Graf Guest Baths, Oakland, California

♦ 2010 Partners In Preservation Award, Oakland Heritage Alliance

After 99 years, a 1911 landmark residence in the historic Bellevue neighborhood needed a major facelift. Part of that larger project, a new shower room for guests was added downstairs while upstairs, an existing sink room was transformed into a full bathroom.

The Shower Room is completely new, carved out of leftover space from a servant’s quarters. In order to harmonize with the stone work in the kitchen next door, this room features dark and ming green marble tile, in addition to traditional marble tiles on the walls. The shower surround features an oval window and symmetrical marble benches while classic plumbing fixtures blend with the neo-Jacobean architecture of the historic residence.

In the upstairs Bathroom, the original window in the sink room is incorporated into the bathtub surround while a new sink and marble counter, along with a cabinet, add much-needed functionality. Traditional light fixtures frame the original medicine cabinet which was refurbished for modern use.