Bath of the Week: Glass and Steel With a Mediterranean Twist

This master bathroom is in a Spanish revival house in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood. But before it was remodeled by interior designer Deirdre Doherty, its basic fixtures gave it a nondescript flavor. Her goal was to enlarge and lighten the small, dark space while making it at home with the original architecture.

This house was blessed with two walk-in closets, but since the owner resides here alone, the designer took over one for the master bath to make it more spacious.

“He loves the architecture of the home, and he loves industrial style,” says Doherty. “We used both in this room.” The custom shower is done with the kind of patterned, stamped glass you might find in a vintage Mediterranean light fixture. The designer had the glazing tempered and framed in steel to make the shower. “It is so pretty, we placed it in the center of the room,” she says. “We didn’t want to stick it in the corner.”

A new skylight in the center of the room sheds light on the situation.

Cement floor tiles: Roseton White, Granada Tile; tub, sink: Drummonds


The owner wanted steel with a patina, so the designer had him use the shower for a week before sealing the metal. “It started to rust a bit,” Doherty says. “The was exactly the look he wanted.”

The shower is also a steam shower, so teak benches create a place for relaxing and being engulfed by the mists.


Before the remodel this bank of French doors was one small window. The doors made the room much lighter, and the client can enjoy the view of the backyard while soaking in the tub. A new Juliet balcony allows a more direct connection with the outdoors.

Doherty notes that the muscular hardware would normally be on the other side of the tub. “But he likes the industrial look so much, we decided to put it on the side facing the room,” she explains.

For safety, the light fixture is securely mounted to the ceiling. “The camera angle makes it appear that it’s hanging directly over the tub,” says Doherty. “But it is really offset a bit.”


The client requested that subway tile be installed from floor to ceiling. Doherty complied, installing a black band and a different tile placement near the ceiling.

This kind of Moroccan floor tile is often seen in riotous colors. To keep it more modern, Doherty selected a pattern in black and white. “I liked the tile colors of white, black and brown,” she says. “It reminded me of men’s suiting, which is perfect for the client.”

The small ledge in back of the sink exists because of plumbing that couldn’t be moved. “We had to have that, so I installed the black-painted wooden shelves,” says Doherty. “Sometimes structural issues lead to the best elements.”

Pharmacy Wall Mount Medicine Cabinet: Restoration Hardware


The top of the bumped-out wall makes a convenient place to stash everyday toiletries.

In this room the fine details (such as the push-button light switch) do all the talking, and they are speaking a classic romance language with an edge.

Sconces: Visual Comfort

More: Bathroom remodeling ideas and planning guide

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