Juggling
two careers - mortgage broker and kid
chauffeur - requires a source of respite and repose.
Susan
Drawdy finds relief from the stress of her frenetic schedule in
a luxurious and relaxing master bath retreat. "it's the start
of every day and the end of every day," Susan says. "it's
a wonderful place to be."
In planning the bath, part of a 7,000-square-foot contemporary plantation-style
home in San Diego, Susan told designer Laura Birns to think big.
Birns complied, creating a 16x20-foot space with two showers, two
vanities, a separate toilet compartment, and even a small refrigerator.
But Birns also thought green. In this bath, environmental consciousness
is as important as beauty and luxury.
The materials - eucalyptus veneer and African mahogany for the cabinetry,
quartzite countertops, and marble flooring - are sustainable and
renewable. To conserve electricity, the space maximizes natural
light by day, offering two skylights and a large glass doorway to
an outdoor spa. When artificial lighting is required, the fixtures
are low-voltage models on dimmers. Likewise, the faucets for the
sinks, steam shower, and two-person conventional shower are water-conserving,
low-flow models. Energy-efficient radiant heating provides warmth
on cool nights, and the paints contain no volatile organic compounds
that pollute the air.
Those choices help beautify both the earth and the bath. Birns says
it's easier than ever today to design gorgeous, high-end spaces
using "green" materials. "In earlier days, it was
difficult to work in this framework," Birns says, citing durability
as a problem. "I could not do my clients a disservice by designing
and knowing that the piece wouldn't hold. But now you can design
with green and know it will last."
Because California has been a leader in the green building movement,
Birns says, there is a good selection of high-quality products to
choose from.
One challenge that remains is overcoming negative stereotypes of
eco-friendly spaces - people often assume they will be cold, austere,
and utilitarian. This bath should help. It's elegant and sophisticated,
offering the interplay of light- and dark-stained woods, natural
indoor-outdoor flow, and a spa-like aura born of open space and
simple design.
"It's a very warm room," Susan says. "I steam a lot
when I need to relax. I was looking for something that would be
very relaxing, very inviting."
Yes, you can renew the earth as you renew your soul. KBI
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