One of the spaces we renovated recently was our master bathroom. The original layout worked pretty well for us but there were a few areas we wanted to tweak. The first thing I wanted to add was an area for a vanity. I wanted it to go between our sinks and we had the space for it, so that was first on my list. I also knew that I wanted the countertop to be one level all the way across vs having it dip down in the center for the vanity. I personally prefer that look but I will say it does make finding stools a bit harder since it makes the cutout a bit higher than most vanity areas. What I am planning on doing is just finding a stool I like and having the legs cut down to fit.
BEFORE
AFTER
The next area to address was the kitchenette area. This area sits off to the side and had a sink, mini-fridge, and a microwave. We actually liked having a fridge to store water and drinks in, but we NEVER used the microwave. We also didn’t really need 3 sinks in the bathroom, so we were ok eliminating that extra sink as well. I knew I wanted to replace the existing cabinets with tall built-ins that had both cabinets and drawers for extra storage. Our carpenter was awesome about taking my awful drawings and making them happen. This area is so much more useful now and provides tons of storage.
BEFORE
Our bathtub before was a built-in tub surrounded by tile. I took before pictures but cannot find them anywhere!!! We replaced it with this freestanding tub from Signature Hardware. The wall extensions for our faucet were unfortunately back-ordered, so we are waiting on those. But this is what we went with. Once the faucet arrives and gets connected, I will share pics of the bath area.
We replaced the existing flooring with these white marble tiles. I was very picky about the way the tile feels underfoot because I did not want something that felt rough or weird with bare feet. These feel great but I will say I was not expecting them to have so many porous holes and fine lines in them. Those holes and lines catch grout, so some of the tiles appear to have veining that is actually grout.
For our countertops, we used Statuario Marble in a polished finish. More than likely we will end up honing these later down the road because polished surfaces emphasize etching, scratches etc. But I love them!
In the shower, we removed beige colored tiles and used marble. We went with these for the walls but wanted something smaller on the floors, so we went with these.
When we originally started our remodel, the bathroom was not in the plans, but since our master was empty and we were already living upstairs, we decided we would bite the bullet and get it done. I am so happy we decided to go forward with it. We spent a lot of time considering materials and selections for this room. If you are thinking about redoing a bathroom, I would encourage you to do the following:
- Think about the current space and make a list of what you like and dislike. What parts work well for you? What things are not working?
- Storage- Do you have enough storage space? If not, where could you gain extra space? Will you lose any space with the updates you are considering?
- Floors- Be sure to consider how slippery your material will be when wet. Get a sample and wet it down and see if it’s slippery. I also like to see how the samples feel under bare feet.
- Lighting- Is the current lighting good? Are the areas where you’ll be doing your makeup and hair well lit?
- Shower drains- If changing the shower floor material, I learned that the larger the tiles, the harder to slope (which is important for draining) and the more slippery the floor will be. Smaller tiles provide more traction and are easier to slope properly.
- Drawers- Do you have enough? Think about your morning and evening routines and what you use. I added a drawer with electrical outlets for my blow dryer and hair irons and love that when I am done, I can leave it all there and close the drawer. Do you want soft close drawers? Open drawers drive me nuts, so I love soft close drawers.
- Bathtub- If you are thinking of buying a new tub, you might want to think about how often you will be using it. Will you want a bath surround to set shampoos and soaps? That is one thing a free-standing tub doesn’t offer. I also suggest going to a showroom and sitting inside multiple tubs to see how easy they are to get in and out of, if the back slope is comfortable and to check the size out in person. Trust me the showrooms are used to it even if you feel silly. If considering a freestanding tub, will your current drain location work? Will your bathtub faucet need a wall mount, deck mount or floor mount? If plumbing has to be moved, it could significantly change the cost.
- Electrical Outlets- Do you have enough? Is there anywhere you need one added? Are there any that are eyesores and do not get used? Where do you plug in your hairdryer? Do you have an electric toothbrush or shaver you use? Do you ever need to charge your phone in the bathroom area? Make sure you have ample outlets because it’s not something you want to forget about and have to add later. We had all of our outlets moved into our backsplash and turned horizontally to be less noticeable.
- Grout color- Keep these simple rules in mind. White and lighter colors will show more dirt than a darker grout. The more the grout color contrasts with your tile, the bolder and more obvious the grout lines will be. If you want the grout to blend and be more subtle, select a grout color close to your tile.
- Toilets- This is not my area of expertise at all but I will say that there are a ton of options now! We stuck with something simple and timeless but whatever it is you want, I am sure they have it.
It has been so nice to get moved back into our bathroom and I am excited to get the space zhushed and finished up! I’ll be sure to share what I find and pics of the completed room soon! Thanks for stopping by.
Additional Sources
Light: Chandelier
Sink Faucets: these,similar, similar
Walls: Shiplap painted in Sherwin WIlliams Iron ore
Cabinets: Custom, painted in Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore
Cabinet Hardware: these in nickel
Mirrors: ours no longer available but similar, similar, similar