design et al are delighted to announce that Ernesto Santalla PLLC have been shortlisted for Bathroom Award in The International Design & Architecture Awards 2019.
The spacious and luxurious spa master bathroom is a key element of a villa remodel on Longboat Key, a 16 square-mile barrier island hugging the southwest coast of Florida. A deep, freestanding tub is poised as the centrepiece, oriented to reveal a lush, glass-walled and colourful interior atrium positioned in the centre of the residence. This engenders a soothing and peaceful bathing experience seemingly rooted in a tropical rain forest. Ernesto Santalla’s favourite aspect of this project is the indoor/outdoor connection of the bathroom to the atrium.
Lounge seating provides a place to relax, perhaps read, or enjoy a glass of wine. Functionally, the sleek, white custom cabinetry dominates an entire wall – asymmetrically split between standing height at the sink counter, and chair height at a hair and cosmetics station. The opposite wall, composed of large, sanded, translucent glass panels, encloses the sloped rain shower, a cleverly compartmentalized commode, and a generous walk-in closet.
The lighting is, at once, purposeful, inviting and beautiful, permeates the room with softness and tranquility. A thin, recessed LED strip infuses a balanced illumination, creating the perfect radiance necessary for shaving and applying makeup. Strategically-inlaid stainless electric/UBS outlet pop-ups offer unobtrusive access to recharge, while complimenting the uninterrupted ivory quartz counter tops.
Italian porcelain tiles cover the floor surface throughout the bathroom, closet and master bedroom, providing a continuous flow of elegant colour and texture. All of these features are enhanced by the soft, serene and monochromatic colour scheme, resulting in a unique, solitary oasis brimming with all of the required components to relax, breathe heartily, and recompose. Function and beauty go hand in hand in this project, together with understated elegance.