Lovely in Limestone
Dream Baths | March 2006
For privacy without blocking light or views, a limestone faced half-wall rises up between the sink and soaking tub.
A penchant for organic materials and refined design led to the creation of this couple friendly bathroom. Clad in limestone and accented in glass, the space overflows with clean lines, build-in storage and tropical Floridian views.
Homeowner Susan Newhauser adores soaking in the baths limestone tub. Her husband, Richard, prefers to wash away his bicycling aches in the glass-enclosed shower at the other end of the room. Thanks to clever planning by interior designer, Michael Wolk, both Susan and Richard share views of a lush garden, palm trees, and Biscayne Bay.
In remodeling their home, the Newhausers and Wolk sought to retain the contemporary 1970s look created by the home’s designer and original owner. “We basically gutted the house but came up with a design that respected the home’s architecture,” Wolk says. “The style was always about creating a plus minimalism using the finest materials.”
Limestone provides the perfect backdrop for understated sophistication. “The walls, floors, sin, and tub are all created from slabs of limestone,” Wolk says. “We chose limestone because of how it felt to the touch, its beautiful warmth, and its subtle graining pattern that works well with more modern designs.”
On the side of a limestone-faced half wall sits a trough sink carved from a slab of limestone. The tub sits on the other side, in front of a refurbished picture window. The tub perfectly fits both Susan and Richard. During the design stage, the couple sat in the tub cavity so it could be contoured to their reclining bodies, heights, and views of the world outside.
A clear glass enclosed ensures even the shower seems enclosed in earthen textures. Glass appears in the toilet enclosure, as well as on the built-in medicine cabinets and the mirrors suspended above the sink. “We wanted the sink and mirrors to stand alone, so the built-in cabinets were a nice way to keep necessities within reach,” Susan says. For visual interest, interior lights brighten the enclosures.
Yet the limestone elements take center stage. “The bath has such a beautiful inside-and-out feeling, which we both love,” Susan says.
Steps ease entry into the custom-contoured tub. The homeowners enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean’s Biscayne Bay while they soak.
By Design Baths