Whether we realize it or not, our homes become part of who we are, each space speaking volumes in our personal stories. When you spend years in your home, the rooms become just as special as the memories you and your family created in them. 

Our delightful clients, Charles and Nancy (names changed), are longtime residents of Gilbertsville and love where they live. They are both professional real estate agents and own a local agency here in town. As you can imagine, they are very community-focused and love being involved in our wonderful local events. 

In addition, the couple enjoys life as empty nesters, spending plenty of quality time together and visiting with their adult children and young grandchildren. As natural planners, they wanted their current home to immerse them in their fondest memories and evolve with their changing needs for many years to come…

Bathroom Pre-Renovation: Dark, Dated & Cramped

While the bathroom was currently functional for Charles and Nancy, they knew it wouldn’t always stay this way. With its dark, awkward L-shaped layout, the space simply wasn’t used efficiently. The couple never utilized the large, dated garden tub and struggled with storage space — there was no linen closet and little room in the vanity cabinets. They also hoped for a larger shower to accommodate a bench, if necessary.

From an aesthetic perspective, they dreamed of an authentic, meaningful bathroom that reflected their personal style. When Nancy and Charles approached us with their project goals, we were thrilled to help. 

Our scope of work included the following:

• Designing an updated and functional floor plan 

• Selecting all finishes and materials

• Designing the tile configuration

• Designing and fabricating the custom window treatments

• Choosing wallpaper and hard finishes

• Sourcing lighting

Let’s step inside and see what it looks like now…

After: Light, Open, & Highly Functional

Ahhh, so much better! Immediately upon walking into this space, Nancy and Charles feel a sense of calm and peace. We were able to check off everything on the couple’s wishlist, giving every inch of space purpose and function. They love this updated space and know it will serve them well as they grow older and their needs change.

This primary bathroom is off the couple’s first-floor owner’s suite, so we felt that it was important that the two spaces flow together naturally. For that reason, we allowed the color scheme in the bedroom to guide our design choices in this updated space.

Look at how much larger the new shower is! By relocating the toilet, adding a much-needed linen closet, and removing the garden tub, we had plenty of room to create a spacious shower. Additionally, the open glass distracts from the awkward L-shaped room and, coupled with our new lighting plan, makes the space feel larger and brighter.

While the shower’s tile is designed to look like natural marble, it’s actually porcelain — lower maintenance and highly durable without sacrificing aesthetics. And when Charles and Nancy use their new shower, they’ll enjoy a luxurious rainshower head with easy access controls. A soul-soothing shower can be such a simple pleasure, wouldn’t you agree?

Dark and bold with brass accents, the bathroom’s new vanity breathes new life and personality into the space. We designed this custom cabinetry with a specialized configuration that Nancy and Charles adore. Every bit of space was thoughtfully designed with function in mind, featuring plenty of storage options.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the vanity’s design details…

The subtle gray veining of the quartz countertops complements the shower tile and the chrome fixtures. Did you notice that the vanity’s hardware and the sconces are actually brass? Mixing metals adds a pleasant and unexpected layer of interest to a space, and Charles and Nancy enjoy the balance it brings.

We selected simple, functional sconces surrounding the mirrors above the vanity, but their mounting is far from typical. These delightfully unique agate slices infuse personality and just the right amount of zen energy into the bathroom.

Loving Their Beautiful, Functional Bathroom

Nancy and Charles are thrilled with their thoughtful, stylish bathroom that will allow them to age gracefully in place. They told me…

“When we made the decision to renovate our master bathroom, the first name that came to mind was Monique! She had helped us before with our kitchen renovation and has made beautiful window treatments for our home. She really listened to what we wanted to accomplish and was available every step of the way. The end result is not only gorgeous but functional as well. This could be my new favorite room in the house!”

Isn’t that what great design is all about? Transforming dysfunctional rooms into beautiful spaces with life-enhancing functionality and inspiring style.

If you’re considering a home project, I’d love to be part of your journey. And if you’re hoping to have your project completed by the winter holidays, now is the time to begin! Reach out, and let’s discuss your goals.

Until next time,
Monique