2022 Design Awards: Primary Bathroom Design by K Interiors

Author:Anh-Minh Le

When a Belmont couple reached out to Kristen Peña about a primary suite addition, their wish list included a bathroom sanctuary—a particularly welcome concept for the parents of two teenagers during a pandemic. The founder of San Francisco-based K Interiors kept the home’s Mediterranean-style architecture in mind while conjuring a space “that’s more contemporary, zen and spa-like—a little less busy,” says Peña. To that end, she adhered to a muted palette, relying on textures and materials to imbue warmth.

Calacatta marble covers the surfaces, including 12-by-24-inch floor tiles along with slabs that compose the walls, vanity top, tub deck and skirt, and shower surround. For the backsplash, Peña incorporated the stone once more, installing dimensional tiles from Artistic Tile. “It creates this beautiful backdrop of texture,” she explains. The antique brass Watermark fixtures and faucets echo the brass inlay of the ebonized white oak cabinetry fabricated by Pat McGregor. A pair of pill-shaped mirrors—procured from Black Rooster Decor and then backlit with LED strips—are flanked by Apparatus’ Talisman pendant lights, which combine blackened brass, Desert Jasper beads and tan leather cord.

While there is an abundance of beauty within the bathroom’s 160 square feet, one feature still manages to stand out: the custom-painted wall by decorative artist Caroline Lizarraga, with its gold elements adding to the luxe environment. “We wanted it to be ethereal and fit the mood,” says Peña, “but make a ‘wow’ statement as well.”