Masterful Bath: Period Millwork in an Addition

Without overwhelming the 1927 bungalow, an addition designed by Ione Steigler and Joseph Reid of IS Architecture provided family space—and more authenticity in both the new kitchen and master bath. The designers included an expansion to the rear and an entirely new second floor, cleverly set back so as not to overwhelm the original roof line. (It’s not a new idea: Houses like this were called airplane bungalows and the perched second level sometimes called the cockpit.)

Rearranging the placement of two of the existing bedrooms and a bath on the first floor allowed for maximum use of space and easier flow. The new additions accommodate a larger, more period-appropriate kitchen and adjacent family room as well as an expanded master suite upstairs. Such architectural details as arches and mouldings were patterned on details in the original rooms.

The master bath has plenty of storage, provided by twin custom cabinets inspired by the offerings in 1920s millworks catalogs. The recessed, flush medicine cabinet is another period feature. The bathroom follows the “sanitary” preference for white during the first two decades of the 20th century. Floor and wall tiles, bath fixtures, and even the paint are bungalow-era white. Pops of cobalt blue lend dimension. The new kitchen, too, is outfitted with white-painted, flat-panel cabinets and bungalow windows. Upstairs, an expanded master suite offers a sitting area, an office, a walk-in closet, a well-appointed laundry room—and the new bathroom shown here. Although it’s a good size, only one sink would fit, given the desire for a soaking tub separate from a shower. Multiple users are served by still more clever cabinet details, like the fold-down makeup shelf facing a cubby.