Remodeling: A Serene Primary Bathroom Oasis

Our clients wanted their primary bathroom to reflect their personalities. The result is a timeless bathroom that blends creamy tones, warm metal finishes and subtle botanical touches.

Before: A Not-So-Serene Primary Bathroom

You know, when a panel breaks off your vanity, it just may be a sign that it’s time to update your bathroom. That was the case for these clients, who were ready to have their primary bathroom reflect their personalities.

“In the original bathroom, there was no tub and the shower felt like a cave to them because of the stone tile and closed-in feeling,” says lead designer Sabrina Brown. “She dreamed of having a tub under the window, and they both wanted a shower that was more timeless in design and more updated.”

We took the bathroom down to the studs and borrowed a smidge of space from adjacent closets to expand the room.

After: A Serene Primary Bathroom Oasis

The warm metal finishes and creamy paint create a serene primary bathroom oasis. The cabinets, trim, walls and ceilings are painted White Dove by Benjamin Moore. This is a soft color that is light, bright and not too sterile.

The new style is traditional, classic, and fresh. The careful attention Lead Designer Sabrina Morrow paid to small details are what really make it special.

These special details include:

A thick reeded detail along the top of the vanity and the bottom of the bathtub surround
A mix of door and drawer profiles
Simple hardware that adds beauty without being distracting
An ogee edge on the backsplash and feet on the bottom of the vanity that give it a furniture-like look
The charming scalloped shapes of the mirrors
Nods to nature via the leaf shapes on the light fixtures
Crown molding that integrates seamlessly with the tops of the cabinet on the left.

A Closer Look

The thick reeded details mimic traditional moldings. It’s a beautiful way to finish off the top of the vanity. This photo also shows the ogee edge of the backsplash, which adds a touch of elegance.

Wall-mounted faucets save space. All the plumbing fixtures have a champagne bronze finish.

Here is a closer look at the thick reeded detail on the bathtub surround, the feet on the vanity. This photo also gives us a good look at the flush inset cabinetry. The doors have thicker Shaker-style rails while the drawers have a narrow beaded edge.

Flooring

The flooring is a beautiful Turkish marble basketweave mosaic. The tiles pick up on the creamy tones in the room, and adds some subtle deeper colors. The pattern and materials are classic and timeless.

A Not-So-Serene Layout: Floor Plan Before

We’ll get back to the finishes in a bit. But let’s shift over to looking at the layout for a moment. The existing bathroom was abut 85.5 square feet. A relaxing bathtub was at the top of our clients’ wish list, and we needed to find a way to reconfigure the space to accommodate one.

Look to the left side of the plan to see where there was an existing coat closet and an existing linen closet. These spaces were expendable.

A Serene Primary Bathroom Oasis: Floor Plan After

By taking over the space from the two small closets on the left, we gained about 15 square feet. This gave us room to place a tub under the window (right), shift the double vanity down to the left and expand the shower stall. We were also able to move the toilet back a few feet, giving it a more private feel.

Tub Area Before

Before, the vanity butted up against the exterior wall. The window had plantation shutters for privacy.

Tub Area After

Changes to the layout and the small amount of space claimed from two modest closets on the other side of the room made room for a deep garden tub. Classic molding allows the tub to fit into the room seamlessly.

We replaced the window with a larger window to let in the light. This was an opportunity to add color and pattern through the window treatment. We wish we could take credit for this gorgeous botanical window treatment, but that was 100% our client, who works in interior design.

Other Bathtub Details

The ceiling light over the tub is composed of antique gold olive leaf shapes. We also added a traditional ceiling medallion to lend a sense of historic architecture in the room.

Storage was at a premium in this room. We installed a tall cabinet and garage cabinet off one end of the tub to make up for some of the space lost when we took over the linen closet.

“Because they were losing the linen closet in their bedroom, I felt like they needed someplace to store towels and other items that was convenient for them in the bathroom,” Brown says. “In order to protect the cabinet, I chose to add in an appliance garage they could leave open during baths that stores bath items like salts and scrubs.”

Before: Shower and Toilet

Drywall around the shower stall made it dark, and it felt cramped. It also made the toilet feel a bit crammed into the room.

After: Shower Stall

By taking over the coat closet and linen closet, we were able to expand the shower stall and push the toilet back a few feet. Using pony walls topped with clear glass opened up the shower and maintains a light and airy feel. The basketweave tile continues onto the shower floor for a cohesive look.

You can’t have a serene primary bathroom oasis without a roomy shower stall. The new shower stall is a little over 6½ feet by 4 feet. This allowed room for a floating shower bench in the same quartz used on the countertop and around the bathtub.

The shower niche has ample room for both of the couple’s products, including tall bottles. We framed it in the quartz and backed it in the Turkish marble basketweave tile.

The wall tile in the shower is elongated porcelain subway tile. The creamy tones blend right in with the rest walls and cabinetry.

Here’s a look at an elevation. This rendering shows how everything fits together along one wall. It also illustrates how the material palette keeps everything from feeling jammed together.

We are very proud of this serene primary bathroom oasis. If you are interested in remodeling your bathroom, or any other room in your home, we’d love to talk to you about your project. Click the link at the bottom of this post to get it touch with us.