Date:  August 26, 2015  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Chip Jones  |  

Designer Tami Risinger transforms a dark, poorly organized bath into a retreat-worthy space for her longtime clients’ vacation home

Brown shag carpet and a dark, closed-off shower area aren’t ideal conditions for any master bath—especially when the bath is situated on the beautiful shores of Lake Hamilton. Luckily, homeowners Jennifer and Chris Crain knew just who to call to turn the dated bath into an inviting retreat: Conway-based designer Tami Risinger. After assessing the clients’ wants and needs, she sought to give the room an airy, calm, and light-filled design—an aesthetic that is consistent with her own sunny disposition. “I really wanted to make it serene because, here, when you walk in the door, you are on vacation,” the designer says.

Space Reimagined

Taking the room down to its core, Risinger thoughtfully reconstructed a layout that maximizes the space and allows the Crains to take full advantage of the lake view. For example, the freestanding tub is positioned at an angle near the windowed corner to allow for a private vista of nature during a soak. A walk-in shower with a built-in bench and body spray jets sits opposite the tub, making good use of the corner. At the far end of the room, the couple chose to install a steam shower, complete with two built-in lockers, which sit just outside, to store robes and slippers.

Poised Palette

“Jennifer requested lavender for the room,” Risinger says; “Her grandmother had lavender in her home and that brought back great memories for her.” Risinger set out to incorporate the pastel in a subtle yet impactful manner, beginning with the wallpaper. “I love the wallpaper because it is soft and the tree pattern is really a natural fit with the view outside,” Risinger says. A range of grays complements the lavender, showing up most notably in the tile work. Silver travertine—seen in a variety of patterns and shapes—covers the walls of the shower, the floor, and the backsplash. “You can take a natural stone and slice it so many different ways,” Risinger says of the material’s versatility. Quartzite countertops and polished chrome sconces and fixtures create a continuous flow of gray hues.

Artful Accessories

Never one to leave a space without flair, Risinger accented the functional design with eye-catching pieces. A bench with a contemporary Lucite base and Mongolian fur upholstery gives the room an of-the-moment air, while pieces of Murano glass add style that transcends time. The Lucite material is repeated in both the side table by the bath and the drapery rods, creating an elegant atmosphere from all perspectives.

Design Resources

Bath and interior design Tami Risinger Interiors, Conway, (501) 454-2575

Contractor Salter Construction, Conway, (501) 327-2807, salterconst.com

Shower and tub installation Inside Effects, North Little Rock, (501) 954-8866, insideeffects.com

Accessories, furniture, lighting, and wallpaper Tami Risinger Interiors, Conway, (501) 454-2575

Flooring, hardware, plumbing fixtures, shower, tile, and tub Inside Effects, North Little Rock, (501) 954-8866, insideeffects.com

Art Emporium Home Heights, Little Rock, (501) 313-2418, emporiumhome.com

Florals Tipton & Hurst, locations throughout Central Arkansas, (501) 666-3333, tiptonhurst.com

Paint Sherwin-Williams, locations statewide, sherwin-williams.com

Rugs Martinous Oriental Rugs, Little Rock, (501) 224-0313, martinous.com

Steam shower Salter Construction, Conway, (501) 327-2807, salterconst.com

Window coverings Possibilities Unlimited, Conway, (501) 472-5189