1 fake bathroom, 2 new designs

A few weeks ago I showed you how to remodel a kitchen 2 different ways.....Pull & Replace is where everything is new, but the pieces stay in the same location, and Custom is where we do anything we can dream up.  Today, we're applying that same concept to a master bathroom.

Designs like we're about to see happen in phase 1 of the remodeling process, which I outlined here.

OK, on to the fake bathroom...

Our existing fake bathroom is comprised of the bad design elements I see most often in actual bathrooms...lots and lots of yellowish marble, wasted space, shiny brass fixtures (some designers are trying to push the idea that brass is coming back - it's not.  At least not the shiny kind), builder-grade cabinets, lots of above-mirror lighting, a tub that is too big for the space, and a shower that is too small.

Now that we know what we're starting with, let's look at some specific areas of this bathroom...

SHOWER

The existing shower stall is a prefab neo-angle unit - waaaay too small for this space. Also, the seams between the panels often leak and cause bigger problems than bad design.

In my Pull & Replace option, the prefab shower unit is removed and replaced with a frameless glass shower enclosure in the same location. The shower hasn't gotten any bigger, but because the angle is gone, there is much more usable space.

One of the biggest trends in master bathroom remodeling is removing the underutilized tub, and enlarging the shower to make it big enough for two people. Here I have an open shower with two fixed shower heads, overhead body sprays in a custom wood enclosure, an extra long storage niche, and a large custom glass panel enclosure.

The existing vanity area has builder-grade MDF cabinets, a cultured marble top, shiny brass faucets, and bright overhead lighting (you know, the kind that casts really deep shadows making it extra hard to get ready in the morning)

VANITY

The Pull & Replace option has a wood vanity with a quartz counter top (nearly impossible to damage in a bathroom!), under-mount sinks, modern chrome faucets, and soft overhead (recessed) and side (sconces) lighting to evenly light your face, reducing shadows and making it easier to actually see what you're doing.

My Custom solution has all of the same elements of the Pull & Replace, except that I've added wall mounted faucets and a wall hung vanity, which I LOVE (click the image to read why).

TUB

Ugh, this tub. Normal sized tub, HUGE tub deck. What were people in the 80's putting around the tub? And those shiny brass fixtures again. The only redeeming quality in this view is the window...always nice to have natural light in a space.

In my Pull & Replace design, the tub remains. In lieu of the drop-in tub with the large deck, I've installed a free standing tub. I love these tubs. For me, they almost look like sculptural art pieces. As an added bonus, removing the tub deck gave me extra space for a storage cabinet.

In the Custom design, the tub is gone to make space for the two person shower. To accommodate the shower, I moved the toilet to where the tub used to be. And look at all that trim! My current obsession is installing lots of fancy trim that you would typically see in a more traditional house, then painting it all gray and pairing it with super modern fixtures.

So there you have it.  One generic fake bathroom with 2 different remodeling options.  I hope that this exercise has shown you that no matter what your bathroom looks like now, it can become something amazing.  If you're interested in seeing exactly how amazing your bathroom could be, check out my services page and follow the link to my bio at Case.

Bye for now,
TJ

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