THE PROJECT: The small, cookie-cutter bathroom of a newly constructed two-bedroom condo in a South Loop high-rise, home of Luke Wai Wong. The bathroom, off of the condo’s kitchen, measures 7 by 6 feet and includes a stand-up shower.
PROJECT GENIUS: Wong, a furniture designer who makes a line of custom case goods in his Ravenswood studio and has done a handful of similar bathroom makeovers in and around Chicago. For more information, e-mail info@studiowai.com or call 312-588-0153.
THE CHALLENGE: “All the bathrooms are the same in this building,” Wong says. “Everything was white: white tiles, white walls, white toilet, white sink.” Wong wanted to incorporate more style and texture into the space, but he also didn’t want to replace any fixtures or do any renovating since everything in the condo was brand new.
THE SOLUTION: Wong describes his personal design aesthetic as “minimal but still functional” — clean lines, warm wood and simple accessories. To achieve this look in the bathroom, Wong started by doing what he does best: build stuff. Custom cabinets of hickory wood added much-needed storage while working within the constraints posed by the pedestal sink. A matching wall panel turned the bathroom’s back wall into a focal point. Wong chose the hickory, finished in a clear lacquer, for its even, linear grain and honeyed hue. It adds an organic element and ties together the white and brown to create the “hotel chic” look he was going for. He keeps the bathroom free of clutter, save for a few vases and some towels — white, of course.
PROJECT COST: Although Wong’s total cost was less since he did the work himself, he estimates a similar bathroom redo would cost clients about $1,800.
———-
Tran Ha, tha@tribune.com
Are you a Designophile?
Tell us about your project and send photos to: home&garden@tribune.com
Or send via snail mail to:
Home&Garden, Chicago Tribune,
435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611
Attn: Designophiles
