Castenada Master Bath

Barely visible from the street, this top-floor master bath has big windows, abundant light, and, best of all, provides privacy in a dense urban setting. The space was small, but needed to fulfill all the demands of a bath in a master suite. The elements “had to fit together like puzzle pieces,” says architect Neal Schwartz.

A great contractor ensured success—many of the details look simple but were labor-intensive: the places where the glass shower panel meets the window, the placement and fabrication of the windows wraparound windows, placement of mirrors that extend the view, the shower door hinges, a standing tub flush with a glass shower.

The glazing is too generously sized to be termed clerestory windows, but designing precisely for the homeowners—who don’t happen to be very tall—was a golden opportunity to let as much light in as possible, making this compact bath feel light-filled and luxurious.