Bathroom Remodel Progress

We are making progress on this master bath remodel and I'm so pleased with how it's turning out! The limestone tile is in and I love the natural texture and random variation on the floor.


Here is my design sketch and how it will look when finished. A short wall was constructed along the back for wall mount plumbing and a ledge for bathing items. Limestone tile wraps up the short wall from the floor and a limestone counter will be installed this week on the ledge. A smooth, creamy soft wall surface with all mouldings same color as the wall will envelope the space and in the middle of all this will sit a gorgeous solid surface soaking tub.



Beautiful, creamy white smooth tub to sit on top of all that texture. It's a subtle difference in textures that is the key design element throughout this house and in the bathroom.


Here's what we started with! It had good bones....a lovely arched ceiling, nice window, ample space, etc., it just had some bad applied details. The columns that support nothing, the mauve pink walls paired with a yellowed cultured marble tub surround, and the chunky applied moulding destroyed the space. Very bland and just....wrong.

Demo....yea! Get that stuff out of there!

Short wall is built, plumbing stubbed in, walls primed, tile begun. You can see the feel of the room changing. The ceiling feels higher with no moulding and the curve of the ceiling really softens the room and envelopes the space.

Here we are today. Can't wait for the limestone counter to arrive and then paint. House Beautiful here I come! :)

Sculpture in the Bath

The epitome of luxury in a bathroom is a fabulous tub. Even if you're not a bath taker, just the visual effect of a tub in a gorgeous setting creates a calm, restful feeling. Tubs are taking new shapes in baths today. They are moving away from the utilitarian, built-in look and are now used as sculptural elements that really dictate a style direction. The Kohler tub above is a wonderful modern, angular shape that has just enough curve to be really comfy. Wouldn't you feel pampered in that tub?

This is the Aquatic Serenity tub....very traditional and sculptural, available in a two tone color scheme.

The Waterworks Empire tub is always a classic.

Here's a modern, curvy soaker from MTI. It has a beautiful, sculptural quality.

This boxy, masculine tub is very architectural in style, from Porcher.

This is a transitional soaking tub from MTI. It is very well priced and a great option for a sculptural look without a big price tag.

Okay, look past all the wild colors....isn't this tub cute? It has a crescent shaped seat inside. It's a Japanese style soaker tub also from MTI.

I've been working on lots of master bath remodels lately and I'm finding the best way to make a big aesthetic change and update a bathroom is to take out the built-in tub and install a free-standing one. It makes the bathroom seem larger and makes a real statement of style.

Here's a before shot of one of my remodels. Lots of cultured marble and steps to nowhere.

Here's the after photo. We laid the travertine floor underneath and did the Serenity tub from Aquatic. The blower is in a cabinet nearby and you operate it with a remote control.

Another before photo of a built-in tub. This tub was actually around 4'-6" long. It looked child sized and squashed into the space between the cabinets.

The homeowner wanted a more traditional look, so we chose a footed tub from Victoria and Albert and turned the tub to fit appropriately in the space.

I love affecting a big change in my remodels. Free standing tubs are a sure way to get a new look and add some sculpture to the bath.

Floor Plan for my Master Bath Remodel

The plan for my master bath remodel includes some minor wall construction, new cabinets, fixtures, and finishes. In the plan, I have relocated one sink to the adjacent wall for a double sink vanity. This leaves space for a custom built stained walnut “seated” vanity, the first thing you see when you walk into the space. It is designed to look like a beautiful piece of furniture. All other plumbing locations are the same to save on cost. I removed the small angled wall in the far corner and built furred out areas on either side of the long vanity to create much needed storage. I’m removing the door that swings in to the toilet room, it’s soooo tight you can’t even close it when you go in there! The new door will swing out now and will function much better. The entry door has changed from two 18” doors to a single 30”. I decided to use that space just to the right of the door for a new linen cabinet. Furring down above that area creates a small vestibule when you walk into the space. It gives some presence and created a nice squared off shape at the ceiling for the new crown moulding to be installed. These all seem like minor changes, but a well thought out plan can clean up the look and rid your space of everyday annoyances to make life so much more pleasurable!

By “well thought out”, I mean that every detail has been addressed before construction starts. What materials will be used and how? Exact placement and detailing of electrical, plumbing, lighting, cabinetry, etc. must be done. The details and placement of all these items affect the framing, done at the beginning of the job. A qualified designer is responsible for thinking these things through and making sure everything is addressed. When remodeling there are so many unexpected things that can go wrong (like finding carpenter ants!) that it is important to think through everything you can and be as prepared as possible.