Inspired By: Cyndi Ramirez, Founder of Chillhouse

Design and lifestyle innovator, Cyndi Ramirez, has built her brand around self-care. Her NYC cafe/spa, Chillhouse, caters to stressed out New Yorkers in search of a little downtime. Chillhouse pampers visitors with “wellness-based lattes,” massages, and manicures. A line of merchandise offered on the website allows shoppers to bring the spa experience home with skin care, cosmetics, scented candles, and other indulgent luxuries.

Chillin’ at Home

Cyndi  replicates her business’s chill vibe in the one-bedroom West Village apartment she shares with husband, Adam Fulton. “I’m more eclectic with my tastes, but my husband is more direct,” she said. Blending the couple’s diverse styles in such a small space has meant having to be very intentional about what the designer brings into their home, “It’s truly become a sanctuary.”

Design Inspiration

Drawing inspiration from their travels to favorite spots like Venice, California and Tulum, Mexico, Cyndi  aims for an aesthetic that’s “simple, and stylish with an edge.” When asked about her design process, she said, “I start with a mood board with one main color and texture (or) surface in mind, and build from there.”

Creating a Dream Bathroom

Cyndi considers the bathroom a place to practice mindfulness. “My relationship with my bathroom is very much so a bath-time/bedtime ritual… an experience related to closing out the day.” She said her dream bathroom would be dressed in soft, soothing colors with plenty of shelving to organize and display her beauty products.

We asked the designer to browse the Build.com site and conjure up her ideal retreat. Here are Cyndi’s picks:

Pamper

A long soak in the tub is the perfect time to relax and reflect. The Kohler Underscore soaking bathtub is designed with perfectly sloped ends for comfy lumbar support. Cyndi chose a classic white finish and paired the tub with Signature Hardware’s Exira deck-mounted Roman tub filler in brushed nickel. For an extra touch of luxury, the designer recommends installing a towel warmer so you can wrap up in a toasty towel after you step out of the bath.

Prep

To put your best face forward when shaving or applying makeup, Cyndi said it’s important to 'be thoughtful about lighting' at the bathroom sink. She chose a long, dimmable LED bath bar with frosted glass shades from the Kichler Indeco collection. Cyndi also selected a sleek, contemporary Signature Hardware wall-mounted sink that's paired with a polished brass faucet from the Signature Hardware Hewitt collection.

Polish

Designers often use mood boards to visually plan their projects. It’s a great way to narrow down your color palette and style. For her dream bathroom, Cyndi chose soft neutrals to create a polished, but laid-back vibe. Daltile smooth ceramic tiles in Succulent Green from the RetroSpace collection are a great counterpoint to the rich texture found in the Surya hand-woven natural jute rug. For the door hardware, the designer chose a sleek, minimalist lever in Lifetime Polished Brass from the Baldwin Estate Collection.