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Ahead of the Curve
Dramatic arcs and glimmering tiles move this Palm Desert bath to the head of the class
By Holly Berecz
T
Towering mountains, blue skies and a near perfect climate. These are
just some of the attributes that attract homeowners and vacationers
alike to Palm Desert, CA. It’s no wonder this magical place has
become a haven for those looking to “get away from it all.” For a
San Juan Capistrano couple, it’s the perfect location for their vaca-
tion home. But when they first purchased their new desert oasis, it
didn’t quite live up to their clean and contemporary style. Since both
husband and wife have a passion for design, they wanted to work
hand-in-hand with a skilled expert who could customize their desert
retreat to really reflect their personal style and taste.
The owners turned to Damian Trevor, owner of Team Sun Con-
struction in Rancho Mirage, CA. With the ability to handle the exten-
sive range of construction services this project required, Trevor was
able to help the couple seamlessly transform their vision into reality.
The project consisted of completely remodeling and overhauling
nearly 3,100 sq. ft. of living space, as well as reconfiguring all plumb-
ing, electrical wiring and ducting.
A highlight of the redesign is the breathtaking 175-sq.-ft. master
bathroom. Bathed in sunlight from an overhead skylight, the overall
concept celebrates the fusion of inside and out. While muted earth
tones set the backdrop throughout the house, allowing the home-
owners to use their own artwork to add a punch of color where
desired, the master bathroom itself makes a bold statement. “The
homeowners wanted to create a room that offered a real ‘wow’
factor,” said Trevor. “They wanted it so that when you first walked in,
you experienced something you didn’t expect.” And that’s exactly
what they got from the dramatic, curved mosaic shower enclosure.
Designed by draftsman/designer Jorge Contreras, the shower is
an imposing figure in a room with 15-ft.-high ceilings. With a sharp
peak that extends 9 ft. tall, the shower is a masterful combination of
arcs and curves that wrap around to eliminate the need for a shower
door. “The entire structure is covered in Columbo beige and mocha
glass mosaic tile to pick up the colors used in rest of the room, from
the cabinetry to the flooring to the countertop,” Trevor explained.
“The interplay of colors, plus the streaming overhead light, creates a
vibrant shimmer that makes the whole room sparkle.” The shower
sources
Contractor: Damian Trevor—Team Sun Construction, Rancho Mirage, CA; www.teamsunconstruction.com Designer/draftsman: Jorge
Contreras; Manufacturers: Faucets: Axor by Hansgrohe; Sinks: Kohler; Cabinetry: Merit Kitchens; Hardware: Atlas Homewares; Showerhead:
Hansgrohe Photography: Pat Lassey or Ethan Kaminsky
features a built-in bench for added comfort and a multi-setting mas-
sage showerhead for spa-like relaxation. To add additional drama, a
4-ft. statue, a piece from the homeowners’ collection, stands guard
at the shower entrance.
The most eye-catching element of the master bath also proved
to be the most challenging. Besides designing and constructing the
massive shower enclosure with all of its angles and bends, placing
the mosaic tiles was a tricky task. “Mosaic tiles are usually designed
to be installed on a straight setting, but we had many bends and
curves to contend with here,” Trevor said. “So getting all of the tiny
tiles into alignment was no small feat.”
To provide the clean-lined, contemporary feel the homeowners
desired, Trevor incorporated flat-panel, full-overlay semi-custom cab-
inets. Made of solid maple wood with a nutmeg stain, the sleek slab
door style has an unassuming, effortless beauty that’s simplistic but
also functional. Streamlined linear chrome cabinet pulls enhance the
modern feel, while complementing the distinctive chrome faucet fix-
tures. Rectangular undermount sinks, set under a stunning slab of
granite, complete the clean, linear look.
The use of natural stone throughout plays on the “outside-in” con-
cept. Polished travertine is used for the flooring and the shower pan.
It also stretches up the room’s 15-ft. walls, creating a rich, expansive
environment. For continuity, the same glass mosaic tiles applied to
the shower enclosure also appear along the vanity backsplash and
as an 8-in. decorative liner along two converging shower walls.
For additional luxury, Trevor included a flat-panel television so the
couple can catch the morning news or wind down with their favorite
evening TV show. Positioned to be viewed from virtually anywhere in
the room, the unit is fastened to a surface-mounted arm that allows
it to tilt in many different directions.
“To have a successful project, it’s important to have a contractor,
designers and homeowners who work harmoniously together,” said
Trevor, crediting excellent communication for the efficient five-and-
a-half-month schedule for the total remodel. “It’s fantastic when you
work with homeowners who take the extra effort to make sure
they’re getting what they want.” n
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July 2008
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SHOWER
n Contains multi-setting showerhead
and built-in bench for comfort
n Wrap-around wall eliminates need
for shower door
n Enclosure tiled in beige and brown
to complement rest of space

FINISHES
n Stone plays on “outside-in” theme
n Polished travertine on floor, shower
pan and walls
n Glass tiles in shower also on vanity
backsplash, create continuity
VANITY & MAKEUP AREA
n Semi-custom cabinets are
solid maple with nutmeg stain
n Flat-panel, full-overlay door
style conveys modern vibe
n Chrome hardware enhances
contemporary feel
n Undermount sinks in granite
slab complete clean look

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A highlight of the master bath, the shower is equipped with a massage

showerhead and enclosed by a curving wall (left) that wraps around,
eliminating the need for a formal door. Its mocha brown and beige tiles
integrate well with the nutmeg stain of the vanity cabinets (above), as well
as the polished travertine walls and floor. For added convenience, the
space also includes a makeup area (below right) for the wife.

54 K+BB June2004
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products

1 Palm Desert, CA-based D’Mundo Tile

offers tile and stone from around the
world and works with architects, design-
ers, contractors and developers to cre-
ate custom-designed tiles to exact cus-
tomer specifications. For this bath,
Columbo beige and mocha glass
mosaic tiles were chosen for the shower
enclosure, while polished travertine
paves the floor. Circle No. 235

2 The vanity cabinets are equipped with

Atlas Homewares’ sleek Linea rail
pulls. An ideal accent for streamlined,
contemporary-style spaces, the pulls
range in length from 5 in. to 14 1/2 in.
1 and come in polished chrome or
brushed nickel. The line also includes a
variety of coordinating accessories.
Circle No. 236

3 The Axor Citterio single-hole faucet

from Hansgrohe features an award-
2
winning, ADA-compliant design and a
water flow rated at 2.2 gpm. It is avail-
able in chrome and brushed nickel fin-
ishes. A taller, 15 3/ 16-in. version is also
available. Circle No. 237

4 The Kathryn undercounter lavatory sink

3 from Kohler, shown in white, brings a
modern interpretation of retro styling to
the bath. The rectangular sink, measur-
ing 193/4 in. x 155/8 in., is constructed
of durable vitreous china and comes in
a palette of colors to complement any
decor. Circle No. 238

5 Hansgrohe’s Clubmaster showerhead

features 72 no-clog spray channels
and offers three distinctive spray
5 modes: full, pulsating massage and
soft aerated for spa-like luxury at
home. Available finishes are chrome,
oil-rubbed bronze, steel, brushed nick-
4 el, polished nickel and polished brass.
Circle No. 239

For more projects, go to www.kbbonline.com/projects

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July 2008
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