A before and after look at a master bath remodel done by Handcrafted Homes, Inc.

1. Casual Elegance

2. Introduction/Project Description
Our clients asked us to create an elegant Master Bath that felt warm and comfortable. We
knew that too elegant would be stiff, but too relaxed could lose the sophistication. The
home was built in the 1920’s and our team strived to keep the style of the early details and
comfort of the home.
We opted for elegant materials but balanced this look with a charming window seat. It’s a
practical addition, too, as a place for storage and dressing. In order to add the window seat,
we canceled the tub which was located between the commode on the right and the shower
on the left. It was under an ugly window with the blind pulled down at all times. Also, we
vaulted the ceiling over the window seat and the main bath to add drama.
Our clients requested new vanity spaces as they had been sharing a small vanity cabinet. If
possible, they each wanted their own vanity. They also hoped that their shower could be big
enough for two, with multiple shower heads and a steam unit. The shower is situated
exactly opposite from the window seat with the angled element matching the window seat.
They also requested that we improve their closet space. When we redesigned the bath
space, we took the old closet and used that additional square footage for the shower and
the commode. An adjoining extra bedroom was made into the new closet with a doorway
added on the master bathroom hall side.
This beautiful redesign allows the client to have their wishes in a warm and elegant setting.

3. Bath Before
This single vanity for two was inadequate for our clients (her toiletry items kept getting on his
side). Note the reflection of the tub and commode in the mirror.

4. Window Seat
The window seat is
welcoming and it still
emphasizes the
elegance of this bath
by the symmetry of the
columns, the sconces,
and the chandelier.
Note the antique ridge
beam. It complements
the character of the
home.

5. Design Changes
Please note some of the design changes we made in the pictures below. The main bath
ceiling was vaulted. After the tub was removed, the ceiling of the window seat was vaulted,
too, and a new window with an arched transom was installed.
The small
window that was
existing in the
old shower (see
left) was
removed.
The window that
was near the
commode (see
right) was
moved to make
room for the
new vanity.

6. The Tub Becomes a
Window Seat
The old bath had the tub crammed
between the shower and commode.
The new window seat is a comfortable
location to get dressed and doubles as
a storage area.
Before

7. Feature
The blinds over the old tub were
never opened because of the
difficulty of standing in the tub to
open and close them.
The blinds are now remotely
controlled and can be opened,
closed, or semi-closed.
Note: the trim between the transom
and the window contains a hidden
pocket to hide the mechanism of the
blinds.
The arch transom is always
uncovered.

8. Vanity
The old commode was
totally exposed to anyone
entering the bath. The
window next to the
commode was moved to
the right to make room for
the new vanity. Note the
soffits have speakers and
additional lighting.
All light fixtures are dark iron, which adds an important accent
to this setting.
Before

9. Vanity
The vanities are
equipped with
receptacles, interior
pullouts, and a hamper
door that, for
symmetry, was
designed to appear to
be drawers.
Before

10. Vanities
His and her vanities each have a Botticino slab top, mahogany cabinets, iron sconces, and
a mirror framed with antique mirror. There is a sound system with speakers in the ceiling.
His vanity conveniently has a TV over the door.

11. Shower
The shower sits
directly opposite the
window seat,
symmetrically
situated between two
doors.
The door to the left
opens to the
commode and the
door to the right to
the entry hall.
The floors are 24
inch by 24 inch tiles
of Botticino marble
with a heated floor
system. The shower
tile matches the bath
floor. Shower details
are made from
matching marble
slabs, i.e. the top of
the bench seat.

12. Shower
This spacious Botticino marble steam
shower is large enough for two and
has individual volume controls and
multiple shower heads. His and her
niches are positioned near the bench.
Before

13. Commode
The toilet is no longer one of the
first things you see when you enter
the bath. It is privately tucked within
its own space.
Before

14. Feature
Note our special
installation detail.
We created flush
floor registers
made from the
same Botticino
marble used on the
floor.

15. Hall
The before picture shows the closet
door entering into the bath entry hall,
facing the master bedroom. As one
can see, the door has been replaced
by a piece of art and the new closet
door is to the right. The entry into the
bath is to the left.
Before

16. Bath Entry Hall
This illustrates the left side of the bath
hall. It shows how one enters the bath
from the bedroom. Note: the tile floor is
flush with the hardwood floor.
In the before picture of the master
bedroom one can see the tub in the
background.

17. Closet
The additional bedroom that was
adjacent to the master bedroom and
bath was transformed into a large closet.
The closet in the before picture below is
now a part of the shower and commode
space.
Before

18. Challenges
See above: where the old shower was
located there was significant rot of the
subfloor.
Note to the right: the rotten joists.
Many areas were discovered to be
rotten from shower leaks and roof
leaks.

19. Challenges
Rotten ceiling joists and rotten
siding shingles that were left from
a previous renovation are pictured
below.
We had to move the plumbing vent
pictured above and then repair the slate
roof. Note the new framing at the
shower.

20. Challenges
When we moved the plumbing vent, we found that the plywood was rotten under the
slate. Repairs to the slate roof were required.

21. Challenges
The walls from the previous renovation were
framed in a piecemeal manner.
Very little was structurally sound.
Additionally, the wiring was old and basically
everything had to be rewired.
Before After
Note: the same wall, after reframing and
insulation. This picture shows the old
window in the shower was removed.

22. Challenges
We found that, as a result of numerous renovations, the floor levels were not the same. A
significant amount of work was required to reframe the entire floor system. There was not
only rot, but we needed to structure the floor so that the new marble floor would be flush
with the existing hardwood floor in the hall and bedroom.
Note the extent of the mechanicals that
had to be reconfigured underneath the
floor system.

23. Success at last – our goals are realized!