation include a walk-in closet and second-floor laundry room adjacent to the master suite.

Old World Elegance

The stately 1903 home of Rick Fons on Milwaukee’s East Side now boasts a European-hotel-inspired master bathroom. Interior designers Karen Kravits of Pembroke Interiors in Lake Forest, Ill., and Robert Northington of RNID, Chicago, collaborated on the project. "While the client wasn’t interested in necessarily staying true to the style of the house, he wanted an Old World feel inspired by European hotels," Kravits says. The designers chose a color palette in shades of white and classic natural materials for the room: marble flooring, Turkish white marble wall tiles and 3-by-6-inch marble tiles for the shower laid out in a subway pattern. The mix of tile patterns adds visual interest to the neutral color palette and defines the spaces within the room. Kohler fixtures and sconces evoke a retro elegance. "It’s a space for a man but anyone would be comfortable in that space," Kravits says. "It’s a very livable space. Very polished and very sophisticated."

Old World Escape

David & Goliath Builders created a relaxing spa-like atmosphere for the Rodrigues’ master bath in their Pewaukee home. The setting was achieved through architectural details such as Mediterranean columns, decorative rustic tile, warm cherry cabinets with aged hardware, custom steam shower with body sprays, warm colors and Old World decorative accents to complete the tranquil feel. m