“The bathroom had been remodeled in the 1990s, and its contemporary style was incongruent with this Arts & Crafts home,” says designer Lynn Kloythanomsup. “We aimed to bring back the traditional touches that were consistent with the original architecture, but included modern updates.” Set in the Richmond District of the city, where streets are often filled with fog billowing in from the nearby Pacific Ocean, the property was built in 1914 as a typical two-story row house. At first, Morby was only interested in reconfiguring its main bathroom, which had an open layout united by a brown-and-beige palette and the need for more light. She and the team envisioned a brighter and bolder retreat that would honor the home’s history by its classic build and sturdy furnishings. They looked to English country homes for inspiration, but still wanted to capitalize on as much California sunshine as possible. “We combined a tub and shower area beneath a beautiful arched niche, created a separate toilet room, and built a custom vanity and medicine cabinet,” Kloythanomsup says. “We also added more skylights, as the bathroom remained in the center of the house and does not have any exterior windows.” With the new layout in place, the team set about embracing its fine-tuned motto. “All of the finishes were designed specifically for this renovation, from the custom tiles, to the marble slab counter, to the boxed-wall paneling,” she adds. Considering how many intricate aspects there are in this bathroom—like the curved entrance to the shower, the flourishes on the floor, and even the double-sided medicine cabinet that can also be accessed from the hall—tracking every itch was no small feat. “A renovation and project with this amount of detail is not for the faint of heart,” Kloythanomsup says. “We were fortunate to align with a client who valued artistic expression and detail as much as we do.” After many careful drawings and visits to the construction site, the team was able to present a finished bathroom that spoke to its motto and the century-old home as a whole. In fact, this undertaking was so successful that Morby asked to keep the renovations going. “This eventually turned into a project that covered most of the home,” Kloythanomsup says. “We shared many of the same references for her dream house. It was natural for us to take it further.”
