A NEIGHBOR ENVISIONS A MARVELOUS MASTER BATH!

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A gorgeous classic white enameled cast-iron clawfoot tub is the centerpiece of my neighbors’ new master bath (above)
This is the stunning master bathroom that neighbor Jean Horihata and husband Mark Rappaport recently finished. Jean, Mark and their daughter live across the “trail” here in the Hollywood Hills. They spent the last year doing an amazing remodel on their home. Jean and Mark are both creative professionals here in Los Angeles. Mark owns a company called Creature Effects, Inc. that makes animatronic creatures, animals and babies for film and television (he’s worked on movies like The Last Samurai, Seabiscuit, I Am Legend, 300 and The Departed). Jean is a decorative artist who specializes in stencilling, trompe l’oeil and painted finishes.

Am emphasizing the creativity here because I know it is Jean’s artistic eye that made her self-designed bathroom look like something out of the pages of a home decor magazine.

I first got a glimpse of this bathroom when it was a work-in-progress about four months ago. After I got a peek at the gorgeous finished tiled mosaic marble floor, I knew that some how, some way I had to share this bath with readers…

So…the other day I nearly pounced on Jean as I saw her and Mark painting some ironwork outside of their house. The following real life scene would be much to mother’s horror (she is an extremely private person and hates people who impose…well mom, stop reading here) because I imposed and inserted myself in exactly the way you would not want a neighbor to insert themselves. It was a Sunday morning when I bounced down my stairs and practically flew across the trail and said gleefully, “Hi there, do you mind if I bring my camera over and take pictures for my blog?” Direct and straight to the point, right? Rude and thoughtless perhaps…but direct and straight to the point nonetheless. So stunned and not quite sure what I was asking I think, Jean and Mark both warily smiled back and said “Sure anytime.” “ANY time?” I said. Well within an hour, I was inside their master bath, joyfully taking these lovely photos. A weekend design find right across the street! That’s the end of the story on how I basically invited myself into my neighbor’s master bathroom. (Hmmmm….wonder what the doyennes of the etiquette world would think of me…hmmmm…???)

Anyhoooo, once inside, with my camera in hand, Jean took me through her wonderful master bathroom design…she had so much great information to share that I decided to do a COCOCOZY Q&A with her. Here it is:

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An antique two drawer wood dresser was retrofitted, repurposed, refinished and stained to make a bathroom vanity console with a burnished gold sink and a Port Laurent marble countertop. (above)
COCO: What style would you say your bathroom is?
JEAN HORIHATA (JH): Simple opulence.

COCO: What was your inspiration piece in this bathroom?
JH: It all started with the sink.

COCO: Who designed the sink and the vanity rod?
JH: Sherle Wagner. The sink is “vintage” over 20 years old. The rod is new.

Burnished Gold scalloped vintage Sherle Wagner scalloped basin with green malachite and gold faucet handles is the main inspiration piece for this entire bathroom. (above)

COCO: The sink faucet handles are quite unique. What material are they made of?
JH: Malachite, a semi precious stone.

Close up of the sink fixtures which include a gold faucet featuring a leaf design on it and handles that adorned with emerald green malachite trim. (above)

Detail of marble basketweave black and white tile on the bathroom floor. (above)

COCO: What kind of marble was used on the floor?
JH: Arabescato Carrara, it has slightly warmer tones than the usual Carrara marble. The rug is a basketweave of Carrara marble and black marble. The black inlay is black marble mosaic tile cut into one row strips.

COCO: Love the “rug” mosaic marble floor. Where did you get this idea?
JH: Inspired by both the Pompeiian mosaics and the Malibu tiles in California where they actually made trompe l’oeil rug tiles.

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A rectangular basketweave Carrara and black marble mosaic design is centered on the master bath floor to ingeniously make it look as if there is a rug or carpet resting atop a the large square marble tiles. (above)
COCO: The vanity console with its marble top looks like it cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Where did you find this?
JH: I looked at a lot of antique stores to find a dresser in the right style to coordinate with the sink. I then had a cabinet maker retrofit the drawers and added depth to the cabinet to accommodate the sink. I then found a “remnant” piece of marble at the marble fabricator and designed the top.

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A gold and clear lucite Sherle Wagner hand towel rod is mounted on the side of the vanity to complete the console’s design (above and below)

COCO: Any planned future design additions to the room? (i.e chandelier)
JH: Lots actually, hanging a gold and crystal chandelier, shelves in the niches to the sides of the windows. And some trompe l’oeil painted Turkish or Moroccan tiles to create a low wainscoting.

COCO: What can you tell us about the fantastic tub?
JH: I had a clawfoot tub when I lived in San Francisco so it was my dream to have it again. It is made by Sunrise Specialty company. Snyder Diamond had the best price.

COCO: What is your favorite part of this delightful room?
JH: Taking a relaxing soak in the tub every night.

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Thank you Jean and Mark for allowing the nosey neighbor (me) to intrude! Hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed learning about your fantastic master bath project! The end and the door is closed on this Cococozy post!

All photos in this post by Coco of Cococozy