Master Bath Makeover Before The pickled oak cabinetry lets everyone know it is 1990! After Warm, wood tone, raised panel, maple cabinetry makes this master bath elegant and timeless. When these homeowners called for help, they had an ambitious agenda for their master bathroom. The existing master bath configuration included a six foot soaking tub with deck, double sink vanity, a four foot by three foot shower stall and a toilet behind a knee wall for privacy. Storage was limited because the sink piping came up through the bottom of the cabinetry instead of through the wall behind the cabinetry. A large mirror was installed by the builder so there were no traditional medicine cabinets for storage. The previous homeowner had wallpapered the bathroom and years of shower steam left it peeling. After seventeen years, this bathroom needed help. Water stains on the family room ceiling located below the master bath were evident and made this a project that needed immediate attention. The source of the leak needed to be determined and repaired. More storage, improved lighting, and more privacy for the toilet area topped the bathroom wish list. Finally, the homeowners desired an elegant master bath to compliment the previously redecorated luxurious master bedroom.
Finding the Leak Before Showing Leaky Shower and Damaged Sheetrock After Showing New Shower Water stains on the family room ceiling below indicated a leak in the master bath. When the tile in the shower was removed, the source of the leak was unconvered. The diverter was replaced with a three way valve to allow for an oversized shower head and separate five function hand held sprayer on a slide bar. The shower walls and ceiling were completely removed and replaced with cement board.
New Tub Allows for More Storage Soaking Tub Before Claw Foot Slipper Tub After Although the six foot soaking tub was in good condition, the opted to purchase a new 5 ft. claw foot slipper tub. This was selected not only as space saving measure, but also as an elegant design element. The claw foot tub enabled the homeowner to gain an additional 12 of space at the end of the tub. A floor to ceiling combination of open shelving, closed cabinetry and glass door cabinetry kept this unit from overpowering the space. The open shelving area neatly and attractively stores the homeowner s towels.
Upper Storage Gives Easy Access to Everyday Items Relocating Plumbing Allowed for Corner Cabinet Upper Storage Keeps Bending to a Minimum Storage above the counter was necessary for the homeowner due to recent back surgery. It was no longer desirable to store everyday items beneath the sink. To add the upper angled storage, the sinks were relocated. The plumbing was moved to create the space necessary for the angled storage unit on top of the countertop. The floor to ceiling cabinetry unit at the end of the tub also provided storage above the countertop.
Lighting Resolved! New Chandelier over Tub New Flush Mount and Vanity Lighting The typical builder light fixtures included two recessed fixtures over the vanity, a recessed fixture with an opaque lense over the tub and a second recessed fixture with an opaque lense between the shower and toilet area. The homeowner s chief complaint was the lighting did nothing but cast shadows and the shower was cave-like. Additionally, due to their age, the fixtures were not airtight. The warm moist air in bathroom mixed with the cooler attic air above causing condensation to form around the light fixtures. Brown stains from the condensation had formed around the light fixtures. To address the lighting problems, the recessed lights over the vanity were replaced with brushed nickel vanity fixtures independently switched at the vanity area. New recessed lights with a brushed nickel finish were placed in the center of the ceiling for general lighting. An elegant antique pewter crystal chandelier was added over the claw foot tub. An airtight, wet location recessed fixture in brushed nickel was placed inside the shower. A semi-flush fixture was added in the toilet area. To reduce humidity, an exhaust fan with a timer was installed. Finally, a new dedicated 20 amp ground fault circuit was added. With more than one hairdryer being used at the same time, the ground fault receptacle often tripped. This problem was now solved.
Privacy Toilet area before More Privacy in the Toilet Area After A knee wall separated the toiled area form the main area of the master bathroom. While it provided some privacy, it was not as much as the homeowners wanted. A full height wall with a glass inset was added. The glass is a cross reed pattern to obscure the toilet area.
Technical Difficulty Overcome! The homeowner selected a traditional tub filler with risers for the claw foot tub. During the final plumbing installation, it was determined the tub filler would not fit the tub. Ordering a new tub filler from a different manufacturer was not an option since the lavatory faucets and shower trim units had already been installed and could not be returned or exchanged. The specific style was selected because it contained all the matching parts needed. Closer examination of the problem revealed the part included to secure the riser pipes to the tub was too short to make the connection. Several phone calls were placed to the plumbing supply and Kohler to explain the problem. Neither source had any suggestions on how to correct the problem. Our firm contacted a local machinist and had a custom part machined from stainless steel in the correct size. The plumber was able to install the newly machined part and complete the tub connections.
Design Details A warm sorrel finish on the raised panel maple cabinets is offset with a light toned engineered stone countertop. The tile has a marbleized pattern. The 20 in. x 20 in. floor tile was laid in a brick pattern for interest and to reflect the subway tile pattern surrounding the tub. The customized sink backsplash is topped off with the chair rail piece used in the tub area. A brushed nickel finish was carried through the bathroom including the plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, custom mirrors, and accessories. Crystal door and cabinet hardware was selected to compliment the crystal chandelier. Custom window treatments complete the elegant style of this master bath.