Steal This Look: A Spa-Like Sanctuary in LA

What makes a perfect bathroom? In my mind, it looks like this one, in the former LA home of designer Pamela Shamshiri. (The house sold to new owners a few summers ago.) Spa-like but cozy, simple but sophisticated, it’s anchored by a hinoki soaking tub for long, relaxing baths.

Above: The room’s palette reflects the one on the other side of the floor-to-ceiling window. Photograph courtesy of Rizzoli from the book, The Perfect Bath by Barbara Sallick.

I’m not alone in admiring this space: It appears in Barbara Sallick’s book The Perfect Bath, and, as it turns out, was Pamela’s favorite room of her Rudolph Schindler-designed house. “It’s my sanctuary…It’s not original in any way, but I think Schindler would approve of the design,” she said in an interview with Rip & Tan. “It’s where I recover and recharge.”

Above: We love ofuros, Japanese soaking tubs. See 10 Favorites: Japanese-Style Bathtubs Around the World for more. Photograph by Nicki Sebastian, courtesy of Rip & Tan.

Ready to learn how to steal this look? Here’s what you’ll need:

The Wood Stuff

Above: The Hinoki Copper Bath Bucket is $86 at Jinen. It’s 9 inches wide and 4 inches tall and watertight.  Above: The Hinoki Bath Stool is $250 is Nalata Nalata. (Check out 10 Easy Pieces: Best Sauna Stools for the Bath for more ideas.) Above: The Hinoki Bath Mat is $240 at Nalata Nalata. Above: Zen Bathworks specializes in hand-crafting Japanese ofuros. Contact them for prices. Above: Pamela’s stump stool is by artist Alma Allen. For something similar, try EQ3’s Teak Stool; $352.

The Hard Stuff

Above: For a similar look, try Heath Ceramics’ Classic Field Tiles in a matte glaze. Above: The .25 Low Profile Three-Hole Wall-Mounted Lavatory Faucet with Cross Handles is $1,610 for the chrome finish at Waterworks. (See 10 Easy Pieces: Modern Wall-Mounted Bath Sink Faucets for more options.)

The Little Stuff

Above: The waffle Onsen Towel Set is $89.90 at Onsen, a direct-to-consumer startup. Above: Fish is a symbol of prosperity and wealth in Japan. We like this slim Fish Soap on a Rope; £13.95 from Graham & Greene.

For more on Japanese baths, see:

• 10 Favorites: Japanese-Style Bathtubs Around the World
• Bathroom of the Week: A Japanese-Style Bath in London, Greenery Included
• Object of Desire: Nawrap Binchotan Charcoal Dish and Bath Cloths from Japan

N.B.: This story originally ran on March 24, 2020 and has been updated with new links, pricing, and products.