First, the master bath: it was pink, pink, pink and Corian. Tiny, with a big need for updating, particularly in the cramped shower.
The master bedroom was tiny too, with a sliding door into a fairly large exterior atrium area. It was lost space that couldn't afford to be lost. The decision was made to take it over as part of the master bedroom to allow more space in the bathroom and closet.
The remodeled space includes new windows to replace the light lost from the atrium, and the new square footage is well used. There is plenty of room for the bed and dresser, and the new furniture configuration is more inviting.
The bath vanity stays in the same spot but the toilet moves, accommodating custom cherry cabinets with flush doors. One of the owners designed the tile pattern that makes up the backsplash and extends through the niche in the shower. Jura grey limestone is used for the counter and for the floor tile.
The master shower had been so small that it was hard to move around.
The new shower is about two feet wider, which allows for a bench seat. The frameless glass door allows in light from the skylight and light fixtures, while the new lighting plan is more attractive and effective.
The heated floor makes this room feel luxurious, and a far cry from the tiny space it started out as. Note the stain on the fir windows, chosen to match the color of cherry used elsewhere in the home.
The hall started out all white, and the solution to that is some color. The owners decided to trade out the doors for natural cherry, including a linen cabinet door.
This was complicated by the door jambs, which had no trim—just a plaster reveal. The original doors were taken to a shop and matched in dimensions so that the new doors would fit in perfectly.
A similar transformation happened at the entry, where the doors added to the overall white-washed feeling.
The new cherry doors with small glass lites are stunning, with rich grain and color. Siding, the doorbell, and mail slot were all replaced and relocated a bit for a more deliberate presentation. The old rectangular downspout is replaced with a modified copper rain chain assembly.
The doors also add color to the living room, where a single closet door was also replaced in cherry. The red of the cherry works well with the dark stain on the oak floors used here, in the dining room and hall, and into the new master bedroom.
Finally, the stairs to the basement were revisioned, replacing old carpeted treads and white picket railings.
The stainless steel cables with powder-coated steel posts affirm the contemporary design, and the Brazilian cherry cap reflects the intent of wood species selection for the doors.
The new railings, treads and risers are visible from top and bottom and signal that the time for change has finally come to this '60s home. Next phase—basement or kitchen? We're looking forward to finding out.
