Mediterranean Masterpiece

Missy and John Gibson did not take the task of designing the master bathroom in their new Hot Springs home lightly. In fact, they did a wide array of research over several years before construction began.

Missy and John Gibson did not take the task of designing the master bathroom in their new Hot Springs home lightly. In fact, they did a wide array of research over several years before construction began. “We looked at a lot of homes over four or five years, trying to draw ideas from well-designed homes in the state and even out of state,” John says. “We were really inspired by Mediterranean-style houses we saw in Florida, and the look translated well into the bathroom, as well as the rest of the home.”

With a stylistic goal in mind, Missy began gathering tear sheets from magazines to capture the warm and comfortable, yet detailed and elegant, look that she imagined. As a means to that end, the Gibsons also enlisted the help of interior designer Sandy Sutton, of Sandy Sutton's Interior Spaces in Hot Springs. “Sandy was a guiding force throughout the process.” John says, “She had amazing ideas, and she helped create things that we knew we wanted, like the vanities, which we'd seen in a magazine and wanted to replicate.”

For the elaborate stonework that defines the room, the Gibsons turned to All Natural Stone in Little Rock, where Sam Mousa designed the eye-catching medallion in the center of the floor. “Detailed finishes were key to the whole look,” John says. Crafted of four different types of stone, the Mediterranean-influenced medallion is an ideal contrast the bathroom's expanse of travertine, and it sets the tone for the entire space. All Natural Stone also helped design the custom shower and the curving tub enclosure, flanked by a pair of stone columns.

On the ceiling, Sutton worked with decorative painters Bonnie and Roscoe to create a detailed motif, but one that wouldn't get lost in the spacious room. The delicate scrolling design, reminiscent of Italian frescoes, serves to highlight the vaulted arch above the oversized tub—a great spot to watch television and relax in the evenings. They also created a custom ceiling medallion to spotlight the ornate chandelier, while also calling to mind the complementary floor medallion.

For Missy and John, this bathroom retreat is the ideal fusion of comfort, function and style. “We definitely wanted it to be distinctive,” says John, “but it's also a really warm, cozy retreat for the two of us to relax in the morning or the evening.”