This Bathroom Created for 3 a.m. Wake-Up Calls Balances Function and 5-Star-Hotel Design
Anyone who has ever had to wake up at 3 a.m. for an early-morning flight knows the struggle it can be to attempt to slap on some makeup or de-bedify your hair in an effort to get out the door. Now imagine doing that every single day. That’s the case for New York City–based designer Kylie Bass’s latest client, an on-air news reporter who needs to be in the office before the rest of Manhattan wakes up. Bass sought to transform the homeowner’s prewar Morningside Heights bathroom into a place fit for getting ready during the wee hours.
“We were anticipating somewhat of a narrow space,” explains Bass. And sure enough, when the designer worked with the architect and the builder to open up the walls of the dingy bathroom to see how big they could make it, they realized that they couldn’t add a ton of square footage: There are unmovable pipes in strange places, forcing them to close in on the room and drop parts of the ceiling to conceal them. Still, Bass had to ensure enough space for her client to spread out her skin-care products on the vanity while also feeling at ease, recharged, and ready to take on the day. Here’s how she struck a balance between a hardworking bathroom and a five-star-hotel–worthy one.
