Remodeling
A Splash of Class
Cold black tile has no place in a bathroom that is built to please and put homeowners at ease. This Skagit Valley bathroom got the transformation it was aching for—from harsh and outdated to warm, classic and timeless



before

The Challenge: Kathy and Brian Wolfe’s Skagit Valley home’s master suite had an “8-foot-diameter jetted soaking tub that looked as if it came from Caesar’s Palace,” says interior designer Garrett Kuhlman of Stanwood’s H2K Design. The challenge was to embrace the architectural elements—such as a triangular shower—while eliminating the aging design. “The color palette of shiny black tiles and gray carpet gave the bathroom a cold, very harsh feel,” adds Wendy Kennedy, co-designer and H2K partner. The Wolfes gave the H2K team carte blanche to modernize the look of the bathroom and soaking tub and give it a “classic sensibility,” Kennedy says.

The Solution: Kennedy and Kuhlman used colors and materials found in nature for the remodel. “[It’s] an organic approach to soften the severity of the angular architecture,” Kennedy says. The designers replaced the carpet with khaki-colored slate tile and the black-tiled vanity counter top with light brown granite, plus a marble tile backsplash. The vanity was shortened to accommodate two floor-to-ceiling, horizontal-grain white oak cabinets with pullout pantries and electrical outlets so that personal appliances are stored out of sight. Sconces and recessed lights replaced harsh fluorescent overhead lights, and a shower skylight lined with almond-colored tile provides additional light. An individual-sized bathtub replaced the soaking tub, and new partitions allow for greater privacy from the bedroom. Kennedy says that the visual variegations and subtle contrasts of “timeless materials evoke the earthiness and subtle richness of nature,” giving this bath an understated and ageless look.

  • Kohler’s Ledna sinks were under mounted to the granite counter top
  • Warm earth tones create a relaxed look and feel for the room that won’t become dated
  • Floor-to-ceiling horizontally laid white oak cabinets have pullout pantries and electrical outlets that eliminate clutter
  • Sconces and recessed lights replace harsh fluorescent lights and enhance earth tones in the granite and tile
  • Visual variegations in the slate floor tiles emphasize the organic approach used by the design team

Design Details

Interior Designers
Garrett Kuhlman and Wendy Kennedy,
H2K Design, P.O. Box 1270-10031, SR 532, Ste. B, Stanwood, (360) 939-2085