From the August/September 2020 Issue  

Living The Dream

Writer Marirose Krall  |  Photographer Tory Williams  |  Designer Jenny Madden  |  Architect Jensen C. Vasil  |  Location Hoboken, NJ

An elegant master bath features high-style tile

Madden used shallow columns bordering the mirrors to fit the scale of the 9’1”-high ceiling. “The classical trim work and the contemporary waterfall countertops help further the style goals of the home at large,” says Madden. The vanity features white, frosted-glass drawers in a metallic silver frame with a marble top.

Diana and Matt Thomas’s 1897 townhouse is something special. “It’s one of the largest single-family homes in Hoboken,” says Jenny Madden of Hoboken-based Jenny Madden Design. The couple wanted their master bathroom to be just as special. Matt acted as general contractor and, says Diana Thomas, “we were intentional in focusing a disproportionate amount of our budget on the master bath.”

Madden used those resources to create a functional room that exudes sophisticated style. “It was important to design a space that the homeowners are proud to walk into—the space they’ve dreamt about—and not allow practicality to suffocate every aesthetic decision.” Madden explains that “the style direction was classic with a sheen of glamour,” and that’s apparent throughout the space—from the crystal chandelier overhead to the marble and mirrored backsplash tile behind the vanities.

Tile, in fact, played an important role in this project; it’s used to delineate distinct spaces while unifying the room. “We spent countless hours finding the right tile for our feature walls above the bath and in the shower,” says Thomas. Madden sourced a customizable mosaic in different scales. “They’re distinguished—yet linked—accents,” the designer notes.

  • A skylight brings natural light into the shower. The tile mosaic on the shower wall coordinates with the one above the bathtub.

     

  • The backsplash tile is made from waterjet-cut Thassos marble and antiqued mirror.

     

  • The tile on the shower wall is repeated above the bathtub, this time on a larger scale.

     

Also linked are dual vanities joined by a makeup counter in between. Madden worked with the couple to design the custom piece to fit the generous space. “The array of identically sized drawers creates high-impact repetition,” notes Madden. “The white glass, silver leaf paint and clear glass knobs add the shimmer the clients wanted.”

According to Madden, this room provided her with “an opportunity to take exception to some practicalities and create a true escape for two hard-working parents.” “Renovating this home was our passion project,” adds Thomas. “The beauty of our home lies in the details and for that I give immense credit to my husband!”

This space won 1st place in the large, traditional bathroom category at the National Kitchen & Bath Association Awards in 2019.

A powder room in the Thomas home is featured here (All Buttoned Up).