Secret Passage

Project Details

Project Description

Master-Suite
K + B Studio/Bath
Secret Passage

Dumez's research showed that when his building was built in 1900, it only had two floors, but a later remodel split the main floor into two. “We took out portions of the added second floor to restore the original 19-foot-high volume for the commercial space,” Dumez says. “But I maintained some of it above the garage for beds and bath.”

The stairwell to the residence now pauses briefly at a landing exactly halfway between the entry level and the top-floor living areas. If guests didn't know about this 650-square-foot mezzanine, they'd never look for the discreet floor-to-ceiling pivot door that accesses the master suite and nursery. Step inside the private realm, and a travertine-clad bathroom reveals itself beyond. There's a travertine vanity that spans the width of the door opening, as well as a travertine backsplash that rises to a medicine cabinet and descends to meet the 2.5-inch-thick travertine floor. A self-contained drainage system beneath the floor handles runoff from wet areas.

Dumez separated the bathroom's functions into water closet, shower, and sink areas to provide a measure of privacy for multiple users. The stone floor's elevation defines the transition from the doorless bathroom into the bedroom. Here, as he did with his kitchen design, he used a large built-in to partition the space. In the bedroom, the walnut unit is a headboard with attached nightstands; on the bath side, it serves as a handsome linen closet.