In Europe, the distance between Tudor and Bohemian design spans centuries and kilometers. In this Denver bathroom, they coexist happily.
When Denver-based Chalet renovated a vintage Tudor-style house in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood, the firm embraced the client’s bohemian aesthetic. In the primary bath, lead designer Regan Mattingly’s goal was to create an Old World feeling with New World functionality.
She accomplished that through bold, moody colors; traditional marble and brass; and funky lighting and accessories. The result is a simple yet sophisticated bathroom that respects the house’s Tudor style while embracing the homeowner’s worldly sensibilities.
“It’s clean but unexpected,” Mattingly says. “The homeowner was willing to take risks and not be mainstream.”
The bathroom’s focal point is the black-and-white checkered Thassos marble floor. “I like the Old World look of it, and it goes well with the black, freestanding clawfoot tub, the custom metal black windows, and the marble in the shower,” Mattingly says.
To both complement and contrast with the tub and floor, Mattingly chose a vintage soumak rug from one of her favorite stores, Bloom By Anuschka in Cherry Creek.
“I hate traditional bathmats,” she says. “Vintage rugs can go through the ringer in a kitchen or bathroom, and this one adds a fun splash of color.”
Rather than standard wooden vanities, the homeowner wanted a minimalist look. So, Mattingly opted for custom-built marble Palmer Industries vanities with brass legs and built cabinets around the tub for storage.
In keeping with the bathroom’s bohemian vibe, Mattingly juxtaposed the brass fixtures on the vanities with black iron-trimmed mirrors. Look closely, and you’ll see little black iron birds perched on top of the mirrors.
“That’s what I love about this homeowner— she’s totally willing to think outside the box and do fun things you don’t see everywhere,” Mattingly says. That includes the bathroom’s lighting. “I wanted something a little funky to go with the eclectic feel of the bathroom and the more traditional vanities and the brass,” Mattingly says.
The brass sconces on either side of the tub have large crystal globes and horsehair tassels. The overhead light from Cisco Home echoes the black and white of the floor and adds a black iron finish to match the mirrors and contrast with the brass vanities.
The result is a bathroom that “feels like it’s in a European cottage that’s been there since the 1800s, but with a current vibe,” Mattingly says.
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