One half of Los Angeles design and development firm Diaz + Alexander Studio, native Angeleno Rob Diaz is an expert in creating sunny, welcoming spaces that don’t want for style. The talented designer has renovated his share of homeowner and real estate projects alike, developing a keen eye for aesthetics that appeal to a wide range of sensibilities.
When it comes to adding value to a home—aesthetic or otherwise—bathrooms are a great place to start. Here, Rob gives us his top product picks that will take any washroom from drab to fab.
Rob Diaz of Diaz + Alexander Architecture.
“When picking out plumbing appliances, I love working with Watermark Designs and I prefer to use matte black plumbing or aged brass. When using matte black plumbing, you don’t need to break the bank: The finish doesn’t read any different from brand to brand.”
Watermark Designs has a range of bathroom and kitchen hardware for every aesthetic.
“For this Sherman Oaks project, I picked a bold vanity with dramatic veining, which serves as a statement piece for the primary bath. I love using natural zellige tile for a shower, as it adds texture and depth to the space. I used the offcuts from the vanity counter to create the base of the shower and a floating soap shelf.”
Clé Tile’s zellige collection comes in a rainbow of glazed and unglazed finishes.
“For sinks, I like to integrate them into marble or soapstone. I tend to buy enough stone so that I can integrate it seamlessly into a bathroom design. I love working with Kast Concrete Basins, a UK-based company.”
Kast Concrete Basins offers whimsical designs in 28 colors. Pictured here is the Aura basin.
“When it comes to lighting, two of my favorite companies are Apparatus Studio and The Urban Electric Co. Going back to the Sherman Oaks project I mentioned before, Apparatus Studio’s Arrow light fixture gives the primary bath a fresh and modern look—and nicely balances out the 17-foot-long Arabascato marble floating vanity. The Urban Electric Co. light fixtures nicely frame the Bower Studio mirrors above the vanity, and highlight the bold choice of marble.”
Rob Diaz designed the bathroom in this residence in Sherman Oaks, California.
“For primary bathrooms, I tend to go with soft woods for cabinetry, light flooring, and natural shades over windows and doors. I especially love Everhem motorized woven shades, as they offer a natural, textured, and functional design element to the space.”
Everhem’s woven wooden shades.
