Set in a Hollywood Hills home, Troy Adams designed this spa-like, Asian-inspired bathroom for one of his clients.
In today’s Five Questions With…, designer Troy Adams discusses how to achieve a Zen-like look in the bathroom, remodeling on the cheap and a design trend he could do without. Adams’ design firm, Troy Adams Design, is based out of West Hollywood, Calif. Adams is well known for his trademark FusionDesign, which incorporates Asian, European and American influences. He’s designed products for Julien’s bathroom suite and his client list includes Jewel and Eddie Murphy.
1. Asian-influenced and Zen bathrooms are certainly popular within America, but it also seems like those terms can be tossed around pretty loosely. What are the key design elements to achieving this style of bathroom? The key to designing a true Asian-inspired bath is all about the integrity of the materials you use. Asian cultures like to embrace nature by bringing it indoors. For this particular design, I incorporated natural materials like Teak and Macassar Ebony wood species, as well as black pebbles for the water sculpture. I also brought in the water theme by employing Lagos Blue countertops by CaesarStone. Natural materials and the smart use of space create an uninterrupted flow for a serene, Zen-like ambiance.
2. Some of the bathroom products you’ve designed for Julien are primarily made from stainless steel. Since many people view this material to be too clinical or even prison-like for the bathroom, how did you approach making these products look appealing for a residential bathroom? Stainless steel can definitely appear clinical if it is paired with the wrong materials. To balance out the cold look that stainless steel has I suggest pairing it with exotic wood tones, bright color accents and warm wall colors. You can also opt for a textured stainless steel surface to bring more interest to the room.
3. For people trying to channel their inner-designer, what tips would you give them if they are attempting to redecorate their bathroom cheaply and still make a fairly noticeable change? Change your fixtures. By going with sleek new faucets, lighting pendants, and decorative accents (think robe hooks, toothbrush holders, cabinet knobs) you can get a polished, new look that won’t break the bank. There are also retrofit shower systems now, that you can simply add onto your existing showerhead outlet to convert the basic shower into a spa-like experience.
4. I imagine you’ve seen plenty of design trends come and go during the years you’ve been involved in design. What is one trend -- from any area of the home -- you’d like to see make a comeback, and a current trend that you wish would fade away? I’d like the kitchen within a kitchen concept from the 70's to make a comeback. This is the idea of having a show kitchen and a work horse kitchen, the latter of which is hidden from view. This design philosophy is ideal for entertaining as cocktails and light appetizers can be enjoyed in the show kitchen, while the dinner preparation and bustle is kept out of sight from guests.
One trend I’d like to see fade away is that of uniform colors in the kitchen. For some reason, some people believe that all the countertops and cabinets have to match, but really mixing colors and materials is what enlivens the space.
5. You’ve designed products for various rooms of the home. What do you enjoy about creating bathroom products and what types of unique challenges do you face in creating bathroom products? One of my favorite techniques when it comes to product design is masking functionality with fashion. There are so many more unsightly products in the bathroom than in the rest of the home. For example, the toilet. When it came to the toilet, I turned a regular toilet into the BenchToilet by putting an exotic wood bench over it with a stainless steel frame. For added storage I integrated a small pull-out cabinet into the design. With this product, we now have a hidden toilet and it really dresses up the space. Design is about creativity and expression, and I love creating pieces that are thoughtful, out of the box, and inspire conversation.
