Upper Peninsula Residence Bath by Albertsson Hansen Architecture

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Simplicity, transparency, and plenty of elbow room allow this master bath to live even larger than its dimensions suggest.

Karen Melvin Photography

Simplicity, transparency, and plenty of elbow room allow this master bath to live even larger than its dimensions suggest.

nlike architects, clients seldom care to explore how little space will comfortably serve their needs. If anything, they generally like to have a bit extra. That was especially true for the owner of this lakeside retreat/retirement residence on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and with good reason. “He’s 6 feet 7 inches or 6 feet 8 inches tall,” explains architect Christine Albertsson. “He wanted the house to be designed around his comfort as a super-tall person.” The master bathroom, with its generous scale, reflects that requirement as much as any other room in the house.

Albertsson and partner Todd Hansen gave the bath a simple layout with a large central circulation space. An oversize tub lies along the north wall, its deck extending into a glass-enclosed shower as a seat. The opposite wall presents a substantial, 38-inch-high sink counter flanked by twin linen cabinets. The counter, cabinets, and water closet are recessed into a thickened wall, minimizing their intrusion into the room.

Exposed Douglas fir rafters and board-paneled walls acknowledge the house’s cabinlike character. But they are joined here by more refined materials—Carrara marble at the counter, tub deck and baseboards; white ceramic subway tile at the wainscot and shower wall; and glass tile in the shelf recesses—yielding an effect that Albertsson sums up as “Elegance—in the middle of the woods.”

Project Credits
Project: Upper Peninsula Residence, Iron River, Mich.; Builder: Daniel Benson Builders, Land O’ Lakes, Wis.; Architect: Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Minneapolis; Photographer: Karen Melvin. / Resources:Plumbing fixtures: Kohler; Plumbing fittings: Grohe, Kallista; Hardware: Emtek, Hettich; Interior doors: Marvin; Lighting fixtures: Ginger, Juno; Paints/stains: Benjamin Moore; Windows: Marvin.

About the Author

Bruce D. Snider

Bruce Snider is a former senior contributing editor of  Residential Architect, a frequent contributor to Remodeling. 

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