“The words by Picasso are supposed to
make you think,” says Skaptason. “They are
at sitting eye level. When you sit down and…
when you do whatever it is you’re doing, you
look straight ahead, and it’s like looking at a
painting.”
The water creates subtle, striped patterns
as it silently moves along the glass. “The sound
of water falling into a pool is wonderful when
you hear it outside,” Skaptason says. “But
there’s so much noise in the world; in here, it is
quiet and peaceful.”
The same Laufen washbasin and wall-hung toilet used in the main floor powder
room furnish the cellar-level bathroom, where
white lettering on an aubergine wall spells out
one of Wilde’s aphorisms: “I have the simplest
of tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.”
“The words seemed perfect for these
homeowners and for a bathroom that’s next
to the wine cellar,” says Skaptason. “They
are collectors of the best wine, and they have
great taste. Also, the design is rather simple.”
Although he and his clients are fond of
Picasso’s work and have a passing familiarity
with Oscar Wilde’s dramas, Skaptason says he
chose the quotes for their suitability, not for
their sources.
“It’s nothing heavy,” he says. “Some appropriate words were part of the design from
the bath adjacent to the
basement wine cellar has the
same black and white granite
flooring found throughout
the house. One wall is painted
aubergine, a color that is
used elsewhere in the house.
