As a single, female executive, this client was ready for a comprehensive update in her master bathroom, which hadn’t been renovated for 28 years. She had been imagining a space solely designed to her taste, needs and comforts. Rather than altering the bathroom’s footprint through construction, my client earmarked her budget for luxurious décor, fixtures, fit-and-finish and amenities that make her feel pampered and special, such as a fireplace, steam shower, soaker tub and yes, more functional cabinets. After the bathroom was completed, she told me she uses her new steam shower every day!

Updated décor included everything - cabinets, hardware, soaking tub, steam shower, tile, lighting and color scheme. In place of the existing cool blue paint on the walls, I opted for a warm, Sedona adobe tone with a spa-like, desert vibe that is a perfect fit for my client’s personality. For flooring, I chose large-scale porcelain tiles in grey and white with touches of gold that tie into the warm wood tones of the fireplace surround and the benches.

Increasing the usable space, and making the entire space appear larger were major objectives for this client. I opted to removing the existing oversized, four-person tub with platform and step-up, which was a huge step toward adding more room to walk around while making the space look and feel larger. I replaced that tub with a smaller soaking tub where she can relax in water above her shoulders. Better yet, she can enjoy gazing into her new fireplace while she soaks. This was the “wow” factor my client dreamed about. I took it a step further by including remote-controlled flame colors. Now she has a pampering blend of hydrotherapy and chromo therapy whenever she needs or wants it.

My client loves her resort-like shower, too. Now she has a steam option as well as a hand-held nozzle and a fixed shower head. The space looks more luxurious too. I selected large-scale, horizontal strie tiles in grey and soft white for the walls and small-scale, herringbone tiles for ceiling, floor and the shower niche, which keeps all her toiletries and accessories organized. The smaller scale floor tiles are more than just a pretty surface, they improve safety. The abundance of grout lines equals less slippage!

Improving storage for clients is one of my trademarks. For this project, I selected a new vanity with drawers instead of cabinet doors, which are harder to access and less efficient for storage.