These pages of brilliant baths are filled with inspiring ideas (and incredible photographs) that will have you rethinking the form and function of your own baths. We’re highlighting styles ranging from quiet and modern to timelessly traditional. But, they all have one thing in common — luxurious touches that turn a simple bathroom into a private escape.
Master Bath Featuring Delightful, Clean Design
Smallwood Design & Construction, Inc.
Cris Beattie and her husband, Rob, were ready for an upbeat change for their master bath.
Beattie worked with her daughter, Maegen Curry, who is a senior designer in Southern California, to decide on the design and look she wanted to achieve, including many functional features.
They didn’t change the footprint or move the plumbing, but everything else is new. From her beloved digital thermal valve in her curbless shower, to the heated floors, wonderful lighting and the rain showerhead, to the charging station in a bottom cabinet that keeps the electrical cords hidden out of sight — Beattie loves her new bath. Most importantly though, she says her husband loves the bath, too.
Beattie would like to recognize the people who made this project a reality. Smallwood Design and Construction, Inc. stepped in and coordinated the job. She says they were fortunate to have found such wonderful craftsmen here in Kitsap County.
A Bath to Suit Couple’s Modern Needs and Style
A Kitchen That Works, LLC
Denise and Les Franks wanted to change everything about their bathroom — from the size and configuration of the shower to the lack of door between the two. Les Franks’ parents built the home decades ago, and it didn’t reflect the looks and need he and Denise had. The couple hired Molly and Clive McCabe of A Kitchen That Works, LLC to facilitate all facets of the project.
A Kitchen That Works, LLC chose all the subcontractors, which included Wagner Plumbing, Creative Countertops (tile, granite countertop and solid surface shower surround), Agate Pass Electric, Nyman Construction (finish carpentry) and Aqua Painting.
Molly McCabe worked closely with the Frankses to ensure the materials and design features met both of their needs and desires. The room was taken down to the subfloor and most of the stud walls. A window was installed for natural light and ventilation, the wall behind the shower was pushed back a foot to provide space in the shower for a built-in bench, and decorative grab bars were installed for the future along with dual shower heads.
Additionally, a wall with pocket door was erected between the bedroom and vanity area to provide mitigation of sound and light leakage from the bathroom to the bedroom. A linen storage cabinet was added to alleviate the need to walk down the hall for fresh towels.
Les and Denise Franks had done remodels before and were quite adept and expressing their preferences, which made McCabe’s job of presenting material and design options super easy. The couple are happy with the results. They were also pleasantly surprised at how smooth the whole project went and how genuinely dedicated each member of their team was to the tasks at hand.
Their favorite parts include the size of the new shower, the pocket door, the heated floor and, most of all, the window.
Resources:
- General Contractor | A Kitchen That Works, LLC
- Tile, countertops, solid surface surround | Creative Countertops
- Carpentry | Nyman Construction
- Electric | Agate Pass Electric
- Painting | Aqua Painting
- Plumbing | Wagner Plumbing
A Bath Designed for Comfort
Pioneer Builders, Inc.
When Kris and Janna Nakagawa purchased their new home built by Pioneer Builders, Inc., they noticed the soaring ceilings and openness of the floorplan.
The attention to detail was evident in the carefully designed master bath, with custom tile in the shower and tile designs throughout.
The granite countertops and slab were chosen by Pioneer Builders and the freestanding tub was selected from Water Concepts in Tacoma. Canyon Creek provided the cabinetry, while lighting was supplied by Seattle Lighting. The mirror and shower door enclosures were installed by Harbor Custom Glass.
The home is the Nakagawas primary residence; however, they were so pleased, they sent the builder a Hawaii gift basket in appreciation.
Resources:
- General contractor | Pioneer Builders Inc.
- Electric | Green Line Electric
- Cabinetry | Canyon Creek
- Glass | Harbor Custom Glass
- Tile | JD Tile and Marble
- Tub | Water Concepts
- Furnishings | Contract Furnishings Mart
- Lighting | Seattle Lighting
- Paint | Sherwin Williams
- HVAC | DC Heating
- Moldings/doors/windows | Western Pacific Building Materials
A Beautiful, Yet Practical Bathroom
Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co.
The homeowners of this Bainbridge Island home wanted to update their drab, early-1990s master bathroom to better fit their needs. They wanted to remodel not only for resale purposes, but also to bring new life to their family home, now that they are empty nesters.
They worked with Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co. to complete the project from start to finish. One of the first main changes was to remove the carpet and replace it with a durable tile floor. Next, a curbless shower with built-in bench was installed to expand and update the showering and bathing experience. It has a large recessed niche and a shower column with both rainhead and hand shower. Additionally, a freestanding soaking tub includes a custom recessed niche for décor or bathing accessories.
The crew needed to rework some of the electrical and lighting in the space. They added wall sconces, a tower cabinet at the vanity with power inside, an LED-lit magnifying mirror, new exhaust fans and updated recessed can trims and receptacles. They selected materials that were not only durable and beautiful, but also provided a timeless charm.
The bathroom looks as though it took a deep breath of fresh air. A main goal with the design was to lighten the feel as soon as you walk through to door, and create a space that allows you to let go of the day’s stress. Everything worked in its original location, keeping cost down and utilizing any extra space available.
Keeping with the new feel of “light and bright,” the perfectly functional vanity was refaced, professionally spraying the cabinet boxes a white paint and adding new doors and drawer fronts with a factory finish. Countertops were chosen as a quartz to mimic white and gray marbling.
The tiles within the shower and wainscoting around the tub are large-format, glazed subway style, reflecting not only light with their glossy finish, but also providing a timeless charm. The new, beautiful, feminine and petal-shape mosaic tile complements the countertops, an accent in the shower at the pan, plumbing wall, niches and a small strip through the wainscoting.
The home has a cottage feel, and the flooring and tower cabinet at the vanity needed to ground the space with the warmth of wood. The tile on the floor gives the look of wide planks with a grayish wash, and the tower cabinet was designed to match.
All the plumbing fixtures were selected through Kohler for their classic lines and functionality. Selecting chrome as the finish for the plumbing, light fixtures and cabinet hardware added a little “bling” to the space.
To complete these stunning remodels, Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co. works closely with some of the best subcontractors and suppliers in the area, including Swift Plumbing, Sunset Electric, FloForm Countertops, August Artisans, Keller Supply and Kitsap Custom Coatings, among others. The company also employs skilled carpenters who pay close attention to the fine details on every job.
The homeowners are very pleased with the finished product, enjoying their new master retreat every day. Having materials that are both beautiful and durable allows the clients to ease back into their normal routine without having to worry about damaging their shiny new bathroom.
Their favorite new part of the bathroom is, of course, the shower. It’s easy to access with the zero-threshold entry, pivoting glass door and wet-set application enclosure. The niche and bench have added great storage. The niche inside the shower has a glass shelf for bar soap or razors, while shampoo bottles remain on the lower tile ledge and the bench doubles as towel storage on the backside.
This bathroom remodel was a special project for Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co. as well. Originally from Bainbridge, lead interior designer Natalie Collins Shaw and her sister, Lacey Collins — who tackles inside sales and assists with project management — attended high school with two of the client’s children. It made for a special connection and comfortable relationship throughout the entire project, helping transform a home that has connection to their childhood. The company says the homeowners were an absolute joy to work with and is thankful for the wonderful opportunity to serve them.
Complete Master Bath Transformation
Above and Beyond Custom Tile & Quartz
Note: The general contractor came in to find poor construction work by an unlicensed, uninsured, undocumented worker who did not follow Washington state or national standards. The work the unlicensed worker completed was totally unsafe for the homeowners.
This Gig Harbor remodeling project started out as a simple regrouting job. As it turned out, the bathroom needed a lot more work — tiles were barely attached to the walls, a 300-pound glass wall was only held in place by three screws and was unsafe, heated flooring did not work, tub deck was unlevel and water would not drain properly. The list goes on.
Once the contractor, Ryan Smith of Above and Beyond Custom Tile and Quartz, started pointing out all the issues, the homeowners decided it would be best to fix what was wrong. Smith created the design and completed the job from start to finish with help from his apprentice, Joshua Laundry.
Some of the many changes included:
- Removing the glass and building a 3/4-wall with a beam running through the floor and ceiling, anchoring it in both places.
- Installing a custom soap niche with a bottom shelf for razors.
- Rebuilding the tub deck to perfectly level.
- Installing NuHeat heated flooring with a Wi-Fi thermostat, a new Cambria quartz countertop with two luxury sinks, and new Moen hardware throughout the bathroom.
- Painting the ceiling and walls.
The homeowners are extremely happy with their new master bathroom. They both love the large shower. The bench doesn’t hold water now, so they can sit on it and not feel like they’re sitting in a cold pool. They also love their properly draining tub, heated tile floor and secure shower pane glass.
Resources:
- General contractor | Above and Beyond Custom Tile and Quartz
- Countertops | Creative Countertops
- Plumbing | Great Western Plumbing
Remodel Successfully Achieved
A Kitchen That Works, LLC
The homeowners wanted a more welcoming bathroom in their beautiful home. Desired features included a double sink, better lighting and storage, and updated fixtures.
A Kitchen That Works, LLC assisted the owners in creating the design and specification of the project and built it with assistance from Stonehenge Tile and Stone, Agate Pass Electric, Northwest Tile & Stone Care (who did a full deep cleaning of the marble tile throughout as well as the glass block), Nyman Construction and West Sound Plumbing.
The goal was to preserve the extensive marble tile throughout the bathroom and glass block shower while truly changing the look, feel and functionality of the bathroom. The original tile (including countertop) had been installed over the vanity and bathtub, and the deco tiles were no longer available on the market. With attention to detail and a well-seasoned crew, the homeowners’ desire — to have furniture-style bathroom cabinetry that looked as if it were original to the space — was achieved.
There were many “surprises” in the walls and framing of this bathroom. When you hire qualified design and build professionals, you can feel confident that irregularities in the way your home was originally built — which may impact your design goals — will likely be overcome with ingenuity and experience.
The homeowners wanted to change out the roman tub filler but due to an unusual framing and despite opening up the wall from the closet behind the bathroom, the valves could not be accessed for replacement. Four strong men attempted to lift the cast-iron tub out to provide access to the valves but despite all the effort, changing out the tub filler was not possible. Instead, the spout and handles were refinished to better match the finish of the new plumbing fixtures.
After demolition, it became painfully obvious why this master bathroom had only one sink. The waste pipe came up out of the floor (not the wall) and the concrete stem wall that comprised the first 16 inches of the vanity wall had been altered in a noncode-compliant manner. In the end, careful and code-compliant piping provided the requisite slope to connect the two sink drains.
The list of little extras includes:
- A hot water recirculation pump (the master bath was the farthest point in the home from the hot water heater);
- A charging station in the top drawer of the linen cabinet;
- Outlets in the back of the linen cabinet for charging grooming appliances, which keeps clutter on the countertops down to a minimum;
- A lighted, magnifying make-up mirror;
- A heated towel bar and specially selected mirrors.
The owners are enjoying their “his and hers” vanities, which ensure that they no longer have to dance around each other — at least not in the bathroom. Towels can now be stored in the bathroom rather than the closet down the hall and the improved lighting makes for ease in grooming.
The top-favorite item is the recirculation pump — as avid year-round gardeners and after eight years of living with tepid showers, they now can soothe overworked muscles with nearly instant hot showers. The second favorite improvement is the overall aesthetics of the space that brings the bathroom in line with the rest of this beautiful home.
Resources:
- General contractor | A Kitchen That Works, LLC
- Countertops | Stonehenge Tile & Home
- Deep cleaning of existing marble tile and glass blocks | Northwest Tile & Stone Care
- Carpentry | Nyman Construction
- Electric | Agate Pass Electric
- Plumbing | West Sound Plumbing
This Old House — 19th Century Home gets 21st Century Bath Updates
Demane Design, LLC
This old house — built in the 1870s — got a much-needed bathroom remodel. There was a combination of necessity and longing, going forward with plans to update the only full bathroom in this historic brick home.
With a house that’s over one hundred years old, it was evident that it had been through many updates over its long history. It had good bones and potential to be grand. When the homeowners moved in, they had a lengthy must-do list and another list of want-to-do items.
Old brick homes can have their challenges. The windows were drafty, but were replaced with period-appropriate, energy-saving ones, keeping the home warm and reducing heating costs. The floors were worthy of keeping. They were refinished and the local hickory floors now glow.
The front parlor was one of the rooms tackled first. It had a drop ceiling that was probably done in the ’60s to cover up prior ceiling damage. Removing it gave the room a breath of fresh air with the now visible, original high ceilings.
It also had a fireplace (originally coal heated) to greet and entertain guests. The fireplace is adorned with a lovely wood mantel and surround that the owners’ cats love to sit on for an outstanding view of the room. Today, it has an efficient gas insert that warms the room, allowing one to enjoy a cup of tea while reading a book in the cozy setting.
A kitchen remodel was implemented a few years back, giving it new life and much-needed storage. So, the homeowners were excited when it finally came to remodeling the bathroom.
The bathroom was long and narrow, common for the era it was built in. In the planning stage, it was decided that the space was too small to accommodate the updates the homeowners desired.
The bath was enlarged by stealing 2 feet from an adjacent room to make the remodel work. Luckily, the other room’s sacrifice of space had a minimal impact.
The bath had a cast-iron tub that was difficult to get into and wasn’t in the best shape, and a corner pedestal sink left no storage for the usual everyday bath items. The homeowners decided to forgo a bathtub for a comfortable shower.
The new shower has a curved, glass, sliding-panel door. The subtle bowfront curve gives extra inched at the curve, making it roomier than a standard, rectangular shower design. The new shower was also large enough to allow a drop-down seat, great for any age of user.
To maximize the space and accommodate all their showering soaps and goodies the homeowners use daily, two side-by-side niches were placed. A handheld shower head on a shower pole allows for smooth height adjustments when needed.
New cabinetry in warm tones was selected, keeping with the feel of the home. A tall linen and storage cabinet has ample room. Adjacent, a stack of “cubbies” gives quick access to towels and bath accessories. The vanity also has a handy pull-out hamper to keep the floor clear of clutter.
The floor was enhanced with an in-floor heat system, enjoyed all year round, but especially during cool winter months. Porcelain tiles in a travertine look complement the wood and warm tones desired.
Luminous, glass mosaic tiles were used as an accent in the niche and above the vanity. For the fixtures, oil-rubbed bronze was the perfect addition. A favorite family heirloom mirror fit perfectly between two sconces at the vanity. The sconces had a nice balance of whimsy and style with a soft petal-shaped glass shade.
This old house had a bathroom update that brought it into the 21st century while keeping the charm of the house.
Resources:
- Designer | DeMane Design, LLC
- Lighting | Crescent Lighting
- Plumbing | Keller Supply
- Paint | Sherwin Williams
An Updated Bath
Smallwood Design & Construction, Inc.
The owner of this Bainbridge Island home felt the bathroom and fixtures were dated and hired Smallwood Design & Construction, Inc. to complete the project.
The remodel included new fixtures, flooring and wall tile. The materials’ selection was a collaboration between the designer, project manager and homeowner. The owner enjoyed being part of the design team, and especially loves the new shower.
Resources:
- General contractor | Smallwood Design & Construction, Inc.
- Carpentry | Glenn Freeman
- Flooring | Artisan Tile & Marble
- Countertops | Creative Countertops
- Plumbing | Silverdale Plumbing
- Shower door | Sound Glass
A Master Bath with a View
Smallwood Design & Construction, Inc.
This was a new construction project and the owners worked with Smallwood Design & Construction, Inc. to help their design vision come to fruition. The homeowners made all the design choices, and are extremely happy with the results.
Their favorite parts of the master bath are the natural light from the large window and the view from the deep soaking tub.
Resources:
- General contractor | Smallwood Design & Construction, Inc.
- Tile | Ceramic Tile Services
- Cabinetry | Westside Cabinets
- Flooring | Genesee Woodworking
- Countertops | Creative Countertops
- Plumbing | Silverdale Plumbing
- Shower door | Glass & Mirrors Outfitters
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