This bathroom remodel in a Des Moines loft adds a delicious dose of glamour. The owners of this fabulous downtown condo were seeking stellar craftsmanship and attention to detail. Working in collaboration with their designer Catherine Renae Thomas Design Co., Silent Rivers delivered our signature excellence.
With a stunning contrast of black, white and gold tones, the bathroom features delightful brass accents throughout the space. A brass frame on the vanity mirror, brass wall sconces and even brass veneer on the custom wall shelves serve as a beautiful repeating theme that celebrates the brass inlay in the black marble tile by Ann Sacks. Silent Rivers lead artisan Christian Anderson, who loves detail, laid out every single tile to determine which ones were lighter or darker so he could ensure a perfect match. Every exposed edge of this special tile was carefully polished down in five steps, including the hand cut tiles in the shower niche. Since grout would have scratched the brass inlays, they were meticulously taped over before grouting.
A methodical approach achieved the perfect matte black sheen the homeowners desired in their bathroom. The millwork was built by Tom and Alex in the Silent Rivers Woodshop. Great care was taken to protect the black wainscot, custom millwork and integrated pocket door frame from any damage in transit from shop to condo. Typically the post-catalyzed varnish is applied in the shop prior to installing in the home. In this case, it was scribed to fit on site then installed and prepared for finishing. To maintain clean air in the home, Alex and Christian built an air tube to create negative pressure in the space that allowed fumes to be evacuated through the balcony door. The post-catalyzed varnish dries quickly and does not off-gas once dried, providing an extremely durable finish. Use of a HEPA vacuum further ensured a clean, safe job site during the remodel and ensured a dust-free finish on all the gorgeous black.
No stranger to Brown Camp Loft remodels, Silent Rivers knows the importance of being minimally invasive to the clients’ home while also respecting all the neighbors and building guidelines. This is an important element in exceeding client expectations. Our clients love their bathroom remodel and the process used to achieve all of its glamour. As a matter of fact, they then asked our team to remodel their kitchen!
See the Art Deco kitchen remodel »
Photos: Paul Gates Photography