The Solution
“To make the conventional rectangular bathroom look larger and comply with the ‘water’ theme our customers requested, we placed forty-nine, 12-inch-by-36-inch flat horizontal white wave tiles that mimic water on all four walls, even in the shower and above and around the wall-hung toilet,” says Woods.
To help create an uninterrupted look Woods chose the Geberit 2x6 in-wall toilet tank system with a polished chrome Sigma01 water-saving flush actuator plate. The Geberit system places the unsightly toilet tank behind the wall. With the tank out of the way, nothing interrupts the flow of white waves surrounding all four sides of the room. The white wave tiles create a sense of continuous movement and spaciousness. Satin paint in a color that mimics storm clouds creates a striking accent and complements the water theme.
“Our design received first place in the small bathroom category in the 2018 NKBA design awards. Geberit in-wall systems gave us more uninterrupted wall space to effectively use a wave-based tile design for our customer.” — Tanya Woods, AKBD
The Sigma01 flush plate is the only visible element of the Geberit system in the bathroom and allows easy access to internal components – with no tools. The shimmering chrome flush plate reflects, like water, the room’s wave design. The flush plate saves water with built-in dual flush and operates reliably push after push. The flush plate can be easily switched out if customer design requirements change.
To complete the water theme Woods used a carved walnut veneer cabinet, reminiscent of driftwood, with floating vanity sink. A compact waterfall faucet with open spout allows water to flow naturally. Gray marble on the floor anchors the look. Woods also employed a system that bathes the bathroom space in bright white and cobalt lighting, reflecting on the white tile as sun reflects on the water.
One unique touch – a suspended hollow orb lamp – suggests marine coral. The light from the lamp can be changed by remote to various colored LED lights, casting a blend of lights and shadows and creating an ethereal, underwater feeling. A final touch in the water-themed bathroom is a painting by her clients’ favorite artist of a Scottish terrier (their favorite breed of dog!) running down a beach with waves in the background.
“Many people are surprised that Xstyles Bath+More specialize in the design and installation of bathrooms. We distinguish ourselves from other designers by focusing on our favorite room in the house, any room with a toilet. We prefer the Geberit flush systems in our toilet design over problematic chains and flappers that could corrode and fail,” says Woods.
“We have used Geberit in-wall systems for years and will continue to use them in the future. This time Geberit became part of our design. Our customer got their water-themed dual guest bathroom and powder room in part thanks to Geberit,” says Woods.