Photography by Dino Tonn
Mary Marsh is a visionary. Her intangible talent for seeing past physical realities and creating fresh, elegant spaces is nonpareil. It’s this exemplary gift that allowed Marsh to completely transform what was once an outdated and crowded bathroom into a relaxing and minimal oasis that embodies the mountainside spirit.
Photography by Dino Tonn
From a young age, Marsh recognized spaces’ profound impact on our emotions and well-being. This intuitive understanding naturally led her to pursue a career in interior design. In 2004, she graduated from Arizona State University with a major in design studies and interior design history. In 2022, she established the Lillian James Design Group, enlisting one of Arizona’s premier designers, Sandy Black, to create a high-end luxury design studio. The firm caters to sophisticated, well-traveled clients seeking to make their dream spaces.
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Photography by Dino Tonn
The clients wanted to refresh their bathroom to serve as a relaxing escape. “You look outside the windows of this bathroom and see the most incredible views of the desert. The owners wanted to bring that nature in and feel that connection while they’re in the bathroom, so we tried to encompass that in the design,” Marsh says.
Photography by Dino Tonn
Photography by Dino Tonn
With just under 200 square feet of space to work with, the designer created a fresh open floor plan with a solid stone tub, two floating oak vanities with beveled frameworks—each accompanied by a custom mirror—and an open shower equipped with the latest Brizo technology. Dark porcelain tiles on the walls and floors give the bathroom an undertone of masculinity and serenity.
"We liked the idea of having the darker elements that add masculinity and drama, but also incorporating those feminine softer touches with the lighting and light-colored wood," Marsh says.
Photography by Dino Tonn
The floating oak beams are one of this bathroom’s many unique design elements. This choice not only adds a rustic element to the bathroom, tying in the color palette of the desert landscape, but also pushes the envelope of what is possible with design. Hanging from the beam is a floating showerhead, a testament to Marsh’s creativity and ingenuity.
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"The clients said they wanted a rain head, so I had to work around the challenge of high 14-foot ceilings," Marsh explains. "I thought of installing beams to bring down the space, give a unique feel to the bathroom, and provide a solution so the clients could have a rain head. We had to hollow the oak beams to make room for the Brizo Frank Lloyd Wright Collection’s plumbing system. The result is a beautiful and unique shower presentation."
Photography by Dino Tonn
This bathroom is a testament to the endless possibilities available when you have an exemplary designer unafraid to push the envelope of what can be done. Her creativity flourished, allowing her to present a finished project that soared beyond the clients’ expectations.
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