People can often benefit from natural light in bathrooms, whether for hair and makeup, shaving, reading or cleaning, but bathrooms also tend to lack useful natural light due to having no windows, a small window or a covered window to protect privacy. Because of generally smaller square footage, standard skylights may not feel like the appropriate option either. The solution? VELUX Sun Tunnel® skylights.
In The HGTV® Smart Home 2020, designer Tiffany Brooks created an “Industrial Craftsman” aesthetic that expertly pairs the bold features of an industrial style with the handmade, homey qualities of the American Craftsman look. The use of Sun Tunnels to bring in natural light provided the opportunity to continue her rich, industrial inspired color palette into the bathrooms.
Illuminating the kid’s bathroom
Throughout this year’s HGTV® Smart Home, Brooks plays with light and dark, strong lines and delicate patterns and makes use of natural light where available. In the kid’s bathroom, (pictured above) don’t mistake the Sun Tunnels for recessed lighting. They direct bright, ample natural light through a reflective aluminum tunnel in the attic exactly to where the room needed it: the washroom and the toilet/shower room. The addition of bright natural light allows Brooks to execute her vision for the nearly all-black space without weighing down the room.
Brightening the Master Bath
There’s a reason they call Sun Tunnels a “portal to sunshine”: the reflective aluminum tunnel connects a lens on the roof with a diffuser in the ceiling, delivering even, bright sunlight to the room below. In the master bathroom Brooks’ unique design added the rich grey color to the ceiling, complementing the slate grey stone tile below.
For color balance, she kept the tub, cabinets and walls a pristine white, adding her characteristic plush details in the upholstered accent chair and patterned curtains. A tiled shower and the carved detailing on the cabinets (seen below) tie in the crafts inspiration. While the master bath has windows, the Sun Tunnels offer additional light to help soften the bold hue of the ceiling in the room in conjunction with the natural décor.
How the Sun Tunnel Works
Sun Tunnels are a great option for small spaces or rooms underneath an attic space where a standard skylight would otherwise not fit. The dome, tunnel and diffuser work together in the following ways:
- The high-impact dome on the roof captures light and sends it through the aluminum tunnel.
- The highly reflective tunnel creates pure, natural light with no color shift.
- The diffuser, which is mounted on the ceiling looking much like a recessed light, adds even light to the room.
Watch this video to learn how a Sun Tunnel is installed.
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