Remodeling Master Bathrooms

13 May Remodeling Master Bathrooms

Our master bathroom is the first and last place we spend our day. When I am remodeling master bathrooms, I place functionality as my first priority, making sure I take into account my clients’ desired use of the space. My goal is a stream-lined design that facilitates their routines, but also is very personal and unique to them.

The two places in the bathroom that get the most attention is the master shower and the cabinetry. I like to start designing the shower first as there are so many fantastic plumbing choices that will create different types of looks. My goal is to design a highly functional shower that is also beautiful. What the client and I choose in terms of plumbing especially helps determine the choices for the rest of the bathroom. My clients usually have specific expectations of what they want their shower to do; some focus on the relaxing aspect, which can be achieved with a rain shower head; others focus on the ease with which they can take a shower quickly, likely making dual or hand-held shower heads the obvious choice. Once we establish what functions and features they want, we can choose the hardware and base the vanity faucet on its style and finish. Though the shower and faucet plumbing do not have to match perfectly, their looks need to complement each other for both to be part of the same design.Another important aspect of creating a personalized shower is the number, location and size of built-in storage space. A shower functions so much better when there is a place to put all the bottles, wash towels and other items. I even like to measure bottles and have a list of what my clients use in the shower so I can make room to fit it all. As for hanging towels, I like putting hooks next to the shower within reach, rather than having bars; they simply take up less space both on the wall and visually.

The cabinetry sets much of the tone in a bathroom. The finish affects how the bathroom feels and the cabinet hardware provides great opportunity for adding a dash of personality. In the bathroom below, my client wanted a more traditional look but an overall masculine feel. With the large amount of space we had, we built two cabinets, which incorporated our goals in different ways. The crystal knobs of the vanity cabinet went well with the marble and added to the traditional style. The large linen cabinet compliments the marble with its glass doors, but its large form contributes to the masculine look.

Another client also wanted his master bath to have a masculine feel, but with a contemporary style. Clean lines and long, rectangular shapes are everywhere in this beige bathroom: the mirrors, shower tile, flat panels and cabinet hardware all keep to that more modern look.

Another feature I like to incorporate if at all possible in master bathrooms is medicine cabinets. Recessed, they provide additional storage but keep a nice clean look. On the surface, they function just like a regular bathroom mirror, but are much more practical for accessing things you use on a daily basis. You are able to quickly find what you need if your items are spread out on shelves rather than stacked in a drawer.

Lighting is important to get right in a bathroom, but it’s also a chance to do something fun or a little different. As a rule, I place as much light as I can over the vanity.

Remodeling master bathrooms can get expensive; however you can spread out your budget however you want to, spending more in some areas than others. Sometimes one cost-effective option can be used in several different places. For example, in this black and white bathroom, our client loved the look of marble, but the material is very expensive and not particularly user-friendly. We found a faux marble tile that had the same look but much better functionality and cost, and we used it everywhere: for the walls, the floor in the shower, and behind the vanity.

In this beige bathroom, we were more sensitive to cost. My client splurged in a couple of areas, such as the real marble vanity top and the glass waterfall feature in the shower, but stayed on the lower end in his other choices.

In master bathrooms, there are so many way to express your style and personalize your space, regardless of budget size. I love creating these soothing and pleasant places for my clients to begin and end their days.