Bath Showcase: Soaking in the View

Today’s bathrooms continue to become personal retreats — relaxing sanctuaries where one can refresh and recharge while showering or bathing.

Imagine enjoying a leisurely bath while gazing at the ever-changing panorama of the White Mountains and Newfound Lake. This is the lovely reality that Jay Tucker of Old Hampshire Designs in New London created for his client as part of a striking new build.

“The client knew from the beginning that this view had to be part of her dream bathroom,” says Jay. “To accommodate that, we made sure that the window arrangement looked and felt right, and that, with the tub in place, no part of the wall or window transoms blocked the view. We used unadorned windows. The natural wood framework is in harmony with the bathroom’s simple design and lets the view take center stage. The tub is a Victoria & Albert Trivento freestanding design.”

While the tub is clearly the focal point, the rest of the bathroom is both elegant and efficient. There is a private toilet room and a shower area, and carefully planned, built-in shelving provides plenty of storage for crisp white towels and other essentials. A 9-foot vanity is done in chestnut-stained white oak to match the quarter-sawn flooring. It is topped with a brush-finished Carbo Quartz top. A custom wood-framed mirror and striking, oiled- bronze, geometric-style lights sit above the vanity.

Just beyond the shelving is the specially designed plank-tile shower, done by Shaker Hill Granite, who also created the vanity top. Each wall tile is made to echo the wood-paneled floor. River rock pebbles on the floor of the shower and a custom fir baseboard bring natural elements indoors.

Cream-colored walls are the perfect complement to the wood, and the simplicity of the room lets the view be the star.

“The room is understated, but every detail works perfectly together,” says Jay. “It really captures the essence of the natural world just outside.”