Project: Primary Bathroom Remodel and Kids’ Bathroom Addition (AKA #ProjectFullThrottle)
We put the pedal to the metal in #ProjectFullThrottle to help our clients get up and running with two new bathrooms as quickly as possible. With a second baby on the way, this growing family wanted to add a second full bathroom somewhere on their second floor, and completely remodel the existing bathroom, so they came to us for design-build help. We discussed options to phase the project, tackling one bathroom at a time, but ultimately decided to rip the band-aid off and forge ahead full-throttle, working on both bathrooms simultaneously.
The existing bathroom was previously accessible through the upstairs hallway and the primary bedroom. By closing off the doorway from the hallway, the space became a secluded en suite for the parents – but not without a gut remodel first!
Then, to carve out space to add a new bathroom to the second floor, a bathroom for the kids, the logical location was the large landing at the top of the stairs. We demolished a hallway closet and bumped into an adjacent bedroom to frame the new tub/shower alcove, still leaving the bedroom a nice size for the family’s soon-to-arrive daughter. The efficient layout allows for a vanity and toilet to one side, and a tub/shower combination on the other.
Best of all, our clients were very entrusting of the process and ready to have some fun with the design details in both bathrooms. The results are a luxurious, private retreat for the parents, and a sweet space layered with personality for their two girls. We had so much fun designing and building this project and are grateful to our clients for their patience and easy-going attitudes through it all, especially allowing us to be a part of their growing family’s story.
The layout in the primary bathroom stayed the same, but we removed a bathtub in favor of a spacious walk-in shower. A knee wall gives a bit of privacy and provides an anchor for the single sink vanity. The toilet stayed in its location at the other end of the room, and our clients opted to upgrade to a bidet model.
We removed a radiator that was built into the wall, and instead installed an electric heating system in the floor, as well as a wall-mounted towel warmer, keeping the room nice and toasty on cold days!
The mix of materials and patterns is so bold and rich, creating a boutique-hotel-like experience. Starting with the black & white porcelain mosaic tile on the floors, we layered a warm maple-stained vanity and soft gray quartz countertop. The deep kelly-green tiles in the shower create an enveloping escape, and the satin brass plumbing fixtures and accents are icing on the cake.
Since this bathroom became a en suite off the primary bedroom, the homeowners were comfortable with a single-sink vanity, favoring a larger shower and more counter space than a double-sink vanity would allow. We highlighted the ceiling height and maximized storage with a forty-inch tall, recessed medicine cabinet. Long, linear sconces add to the effect and the brass tones are harmonious among the faucet, mirror, light fixtures, hardware and accessories.
We like to keep our tile installer on his toes, and this layout certainly presented a challenge! Each wall of the shower is outlined in a border of square tiles, while longer subway tiles fill the middle in a herringbone pattern. The detailed installation creates a sophisticated, bespoke look.
With the orientation of the shower and glass door, we installed the shower controls inside the knee wall, allowing our clients an easy reach to turn on the shower without getting drenched. A simple floating quartz shelf spans the wall under the showerhead, providing ample room for shower products.
The best compliment we could receive on this project came from our clients, describing that the new bathroom makes them “feel like they are in a fancy spa every single day.” We couldn’t be happier for them!
In addition to the complete overhaul of the bathroom, the primary bedroom got a facelift with a new walk-in closet. We framed out a section of the long bedroom, including capturing an existing window, to create a light-filled and organized closet.
For this project, Jenni and Marc went shopping for architectural salvage pieces, and found this gorgeous, antique wood door that once belonged in a convent. Our team cleaned it up and installed it on a barn-door mechanism to serve as the new closet’s door. The sliding configuration works as a space-saver, not having to account for the swing of a hinged door into the bedroom or closet.
We painted the entire bedroom a regal, romantic hue, “Shadow” by Benjamin Moore.
The landing at the top of the stairs now houses the kids’ bath, where previously stood a large, framed linen closet. Framing the new bathroom meant closing off the existing window from the hallway, but we wanted to ensure natural light could still brighten the hallway and stairwell, so we incorporated another architectural salvage find.
We love this antique stained-glass window for its unique crest depiction and vibrant colors, adding character and patina to the home while maintaining privacy in the bathroom.
Inside the girls’ bathroom, we positioned the toilet to be back-to-back with the toilet in the primary bathroom, helping to simplify the plumbing installation. The toilet and vanity sit on one side of the room, while a tub and shower installation fills the other side, creating a comfortable, efficient layout.
We maximized storage by including a bank of drawers in the vanity, and a recessed medicine cabinet above the sink.
Just like in the primary bathroom, our clients were ready to have fun with the design of the kids’ bath. We started with a blond, wood-look cubist floor tile, which creates a playful pattern. The salvaged stained-glass window provided a jumping off point for the color palette in the room, especially picking up the pink, purple and green tones.
The vanity is a cool lavender-gray, and we carried a soft purple color on the walls. While we added a pop of green in the shower with penny tiles, the green-painted ceiling unifies the space in an unexpected way.
Building on the geometric pattern of the floor tile, we introduced stripes in the shower, alternating oversized white subway tiles with rows of matte green penny tiles. The mix of soft purples and vibrant green is playful without being overly youthful or feminine, allowing the bathroom to grow with the family’s daughters for years to come.
The new acrylic tub is nice and deep, fun for the kids’ bath time and also relaxing for anyone needing a soothing soak. We kept the fixtures shiny and bright in polished chrome.
Fresh, playful and layered with personality: the perfect recipe for a kids’ bathroom design!
Take a walk-through tour of #ProjectFullThrottle with our designer Jenni Jacobs!
Check out our Before and After Gallery to see what this space looked like before the remodel, and see our full photo gallery on our profile at Houzz.
