Case Study: Spa-Like Primary Bathroom

“We wanted a space that would feel relaxing. Our existing bathroom was anything but peaceful — carpeted floors, decaying grout, and poorly installed countertops are not the first thing I wanted to deal with in the morning”

-Client R on her bathroom renovation

This project has been one of my favorites to see come to fruition. Over a few months, we watched a drab, outdated, and poorly functioning bathroom transform into a spa-like retreat. 

From the beginning, this project had incredible potential. Most people would agree - carpeted bathrooms, stained grout, and small showers are no sign of luxury. However, the gorgeous sage green paneling, spacious walk-in shower, and simplistic design are what we all dream of - right?!

Where we started…

Like I said, definitely not the height of beauty.

This bathroom had served it’s purpose for a good twenty-or-so-years, and now it was time to plan and prepare for a bathroom that would elevate life for this couple.

We began the journey with moodboards and renderings. The couple knew they wanted a simple palette, with a little bit of interest. Their top priorities for the bathroom were a larger shower, a working tub (oh yeah, just one more downside of their previous bathroom), and a vanity filled with storage solutions.

To accomplish this, I recommended tiles and materials in a neutral color palette. A timeless subway for the shower surround and a grey tile with just a bit of texture helps warm up the space without drawing too much attention. Then, we chose a rattan light fixture to give the space some additional texture and color. Finally, we opted to paint the vertical shiplap a gorgeous sage color. Our focus was to create a timeless bathroom that would help sell the home a few years down the line. I specifically chose the paint and the light fixture to be our focal points as these can easily be swapped out by the buyer later down the road.

Once we had the designs all squared away, we got straight to work!

During the demo, we opened up the existing pony wall in the shower. We removed the old tub and began assessing repairs to fix the leakage that had prevented use. We ripped out the carpet, and old vanity, and brought everything down to the studs.

In the process of updating this bathroom, we added additional features like under cabinet light, heated floors, and a gorgeous niche in the shower. The leaking plumbing was fixed and we prepared for a new free-standing tub.

Additionally, these homeowners wanted to bring quality into their builder-grade home. We changed out all plumbing on this floor to higher-grade pipes and shortened some of the water routes. This means the couple now has a warmer shower, quicker! We upgraded to Hans Grohe fixtures and added a bidet in the water closet.

THE REVEAL

This is my favorite bathroom renovation to date! What is your favorite aspect? I cannot get over the new niche and shower shelf!

Thanks for tagging along!

Sav