John De Bastiani on Designing the Ultimate Indoor-Outdoor Bathroom
The designer discusses how he created a bath where you can shower indoors or outdoors.
Christine Pittel: That shower takes indoor/outdoor to a new level.
John De Bastiani: It’s California, and the weather here is so wonderful, you just want to be outside. So why not have an indoor/outdoor shower?
It’s magical. All that separates the two stalls is a thin wall of glass.
The whole room feels very open. A ton of light flows in. Even when you’re using the inside shower, it seems as if you’re out in the garden.
The showers are the same size, with the same fixtures, but feel different.
I used different materials to create different moods. The inside shower has large 12-by-24-inch tiles on the wall, matte rather than shiny — I hate shiny — and they feel contemporary. Then the V-board on the outside shower is more cottagey. But I ran the tile horizontally, like brick, so the treatment is a bit traditional and relates to the horizontal V-board — they’re almost the same scale. The contemporary and the traditional coexist. You get a look that’s fresh and updated but still true to the overall mood of this 1950s ranch house.
Why choose wood for the shower floors?
It’s warmer than stepping on cold tile. And it looks like decking, which also gives you a sense of being outside. We used ipe wood, which means you don’t have to worry about rot. It lasts forever.
Why move to a darker wood for the vanity?
I wanted to strike a modern tone, and the darker wood does it for me. There’s a lot going on in the room, and I wanted this piece to be streamlined and simple.
What’s on the counter?
Caesarstone. It’s durable and good-looking. Marble would also have been great, but it etches and stains easily. Caesarstone is worry-free.
Why did you pair a more traditional faucet with a modern rectangular sink?
I think I was missing the traditional appeal of the V-board, and I wanted to bring a bit of that over to the vanity.
What’s the finish?
Brushed nickel. I tend not to use a lot of chrome — too shiny. Nickel can be dressy, but the brushing takes it down a notch and makes it more casual.
Are there medicine cabinets behind the mirrors?
Yes, but you can’t tell. They practically disappear.
There must be a story behind that hanging light.
It’s a vintage piece that the clients found at a flea market. They love this room, especially in the morning light. It gets the day off to a good start.
