Project in Progress: A Farmhouse Primary Bathroom gets an Overhaul
We are back to more bathroom designs on the drawing board here at JRL! This will be bathrooms #6 and 7 at the same antique farmhouse property we talked about HERE.
Here we’ll share the design process for the owners primary bath overhaul AND a sneak peek at the selections for another fabulous powder room update!
Primary Bath
Existing conditions
The first order of business for ANY renovation project is to assess what works and what doesn’t in the existing space. There is always a reason that prompts remodeling, and it usually means something isn’t working…the room is either dated, or poorly laid out, or just doesn’t work for the way you live.
But it important to get specific so the design can address the problems and solve them optimally for you.
The current state of affairs when my clients bought this house was two back to back bathrooms used as the master suite.
One contained a tiny vanity, and some shoehorned-in narrow and deep shelving at the end of a tub/shower along with a toilet.
The other had an average shower, slightly larger vanity than the other bathroom but still not much storage and not the right kind of storage.
It also had a separate tub they had never used and that we weren’t even sure was hooked up properly (it moved a little too much!) The tub was parked next to a toilet. So you could have a relaxing bath while chatting with someone seated on the throne? I dunno…
They wanted to combine the two spaces into one more spacious, gracious bathroom. They were originally planning to keep the tub and toilet as is and just take down the wall and gut the smaller bath to allow for a longer vanity and bigger shower.
But I knew we could do better!
The Design Process
The overall space was around 6’ x almost 20’.
They wanted to:
Maximize storage (to get the clutter of bottles off the counter)
Include windows for natural light
Get a spacious shower with a seat
Correcting Proportions
Because the space was so long and narrow, I wanted to break it up into chunks - otherwise it would have all the charm of a bowling alley?!
A vanity in the middle flanked by a WC on one end and a wetroom for the tub/shower on the other end effectively accomplished this.
Since they didn’t actually use the tub at all, they were willing to consider eliminating it. This made it possible to have more natural light, even more storage, AND the shower of their dreams.
Here is the final layout we landed on.
The outside wall is only 6’6” high, but slopes up to 7’ over the vanity.
To maximize storage, we added two shallower countertop tower cabinets on either end of the vanity. Windows let in ample light. Separate shower and toilet rooms divide up the space nicely so the longest area is 6’ x 12’, a much better proportion than 6’ x 20’!
Finishes
I’m ridiculously excited about this. It is totally classic, but anything but boring! I love these clients - they are willing to take risks and always end up with something wonderful as a result!
We’ve selected finishes for a classic black and white color scheme with touches of gold in the lighting and cabinet hardware.
We are going for maximum drama in the shower with a black glossy subway tile for the walls. And we’ll repeat the black and white honeycomb floor tile in the shower niches.
The lower cabinets are black, and the countertop cabinets and all the millwork are white. It will be striking and timeless.
I’m lobbying for some fun wallpaper too…here are some of the options - which one do you like best?
Powder Bath Refresh
And here is the sneak peek I promised of the powder room in progress…
Just a few changes to the finishes will dramatically change the whole feel of this small but mighty under-the-stairs powder bathroom in the same antique farmhouse!
The ceiling, vanity and all the millwork will be painted in a glossy navy. The walls will all be wrapped in this fun botanical wallpaper.
The existing vanity, marble, toilet, bronze faucet and accessories, hardwood floor and antique mirror are all staying. But we are replacing the overhead sconce with side sconces and the cabinet hardware with something leafy!
Bathrooms present so many opportunities to have something special and unique, why settle for ordinary ho-hum builder basic, when you can have spectacular?!