Ballard + Mensua Architecture was featured in Washingtonian’s design story “Rest Rooms,” highlighting five extraordinary bathrooms that feel like luxury getaways.

For this project in McLean, Virginia, principal architect Seth Ballard was asked by longtime clients to reimagine their basement bathroom as an homage to one of their favorite destinations: Timberline Lodge on Oregon’s Mount Hood. While sourcing materials, Ballard discovered a dramatic black-and-white soapstone slab with striking quartzite veining. Inspired by its resemblance to snowy peaks—and determined not to cut it up into kitchen counters—he proposed using the slab as the shower surround.

The space also features Mission-style oak cabinetry and oak wainscoting, creating a rich, layered look that feels both dramatic and inviting. Despite the room’s dark palette and lack of windows, the design feels warm rather than heavy. “Sometimes there’s an inner light to things,” Ballard says, referring to the interplay between the soapstone and the wood. “You don’t always have to have light, bright things.”

This project reflects Ballard + Mensua’s commitment to thoughtful, detail-rich design that balances mood, materiality, and inspiration drawn from clients’ lives.