It’s like the original design of this 1980s condominium’s master suite was a puzzle someone put together the wrong way, and 30-some decades after an architect arrived and put all the bits in which they always should have been. Architect Amy Alper took a badly laid-out master suite and reconfigured it into a smaller bedroom with a fresh bathtub and sink space, a hallway and a cupboard. The owners are empty nesters that reside in Los Angeles, and they purchased the Sonoma, California, condo to have another house near their kids; they are likely to live there full time eventually.
Before Photo
This condo was created from the 1980s, a time that adopted extra expanses of square footage from the bedroom. “There has been an undefined sitting area adjacent to the bedroom which was a big, empty space,” Alper says. The adjoining bathrooms were small and utilitarian.
The distance between the double-door entrance to the space and the window seat was empty and fresh. The mattress is just to the left of the tall dresser (see expanded view).
Amy A. Alper, Architect
Alper scooped up this distance and reassigned into a new bathtub and vanity room. Now the bathtub sits in the bay in which the window seat has been. She reassigned the outdated mirrored cupboard to upper and lower recessed cabinets with touch-latch hardware; 2 of those cabinets are shown on the ideal side of this picture.
Alper balanced the living space with a thoughtful flow of color and materials. The flooring tile continues up the bathtub surround. The 11/2-inch-thick Caesarstone from the countertop continues round the space as a sill. The same white pine outlines all the lower cupboards on the ideal side of the space.
Sconceson dimmerscreate a flattering light.
Cabinets: habit, Hope Cabinetry and Builders; window remedies: Smith and Noble; sconces: Elf2 Toilet Light; tile: Designs Tile and Stone; hardware: Sugatsune; sinks: Kohler; faucets: Axor Starck, Hansgrohe
Amy A. Alper, Architect
Prior to the remodel that the couple had two comparatively small closets. Alper transferred the entrance to the space to the left, making space for a new walk-in closet and hallway, as you can see in this plan.
Before Photo
The area you see in this film is currently the master bathroom/hallway and walk-in cupboard. Alper shifted the double entrance doors closer to the bed, as you can see in the ground plan. The toilet/shower room remains in the same place, supporting the mirrored cupboard.
Amy A. Alper, Architect
The owners wanted their house to have clean lines and textures, which Alper brought in through bamboo floors and ceramic and glass tile.
Continuous edges give the space a contemporary sense, while the mix of textures and rich, neutral hues warms the room. The accent wall and tubular sconces bring about some curves that are welcome.
Ceiling light: Elf 8 Square Ceiling/Wall Light
Amy A. Alper, Architect
The mosaic glass tile on the curved wall can be looked at from the bathtub and out of the mattress. “It’s the unique piece and has been worth the splurge,” Alper says. “The room feels larger because it incorporates the hallway together with all the glass wall as a backdrop to the space.”
The cork flooring is comfortable underfoot, absorbs sound and provides delicate texture and color.
Mosaic tile: Oceanside Glasstile
Amy A. Alper, Architect
Dashed tile details play pattern in the new shower. Though the dimensions of the shower room remain exactly the same, the crystal clear glass and new tile give it a more spacious feeling.
Shower fixtures: Axor Starck, Hansgrohe; tile: Designs Tile and Stone
Contractor: Rockridge Construction
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