A Trio of Baths

The Tudor Revival house, built in 1926, sits high on the western slope of Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill. The homeowners fell for its sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains beyond. The house had plenty of charm: coved ceilings, arched doorways, leaded-glass windows, a gracefully curving center staircase. Significant updating had to be done on plumbing and electrical systems, and to inadequate bathrooms that were dated and cramped. Architect David Heinen brought the house into the 21st century while Seattle designer Sheila Mayden created period-appropriate spaces for this active family of four.

The first-floor powder room was tucked behind the staircase; the new design embraces its unusual, curved layout. The homeowner loved the striking, digitally printed textile wallcovering “Menagerie of Extinct Animals,” from Moooi, and it became the cue to turn the space into an exotic jungle retreat. 

Avocado green-glazed subway tiles, set as a wainscot and wrapped around windows, tone down the busyness of the paper; two-inch Nova Blue limestone hexagonal floor tiles anchor the space and add to the forest ambiance. An accessible, walk-in shower created with the principles of Universal Design occupies one corner, in anticipation of future need.

Before, the only bath had been in the second-floor hall. The space was updated for the couple’s teenagers. (Another bathroom was added near the primary bedroom.) A blue palette was chosen for the bathroom, starting with pale-blue Dolce Sky 3"x6" subway tiles for the walls, wainscot, and tub surround. 

This room is directly above the first-floor “jungle” bath; the staircase’s curved wall was conserved but given a fresh look with Sherwin–Williams Reflection Emerald paint and high, floating wall shelves that wrap the curve. Vintage accents include gloss-white penny-round floor tiles, white scallop tiles set upside-down to mimic waves at the tub, period sconces, and an oval, retro-style mirror on pivots.

Across the back of the second floor, the principal bedroom is a romantic space with a fireplace and expansive views. For its new bathroom, several trial-and-error floor plans were drawn before a final layout was chosen. 

It’s a complex space, 7'3" x 10'7" with a sloped ceiling. A walk-in shower tucks snugly into the dormer. Walls and ceiling were covered with large, 12"x24" white Carrara tiles accompanied by polished-chrome Rohl plumbing fixtures; the look is vintage luxury. 

A custom vanity crafted from rift-sawn white oak, stained in walnut, has wide drawers for storage. The owners chose a heavily veined, black-and-white granite for counters and backsplash. The wall above the vanity is covered with a simple, wall-to-wall frameless mirror, expanding the small space. Vintage wrought-iron wall sconces, original to the house, were relocated at either side of the wall mirror, referencing the home’s Tudor-style intention.