Family Tackles a Modern Farmhouse-Style Master Bath Remodel
Construction company owners design their dream bath with lots of storage. A barn door with a full mirror hides a closet
Brenna Malmberg
April 16, 2018
Photos by Darby Kate Photographer
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Kelley and Jeremy Irwin of Irwin Construction, and their two young boys
Location: Denton, Texas
Size: 100 square feet (9.2 square meters)
Kelley and Jeremy Irwin run their own construction company, and they have slowly been using their professional skills to remodel their home, which they bought in 2011. This master bathroom was the last project on their list, but they kept putting it off. They eventually added it to their company’s schedule to ensure they had the time and resources to complete the project.
Scope. They didn’t change the layout of their original bathroom, but they did demolish most of it. The shiplap, vanity, mirrors, tub-shower combo, floor tiles and more are all new. One piece they did keep and enhance was the arched window on the left.
The Irwins did most of the work in the bathroom themselves, and they brought in contractors and professionals whom they work with regularly for specific jobs like tiling. “We can install tile ourselves,” Kelley says, “but they can do it perfect.”
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Kelley and Jeremy Irwin of Irwin Construction, and their two young boys
Location: Denton, Texas
Size: 100 square feet (9.2 square meters)
Kelley and Jeremy Irwin run their own construction company, and they have slowly been using their professional skills to remodel their home, which they bought in 2011. This master bathroom was the last project on their list, but they kept putting it off. They eventually added it to their company’s schedule to ensure they had the time and resources to complete the project.
Scope. They didn’t change the layout of their original bathroom, but they did demolish most of it. The shiplap, vanity, mirrors, tub-shower combo, floor tiles and more are all new. One piece they did keep and enhance was the arched window on the left.
The Irwins did most of the work in the bathroom themselves, and they brought in contractors and professionals whom they work with regularly for specific jobs like tiling. “We can install tile ourselves,” Kelley says, “but they can do it perfect.”
Design plan. The couple wanted to make the bathroom feel more spacious while still packing in storage. Together, the Irwins decided on a modern farmhouse-style design that incorporated a lot of texture.
“I find that I almost always use neutral colors,” Kelley says. “I mix it up with texture, instead of color.” In their bathroom, she added texture by using nickel-gap shiplap, subway tiles, wood-look floor tile and cedar trim on the mirrors and pony wall.
Vaulted ceiling. To make the back wall more of a focal point and showcase the vaulted ceiling, the Irwins installed shiplap and had it painted.
Shiplap paint: Crushed Ice; vanity paint: Pavestone; wall paint: Pussywillow; trim paint: Extra White; all Sherwin-Williams
“I find that I almost always use neutral colors,” Kelley says. “I mix it up with texture, instead of color.” In their bathroom, she added texture by using nickel-gap shiplap, subway tiles, wood-look floor tile and cedar trim on the mirrors and pony wall.
Vaulted ceiling. To make the back wall more of a focal point and showcase the vaulted ceiling, the Irwins installed shiplap and had it painted.
Shiplap paint: Crushed Ice; vanity paint: Pavestone; wall paint: Pussywillow; trim paint: Extra White; all Sherwin-Williams
Before Photo
Before. The countertop sat a few inches below the window, which created an awkward meeting point between the windowsill and the countertop. The Irwins knew the arched window had potential and kept it during the remodel.
Before Photo
In progress. The Irwins’ oldest son enjoyed helping with the bathroom remodel. “He was a fantastic little worker,” Kelley says. “He got involved in every stage of the project.”
Here, he’s watching his dad and others on the construction team install the shiplap. At this point in the project, the new granite countertop and windowsill have been installed. Next, they will paint the shiplap and trim.
Here, he’s watching his dad and others on the construction team install the shiplap. At this point in the project, the new granite countertop and windowsill have been installed. Next, they will paint the shiplap and trim.
After. The arched window lets in lots of natural light and now feels more connected to the rest of the space, Kelley says.
They did that by installing a taller vanity that let them extend the Colonial White granite countertop to the wall. They also used the same granite material for the windowsill.
They did that by installing a taller vanity that let them extend the Colonial White granite countertop to the wall. They also used the same granite material for the windowsill.
Before Photo
Before. The enclosed shower made the room feel small, Kelley says, and you felt closed-in when you were showering or bathing.
After. A cedar wood-topped pony wall and L-shaped shower curtain rod transformed the tub-shower combo into a more open bathing area.
Shower curtain. Kelley researched making a curved shower curtain rod, but in the end, purchasing a premade rod was the easiest option. Then, Jeremy installed it and ensured that the corner was installed into a ceiling stud, not just the drywall. Kelley also liked the idea of an open space and a shower curtain more than a glass tub enclosure. “Even though you can see through glass,” she says, “I didn’t want to feel trapped in there while taking a bath.” When they use the shower they tuck the curtain inside the pony wall and tub.
Shower curtain. Kelley researched making a curved shower curtain rod, but in the end, purchasing a premade rod was the easiest option. Then, Jeremy installed it and ensured that the corner was installed into a ceiling stud, not just the drywall. Kelley also liked the idea of an open space and a shower curtain more than a glass tub enclosure. “Even though you can see through glass,” she says, “I didn’t want to feel trapped in there while taking a bath.” When they use the shower they tuck the curtain inside the pony wall and tub.
Pony wall. Instead of a full wall at the end of the shower, the Irwins designed and built the pony wall. It helps divide the tub from the vanity and brings the cedar wood found in the rest of the bathroom into this side of the room.
After. Inside the shower, Kelley picked subway tile and used a smaller marble tile for the shower niche.
Shower tile: H-Line in Cotton Glossy, Arizona Tile; niche tile: Arabescato Carrara marble in a herringbone pattern, M S International; grout: Oyster Gray, Custom Building Products; floor tile: Bosco Cenere porcelain tile; bathtub: Expanse, Kohler; shower system: Ashlyn Collection, Delta
Shower tile: H-Line in Cotton Glossy, Arizona Tile; niche tile: Arabescato Carrara marble in a herringbone pattern, M S International; grout: Oyster Gray, Custom Building Products; floor tile: Bosco Cenere porcelain tile; bathtub: Expanse, Kohler; shower system: Ashlyn Collection, Delta
“The subway tile is clean and classic, but I didn’t want our shower to get too boring,” Kelley says.
Shower system. By accident, the Irwins ended up with a two-in-one shower head and a rain shower head. “I wasn’t paying close enough attention when I purchased it, and I also bought a diverter valve,” Kelley says. “Then we thought, I guess we can have two, so I overnighted the rain shower head.”
They have enjoyed the different shower heads and find the handheld one especially helpful when bathing their young boys and cleaning the shower.
Browse shower heads
They have enjoyed the different shower heads and find the handheld one especially helpful when bathing their young boys and cleaning the shower.
Browse shower heads
Doorway. The original glass-paned door didn’t match the bathroom’s new look. The Irwins decided to replace it with a frosted-glass pocket door.
Before Photo
Before. During the construction phase, Jeremy and the rest of the team built the framework for the pocket door.
After. The door slides into the wall to reveal their master bedroom. The pocket door also allowed them to add towel hooks on the wall by the door because the door didn’t need to swing open anymore.
Toilet. The door across from the tub houses the toilet and a small storage cabinet.
Before Photo
Before. A curtain covered a closet in the bathroom. The couple used this space to hold laundry baskets, store off-season clothes and hang long garments.
Before Photo
While they liked having the storage, Kelley says, the curtain made the room feel cluttered.
After. A custom barn door covers the bathroom closet. They had the mirror cut and then Jeremy built the cedar frame around the mirror to create the door. “I really liked having a full-length mirror in the bathroom, but we didn’t really have anywhere to put one,” Kelley says. “This ended up being the perfect solution.”
A 3-inch gap between the vanity and the wall allows the door to slide all the way open.
Wood stain: Provincial, Minwax
A 3-inch gap between the vanity and the wall allows the door to slide all the way open.
Wood stain: Provincial, Minwax
They still use the closet for laundry baskets and off-season clothing.
A little niche next to the barn door holds towels and other everyday bathroom items. They are all tucked into the wall niche so the barn door can still slide open without running into anything on the shelves.
Before Photo
Before. The vanity had a lot of countertop space, but the Irwins didn’t like the cultured marble or seashell-shaped sinks.
After. More-timeless sinks and a granite countertop update the Irwins’ vanity. The vanity still has two sinks and plenty of countertop space.
Vanity light: Barrington, Kichler; faucet: Georgeson Collection, Kohler
Vanity light: Barrington, Kichler; faucet: Georgeson Collection, Kohler
Each sink now has its own mirror above it, instead of one large mirror. Jeremy created the cedar frames, which match the barn door and the top of the pony wall.
Vanity. The new vanity gives the couple more bathroom storage because the previous vanity had a cutout space for sitting at the vanity in a chair. They did not need that feature, but they did need more storage.
Jeremy added electrical outlets inside a few of the drawers. “My pet peeve, that I am also guilty of, is leaving things on the counter,” Kelley says. The built-in outlets help the Irwins return everything to its drawer and keep the bathroom countertops clear.
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This is the first time in several years that I have been tempted to hire a construction company for remodeling. This bathroom is nearly exactly what I've been dreaming of for the past year. It has white walls with cedar accents and the all-important pocket door. Lovely remodel!
We are looking for contractor for remodeling our kitchen and an entire new bathroom...along with laundry room. We also have an older farmhouse.
I love this new bathroom.