In 1925, Austrian-American modernist architect Rudolph Schindler designed the Levin House in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Located just across the street from Richard Neutra’s Lovell House, the home and its former servants’ quarters (today used as a guesthouse) display Schindler’s characteristic use of multiple complex planes, striking colors, and warm, textured materials. Stephanos Polyzoides restored the home in 1984, and Taryn Bone of Bone Collective Studio recently renovated its guest bathroom.

$1,300 Demolition	$3,000 Framing Insulation Hot Mop	$4,200 Electrical Work
$4,800 Plumbing Work	$1,500 Windows & Installation	$1,500 Drywall & Paint
$5,200 Tile	$6,500 Tile Installation	$4,100 Bathroom Fixtures
$1,200 Glass & Corian Shelves	$1,500 Shower Door
Grand Total: $34,800

At just 27 square feet with a floor covered in shag carpeting, the bathroom was small and outdated. Bone approached the challenge with proportion and color while sticking to a $34,800 budget. Inspired by Schindler’s ideas about planes, she used a combination of tiles to create a datum line throughout the space, and she opened up the shower area with a glass partition instead of a bathtub and shower curtain.

Bone paired handmade glazed green tile from Classic Tile and Stone in Santa Monica with blue American Olean tiles to create a datum line that includes a shower niche and a shelf. The texture of the tiles allows them to reflect light, and their handmade individuality brings a sense of craft to the space. The floor tiles are set in a different scale, further emphasizing the distinct planes in the bathroom.

Due to its small size, the bathroom needed a scaled-back sink and vanity from a European manufacturer. Bone offset this tradeoff with a large mirror with integrated LED lighting from IB Mirrors. The oversize mirror makes the space feel large and bright, despite the strong tones of the tile.

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Bone Collective Studio / @bcstudiola

General Contractor: Benevides Construction

Photography: Bree McCool Photography

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Budget Breakdown: A 1920s Guesthouse Bathroom Gets a Bold Revamp for $34.8K