Master Bath Gets a Complete Makeover Before The Homeowner Painted Oak Cabinetry as an Interim Step! After A Complete Makeover When these homeowners called for help, they were desperate for a complete makeover of their 18 year old outdated master bath. As in interim measure, the homeowner painted the oak vanity pink and changed the mirror. An improvement, perhaps? But, definitely not what they were really after. The existing master bath configuration included a six foot whirlpool 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 cabinet instead of through the wall behind it. The homeowners challenged us to increase storage, improve lighting and figure out how two members of their family could blow dry their hair at the same time without tripping a breaker. One of the homeowners has knee problems and was hopeful that there could be storage that did not require bending. In addition to improving function, they wanted the master bath to be a relaxing oasis they could enjoy after a stressful day.
Is That Really the Same Tub? Before-Tub is Old and Dated After-Existing Tub Reused in a Completely New Way Deciding if the layout was going to change was the first step for this major makeover. Since the existing tub was in good shape, the homeowners decided to reuse it. A graceful high arc oil rubbed bronze tub filler with a mixing valve replaced the dated low arc chrome tub filler. The raised panel tub front to match the new vanity makes the tub feel part of the room instead of overpowering the space. For a more finished look, furniture base molding was applied along the lower edge of the tub front. The earth tone tile on the tub deck and walls has amber glass accents that bring the bronze tone throughout the room. The upper row of the tub backsplash area is finished with the listello accent used in the shower. The same field tile, glass and listello element is carried behind the vanity sinks for design continuity. To obtain additional storage, a wall mounted cabinet was installed at the end of the tub putting spa supplies and towels within easy reach.
New Layout Gives More Storage After-New Warm Toned Angled Vanity Knowing that the existing tub was to be reused, the rest of the bathroom layout was finalized. An angled vanity plan gave the homeowners the maximum amount of the additional storage they desired. The plumbing was relocated and brought in through the back walls of the cabinetry instead of the bottom allowing the undersink storage to be fully utilized. Every day items that once cluttered the vanity top, are now easily stored in the upper angled cabinets. The painted oak cabinetry was replaced with a custom, maple vanity with classic raised panel doors and a warm sorrel stained finish. The vanity features double sinks, a glass front door for interest, and a combination of cabinets and drawers. The ample above counter storage was provided to minimize the need to bend to reach everyday items. Two layers of crown molding, decorative end panels, and a triple bead molding detail between the upper cabinets give this bathroom an added touch of elegance and rich luxury.
The Shower Definitely Needed Help Before-Old and Tired After-A Luxurious, Clutter Free Shower! The homeowner also desired a neater looking, more luxurious shower. The framed chrome shower door and lack of storage space made the interior of this 3 foot x 4 foot shower feel cramped. Bottles were stored on the floor and on the shower door handle. The new shower needed to feel more open and deal with the clutter. A new shower base, cement board walls and a three way diverter was the first order of business. The semiframeless oil rubbed shower door with clear glass provides a more spacious feel. Adding to the openness is the light that was installed in shower so it was no longer cave-like. A niche was built in to the back wall for ample storage of bottles no more bottles on the floor. Once the old tile and sheet rock had been removed and replaced with cement board, it was obvious there was an issue with the original construction. A slight bow in the wall to the right of the shower was evident before construction started. After the new shower walls were installed, a gap of ¾ between the shower walls and the sheetrock for the wall to the right remained. The wall to the right had to be built out and a second piece of ½ sheetrock was installed over the original wall to eliminate the gap with the expert drywall finishing you can t even tell!
Lighting Adds Elegance and Function! After-Vanity Fixtures Independently Switched. The homeowners chief complaint about their existing lighting was that it did nothing but cast shadows and the shower felt cave-like because it was so dark. They only had two recessed fixtures with white trim over the vanity, a recessed fixture with an opaque lens over the tub and a second recessed fixture with an opaque lens between the shower and toilet area. Additionally, due to their age, the fixtures were not airtight. The warm, moist air in the bathroom mixed with the cooler attic air above and caused brown condensation stains to form around the light fixtures. To address the lighting problems, the recessed lights over the vanity were replaced with oil rubbed bronze vanity fixtures independently switched at the vanity area. New recessed lights with oil rubbed bronze trim were placed in the center of the ceiling for general lighting. An airtight, wet location recessed fixture also in oil rubbed bronze was placed inside the shower and another recessed was added in the toilet area. The homeowner also complained about streaks in the old paint. This was addressed by installing an exhaust fan with timer to reduce humidity. Adding the exhaust fan and using paint specially formulated for bathrooms eliminated the water streaks in the paint. Finally, a new, dedication 20 amp ground fault circuit was added. Now everyone can dry their hair at the same time!
Design Details Complete the Makeover Cabinet Hardware A warm sorrel finish on the raised panel maple cabinets is offset with a dramatic engineered stone countertop. The tile has a marbleized pattern and is installed in a straight design to showcase the decorative amber glass pieces. The oil rubbed bronze cabinet hardware is a mix of pulls and egg shaped knobs with an etched floral design reflected in the tile listello piece. Oil Rubbed Bronze Carried Throughout The oil rubbed bronze design element was moved throughout the bathroom. It is reflected in the custom framed mirror, light fixtures, towel bar finish, glass tile accents, faucets and accessories.
Little Things Make a Big Difference Beautiful Tile Details Throughout the Room Tile details the amber glass accents piece flow from the tub area to the backsplash behind the vanity sinks. The listello piece in the shower is repeated to finish off the backsplash areas. Plenty of Space for Towels A custom crafted towel bar keeps towels off the floor and neatly hung to dry. Custom Window Treatments Custom window treatments complete the elegant style of this master bath.
Sumptuous Luxury Beautiful Soaking Tub with Warm Wood Paneling Luxury and elegance abound in this master bath. The warm sorrel wood tones combined with the beautiful tile details make this the relaxing oasis the homeowners were after.