Bathroom Design Tip 4: Establish a Focal Point to Highlight the Luxury of Space

With a high vaulted ceiling and 250 square feet of space, this ensuite designed by Stephanie Brown of Stephanie Brown Inc. had what she calls “the luxury of space” to work with in this tropical modern farmhouse-style vacation home in Maui. “You get that dream layout where everything’s not cramped or shoehorned in,” she says. “Immediately, our creative juices got flowing.” So the Vancouver-based designer and her team got to work transforming the large space into a chic, spa-like escape by incorporating three separate bathing areas: a natural stone-walled outdoor shower, a uniquely un-enclosed indoor shower (that drains seamlessly thanks to the hidden slope of the flooring) and a freestanding tub. Of the three, it’s the tub that’s the focal point, thanks to the eye-catching beams that peak right above it. Brown notes that her client wanted the tub’s location to feel extra indulgent—and by centring it in front of 10-foot-wide windows that slide open, she created the ideal place to melt into island holiday vibes.

Location, Location, Location

An outdoor shower is an often-requested feature in Maui homes (left)—and Brown worked with Vancouver-based landscape architect Ryan Donohoe of Donohoe Living Landscapes to fill the space with stony ground cover and lush greenery—the ideal tropical touch.

Texture Treasure

The flooring is travertine tile laid in a herringbone pattern, which brings additional visual interest and texture to the space.