Clean and Serene

Leave it to architect Bill Ingram to infuse a contemporary master bath with symmetry and a sense of pure space. The Birmingham-based architect, known for his modern-inflected classicism, took two standard-size, back-to-back bathrooms and elevated them into one spacious, serenely uncluttered spa. He also appropriated a spare bedroom to expand an adjoining his-and-her closet. The result is a bath and dressing room that evokes measured calm and understated grandeur.

Ingram executed the makeover without adding square footage to the house. "Sometimes you can bump out a house to get more room, but in the case of this 1930s English-style home, this was not practical or desirable," explains Ingram. Instead, the architect opted for what he calls "a cumulative borrowing of existing space."

When furnishing the bath, the architect took his cue from the homeowners' tasteful neutral décor. He chose beige tones and surfaced the floor, tub, and sink counters with French limestone similar to that found in the kitchen. For contrast, he paired oversize floor tiles with tiny mosaic tiles inlaid on the back wall like little gems. "The mosaics almost have a honed quality or shimmer," says Ingram. Passageways paved with these mosaics, to the right and left of the tub, lead to the water closet and shower, respectively.

A monumental floor-to-ceiling mirror placed on the wall behind the tub creates drama and catches bouncing light from the windows on the opposite wall. Custom mirrors above two facing sinks also cast poetic light onto the limestone flooring. "I'm not a fan of double vanities," admits Ingram. "Instead, I like to place them opposite one another with facing mirrors. That way, a couple can get ready together but still maintain some private space." The symmetrical layout also works with the formal aesthetics of the bath.

The custom, furniture-style consoles in rich mahogany add warmth to the space. Likewise, Ingram chose nickel over chrome for the fixtures because it has a warmer finish. An antique armoire holds towels and toiletries, eliminating the visual clutter of cabinets and allowing Ingram to maintain his clean, pared-down design. Even the fixtures are streamlined: Wall- and mirror-mounted faucets conceal spouts and downplay the utilitarian aspect of plumbing. Bespoke touches, such as his-and-her heated towel racks, finish the space.

The remodeled walk-in dressing room is equally customized, with a built-in hamper, special shelves for folded sweaters and handbags, and a pull-out surface large enough for packing a suitcase. "The closet looks like a little store. It is organized and compartmentalized so you can see everything," says Ingram. Wooden ladders display a colorful panoply of scarves and ties.

The appropriation of the unused bedroom space allowed Ingram to install vanities at both ends of the dressing room closet. Hers functions as a makeup table with a mirror-topped surface, while his mahogany vanity, with space for a laptop, doubles as an informal office.

Through the careful recalibration of existing space and the use of symmetry and light, Ingram crafted a luminous bath of elemental simplicity.

Insights from Bill Ingram

• Take your cues from the house. Don't create a showroom out of a new, remodeled bathroom, but use some of the same materials, colors, and textures that appear in the other rooms.

• I don't like the bathroom to look just like a bathroom. It is a room after all, and the elements in it can take on the feeling of furniture -- the tub, console table sinks, mirrors.

• Luxury is important too. There is something wonderful about hotel bathrooms, and I think it's nice to bring a little of that into our personal spaces.

• The bathroom should last a long time. We have so many clients who live in 1920s houses who love their original bathrooms and old tiles but need more space. I like to think the bathrooms I design will be around at least 80 years.

• I love natural materials, heated towel bars, and sometimes heated floors -- nothing too decorative that can come back to haunt you.

• The biggest mistake people make when starting a remodeling project is to get bogged down with filling a new space with too many useless things. You want a space that will last, as well as appliances and furniture that will stand the test of time. We have to constantly remind ourselves to keep it uncluttered. It's not just about editing our clothing and furniture. We should edit ourselves when it comes to appliances and other bells and whistles as well.

• One benefit of remodeling if you're working with an older house in a desirable neighborhood is that the money you put into it will come back to you.

• Keep a room's function in mind when you're remodeling. For example, many people want large bedrooms with sitting areas, but a bedroom with a library next to it may be a better idea. That way, there is a separate, neighboring space for reading or watching television.

RESOURCES: Architectural design by Bill Ingram Architect, 205/324-3072, www.billingramarchitect.com; flooring and limestone for vanity and tub deck by Walker Zanger, 713/880-9292, www.walkerzanger.com; limestone mosaics on the wall from A & S Marble & Granite Imports, 770/414-5123, www.asmarble.com; tub, faucets, heated towel racks, sink basins, waste basket, and wooden ladder by Waterworks (to the trade), 800/899-6757, www.waterworks.com; mahogany sink consoles, sink mirrors, and overscale mirror designed by Bill Ingram, 205/324-3072; sconces by Phoenix Day through Sloan Miyasato (to the trade), 415/822-4414, www.phoenixday.com; dressing room chair by Donghia (to the trade), 800/366-4442, www.donghia.com; French bateau tub with polished-iron exterior by The Water Monopoly, 011-44-20-7624-2636, www.watermonopoly.com; Laminar wall-mounted faucet and Botticelli marble sink basin by Kohler, 800/456-4537, www.kohler.com; Glamour mirrored vanity by Barbara Barry for Kallista, 888/4-KALLISTA, www.kallista.com; Cartwright sliding door cabinet by Restoration Hardware, 800/762-1005, www.restorationhardware.com; Flowering Leaves border from Gramercy Park collection by Walker Zanger, 713/880-9292, www.walkerzanger.com.