Ornate is not for everyone. After buying a home in Alexandria’s Old Town, the new owner of this dated black-and-gold master bath was ready for a more tranquil feel. She worked with bath designer Carolyn Thomas of Jennifer Gilman Kitchen & Baths, who spearheaded a complete makeover of the existing room. On the client’s wish list? A steam shower with a convenient bench, a soaking tub, and an improved dressing area in the hall right outside the bathroom. Thomas took inspiration from a Calcutta marble and Gascogne blue limestone mosaic tile to inform the rest of the bath design, working in a contemporary glass shower, lighter marble counters, airy painted cabinets, a soft, feminine dressing vanity, and elegant wall sconces. Goodbye, ’80s drama; hello, spa-like serenity.
