Daylight, privacy, more space … greenhouse corner for the bath

Sunset, Feb, 1988

Daylight, privacy, more space . . . greenhouse corner for the bath

Bathed in daylight, this two-part bathroom offers a comfortable, private haven, thanks to a prefabricated greenhouse annexed to the back wall of the old master bathroom. New French doors lead from the remodeled bath to the sunny 8- by 10 1/2-foot room, where a new hydromassage tub is installed. The doors can be opened for air flow or closed to isolate the climate in either space.

To regulate the amount of solar heat buildup, mini-blinds pull down over the glass walls and a canvas awning--worked by an outdoor-mounted hand crank--rolls out over the roof.

Seven months of the year, solar panels supply hot water for the 80-gallon tub, which sits in a 5- by 7-foot box faced with tile and topped with marble. To ensure that it fills quickly enough to keep the water from cooling before bathing begins, the tub is fed by 1-inch pipe.

To increase air circulation, high transom windows open the tub room to the old bath. A fan can also be used to push warm air from the greenhouse into the old bath and master bedroom. If the owners want to ventilate the greenhouse, they use windows at the bottom of the back wall or slide open the glass door to the deck.

Bought in kit form, the double-glazed, aluminum-framed greenhouse structure cost about $5,000. It required a new perimeter foundation.

Molly Martin of Menlo Park, California, planned the addition for Mary Mackiernan and Robin Clark.

Photo: Sybaritic soak takes place in greenhouse addition off master suite. Wall beside tub shields bather from neighbors' view

Photo: Crank-out awning over greenhouse roof deflects strong light, lessens heat gain. Sliding door opens to new sun deck