With success of the renovation gut job of the guest bathroom, we quickly hired Larry from @OnlyBathrooms to renovate our master bathroom.
When Larry first visited our house last August, he surveyed each of the bathrooms to give us rough estimates of cost and a few ideas before we settled on a plan.
BEFORE RENOVATION GUT JOB
Since this narrow bathroom gets a bit squeezy, Larry suggested we replace this hinged door with a pocket door!
Initially, in my strategic advisor days, I suggested that painting the walls would be an easy remodel, so he painted sample paint colors he liked…three years ago!
Detesting the massive tub, he wanted a walk in shower. For that, Larry suggested two shower heads, one on each side, for each of us, since that space was so huge.
Design-wise, everything is a mish-mash of styles, from 1930s lighting, sink, and towel fixtures, to Swedish Modern IKEA vanity, to Asian styled mirror…all surrounded by Santa Fe tile.
However a simple paint job was impossible because a previous owner tiled around the mirror that merely hangs from the wall.
Additionally, there is a giant square hole in the wall behind the mirror.
When we stand in front of our sinks, neither of us can see much of ourselves in the mirror, because it’s not wide enough.
DESIGNING RUSTIC BEACHY STYLE
At the end of October, we visited Larry in his new Alexandria show room to plan the remodel.
Since I designed the guest bathroom beachy French Country Style, I decided to make the master bathroom look more rustic beachy, so that we could employ some elements my hubby liked, Mid-century modern and granite.
Much of his childhood was spent at his family’s vacation home in Vermont, where marble quarries abound, resulting in an equal abundance of marble sidewalks!
Many of his knick knacks in the house are even made of marble from Vermont.
Although I’ve never been a huge fan of marble with large veins, Larry suggested an airy style he had used in his model shower in the show room, which I actually liked, and my husband loved.
Then we moved to the floor tiles where I agonized while watching my husband’s reaction.
While I hoped to do a marble mosaic tile on the shower floor and as a backsplash, Larry led us to some grey floor tiles that my husband liked a lot.
Larry said he had coordinating mosaic floor tile for the shower, which would make the main floor seamlessly flow into the shower, visually enlarging the space.
While not totally wowed by the grey floor tile, it did have an interesting linen like texture, leaning towards the beachy rustic look.
Knowing I wanted to use blue paint again, for the walls, I brought all my paint chips with me, from which Larry suggested a light shade.
Happily, I chose a darker blue vanity cabinet base, that first begged to come home with us when I designed the guest bathroom.
After all that grey in the marble and on the floor, I was elated to have a huge pop of dark coastal blue!
Another choice I liked a lot was the bronze sink, shower, and towel rod fixtures that I chose, which leant to my French Country design.
GUTTING THE OLD BATHROOM
Larry’s team began work the first part of December, taping large cardboard to protect the floor from the front entry up to the fourth floor master bathroom.
Originally Larry and W were concerned about how the house would look for Christmas, but the main living space was away from all the cardboard, and I was so sick of this fixer upper, I wanted to conquer!
During the master remodel, we slept in the guest bedroom so all our bedroom furniture could remain covered with plastic.
Then they quickly gutted the bathroom and hauled all the icky stuff away!
There’s that giant square hole in the wall that a previous homeowner left for us. Larry’s team only removed the dry wall on the bottom portion.
Shortly before Christmas, our pocket door was installed, more pipes were installed for the extra shower head, and the electrical outlet was moved to make way for the pocket door…so all that took some extra time.
Meanwhile I shopped for some beachy items to decorate the bathroom when it was completed.
Here I am auditioning some pieces from Hobby Lobby in the master bathroom in mid-January, before shopping for a counter top with Larry.
Later that morning, I met Larry at the counter top supplier, where he showed me all the options.
Agonizing between an airy marble and a black composite, I auditioned each piece as I struggled with what W would prefer.
W assured me not to worry about him, just get whatever I wanted.
Well, I thought I preferred the marble, but the drama of bringing in a darker element for that rustic feel with totally Mid-century undertones I thought would wow W…Larry agreed.
Fearing the marble would be too airy, I went for drama.
SHOWER HEADS BACK ORDERED
Shortly after Valentines, the team packed up their tools, pulled up all the cardboard flooring, removed the plastic coverings, vacuumed away all the dust one last time, then presented the big reveal…with one caveat.
My bronze shower head was still on back order, so they installed the same type, but in chrome, so I could use my side of the shower until the bronze shower head arrived.
A month later, my husband noticed his shower head was leaking at the sides, so I alerted Larry.
When his team couldn’t fix it, they ordered another, which was also on back order.
By May, our new shower heads arrived and were installed!
BEACHY DECOR
Love the sliding pocket door, which btw seamlessly coordinates with the IKEA PAX wardrobes I painted white and wall papered.
I love the blues…
I love the marble, the French Country bronze fixtures, and especially the towel rack which I found at Pottery Barn!
Now that I see everything in place, I regret I did not choose the marble countertop…but my hubby (and his equally Mid-century modern daughter), both love this dark grey composite.
Although I had lots of trouble finding floor mats I liked, these two are the best looks so far!
The seashell mat is actually outdoor grade and easily cleans, while the fluffy one is great for stepping out of the wet shower.
On my side I’m trying to keep things as French Country styled as possible, while pulling out the bronze elements.
The wicker baskets are the best look I’ve found to hold a few of my extra hair clips and head bands, evoking that beachy feel.
On his side are two of his Vermont marble pieces for the bathroom, which perfectly coordinate with this Mid-century modern styled counter top, which is usually full of all his assortments.
On this side can be seen the new electrical switch with dimmer lights, which my husband loves!
Meanwhile I’m loving the new French Country molding between the floor and the wall, and even the new grate!
Looking high and low, I finally found these pictures that best represent us…the airy one on my side and the more rustic one on his side.
We’ve been so busy with numerous projects, such as renovating the fireplace in my sewing room, building shelving for my sewing room, and purchasing an Ultimate Craft Desk for my sewing room, I am thrilled to call this project, finis!
Meanwhile our new decks, back patio, and front steps are finally getting redone! Stay tuned for that post!
