artisan
CRYSTAL VISION
Bringing a client's unique shower vision to life
by Lesley Goddin, Editorial Director and Senior Writer
When G. Christianson Construction, Inc. in Corvallis, Ore., approached Tom Habelt with a concept for a completely unique bathroom project, it sparked the tile contractor’s imagination. Habelt is Owner-Operator at Habelt Custom Tile LLC in Albany, Ore., and also a social media star known for his Dad’s Dinners empire on Facebook and Instagram – and even his own Dad’s Dinners all-purpose seasonings!
Continuing Habelt’s innovative streak, this challenging bathroom project combined standards-based tile setting techniques to achieve a well-performing functional shower, while showcasing the client’s collection of stunning crystals.
“When I walked into the empty bathroom with just the framing done, I was like ‘Ok!’” Habelt said. “But when I met the homeowners and they showed me their crystal collection and we talked about the vision with the G. Christianson design firm, I got excited. I was holding the biggest amethyst crystal and already knew that I was about to build the coolest, most unique bathroom in my 16-year career in tile!”
The final touch after installation is the addition of live moss on the wall!
The homeowners had a prized crystal collection that they wanted to incorporate into the shower.
Tom Habelt of Habelt Custom Tile LLC installs flagstone on the sun wall.
Habelt lit the sun wall with Philips Hue Lights.
Working with the design team and the dreams of the homeowners, Habelt brought the vision to life through his expertise and imagination.
“The back wall has amethyst crystals hand-picked, and the flow design by the homeowners,” he explained. “A climbing wall of stack stone pebbles gives it the flair that this client wants! There is a moon wall with a moon crystal and stars falling. We have a sun wall that is under a skylight that has a Philips Hue light around the opening. The sun wall also has some unique stones in it and petrified wood.”
Habelt said his team built an actual sun using Oregon sun stones and clear epoxy with round white rocks around it. “We decided that if the homeowners want a sun in the shower we better light it up!” he continued. “We figured out how to light the back of it up with a Philips Hue light.”
Habelt has some fun with the foam bench built by Pacific Foam. LATICRETE HYDRO BAN Board was used on the walls and two Schluter linear drains were installed to handle the massive water flow in the shower. Schluter DITRA-HEAT created a warm and cozy floor, shower floor, shower bench, and tub step.
The homeowners conceived a special design for the shower floor that included tree roots flowing through the pebbles and the trunk climbing up the wall, ending at the glass. The project is a challenge to say the least, with a need for excellent performance built into the stunning aesthetics.
Habelt said the crew hid two Schluter linear drains in the shower to accommodate the massive amount of water flowing from the 2' x 2' rain head, three body sprays, regular shower head and a body wand.
The shower shape in itself is unique, built out of foam. Habelt gives a big shout out to local supplier Pacific Foam in Portland, Ore., that made the shower pan, and the bench that was positioned under the skylight on the sun wall.
Stack stone on the bench and wall, interspersed with crystals and flagstone climbing the wall near the tub. Habelt installed a fossil on the stack stone niche.
The bathroom floor, shower floor, shower bench and tub step are all heated by Schluter® DITRA-HEAT. The walls were all LATICRETE HYDRO BAN® board with LATICRETE MVISTM Pointing Mortar for the flagstone. Habelt used LATICRETE SPECTRALOCK® PRO Premium Grout for the shower pan with three coats of STONETECH® Bulletproof® Sealer on the grout.
The detail work was exquisite. “We mitered and folded all the inside and outside corners,” Habelt said. “Some stone wraps were three-way wraps, on the curb and one of the niches.”
The end result was a magical cave-like space, with unique accents and customizations to make the client’s vision come to life. A final touch, after the tile, stone and crystal work was the installation of live moss on shower walls!
“This job was an amazing experience,” Habelt said. “I feel so humbled to be able to do a job like this in my career.”
Artisans had an additional lesson on the last day on cutting in an inlay design.