exclusive showhouse preview

We’re excited to once again be a part of the Wichita Symphony Showhouse.  This year the showhouse is located at 225 North Roosevelt. The home is owned by a wonderful young family- Billy & Stephanie Boyle, whom we have become very fond of. Proceeds from the tickets sales benefit the Women’s Association of the Wichita Symphony.

Our room in this year’s show house is the main bathroom.  It is located on the second floor and will be shared by the women of the home.

At 8’-0” x 12’-0”, this space had a lot demanded of it, it needed to: accommodate Stephanie and her three daughters (quite possibly all at the same time); provide adequate storage for all of the things we women require to make ourselves presentable; provide open spaces for display & plenty of storage; and if possible, include a bathtub. This is the space as it was when we started… an empty space that had already been gutted.

We set to work and, after several revisions, this is the floor plan and elevations we presented…

And this is the final result...

[photograph borrowed from the showhouse program]

Now to backtrack a little, here’s a breakdown of the design process. It all started when I toured the home for the first time and walked through the beautiful leaded glass entry door.

I instantly thought of this fabric: Fioretto in the colourway Sprout. (Yes, I have a fabric catalog in my head and frequently refer to it…welcome to my world!)

On each and every project, we search for an element that can be subtly altered and repeated throughout the space. This brings a sense of comfort in the cohesiveness, even if the occupant doesn’t pick-up on the details or understand why. On this project, it was the blending of the organic, undulating line contrasting the sharp geometric angles found in the leaded glass pattern. This contrast was repeated throughout the room and presents itself in the tub splash…

the detailed vanity skirt trim and hexagonal ceramic floor tiles…

the marble backsplash…

and the vintage lantern, which was found, in it’s original brass finish, at Juliana Daniel Antiques. (did you notice it’s also hexagonal?)

We spray painted it celadon and silver and the Kaarskoker candle sleeves just happened to be an exact match. (I really love it when that happens by accident.)  

The vintage secretary was a craigslist find (though it was originally golden oak). We applied several layers of stain and spray painted the interior a rich peacock blue. It now serves dual duty as linen storage and as a dressing table. Since mirrors are prime real-estate in a bathroom shared by women, we provided a small vanity mirror and lamp for the secretary.

We like to mix unexpected textures and styles together as it gives a room its own unique character. Here we contrasted to the traditional American secretary, with a carved African stool. (please forgive the missing hardware… they’re resting safely in the drawers.)

One of the Boyle’s favorite features of the bathroom is the trough sink with dual faucets. We love the contrasting textures of the honed carrara marble and the polished chrome fittings.

Lastly, the bookshelves above the tub have a hidden secret… the bottom shelf is wired and sized for a small flat-screen television for long baths while watching Pride and Prejudice… 
   Calgon take me away!

For those of you who are still reading, THANK YOU!!!

BTW, all photos not credited were taken by my exceptionally talented sister-in-law, Stevie Cowgill, who is currently starting her own photography studio. You can be sure I’ll keep you posted!

kindly,