Before and Afters
Bathroom Makeovers
100-Year-Old Craftsman Home’s Master Suite Lightens Up
A designer balances architectural preservation with contemporary living in this Northern California remodel
This 1918 Craftsman farmhouse sits in the middle of a vineyard, surrounded by acres of agricultural land in Northern California. At one point, the property was part of a larger working farm that, over the years, was divided into smaller parcels of land. The home’s current owners first planted grapes in 2001, shortly after which they opened a boutique winery and venue for weddings and other events.
Although the property has become a destination for couples on one of the most important days of their lives, much of the home’s interior never felt like a place the homeowners wanted to be. “The house is very dark,” says interior designer Marci Goulart. And while the owners cherish the home’s architecture and heritage, they hoped to make it feel lighter, brighter and more like a tranquil retreat.
Although the property has become a destination for couples on one of the most important days of their lives, much of the home’s interior never felt like a place the homeowners wanted to be. “The house is very dark,” says interior designer Marci Goulart. And while the owners cherish the home’s architecture and heritage, they hoped to make it feel lighter, brighter and more like a tranquil retreat.
Before: The property’s abundant sycamore trees grew past the windows of the second-story bedroom. “You never really could see them before because the original windows and glazings were deteriorating,” Goulart says. Original blue vinyl wallpaper embossed with flowers covered the walls.
Goulart and the homeowners hoped to create a more peaceful bedroom that felt brighter and opened up to the surrounding trees. Since event guests are often on the property, the homeowners also wanted to be able to create more privacy without sacrificing light.
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Goulart and the homeowners hoped to create a more peaceful bedroom that felt brighter and opened up to the surrounding trees. Since event guests are often on the property, the homeowners also wanted to be able to create more privacy without sacrificing light.
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After: Goulart replaced the vinyl wallpaper with a cream-colored grasscloth. “I knew there were probably going to be flaws in the walls to disguise,” she says, so she suggested the material as a natural element that would conceal the irregularities.
They took out the original windows and installed more energy-efficient wood ones. They chose casement windows without dividing lights to welcome in as much sunlight as possible. The windows also feature retractable screens and shades that can be pulled to cover the top half of the window, the entire window or just the bottom half.
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They took out the original windows and installed more energy-efficient wood ones. They chose casement windows without dividing lights to welcome in as much sunlight as possible. The windows also feature retractable screens and shades that can be pulled to cover the top half of the window, the entire window or just the bottom half.
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Light streams in through the trees and new windows onto the home’s original fir floors.
Above the bed hangs a painting that the homeowners had brought back from Mexico. Although they had envisioned the painting in this spot, a large frame around it had made it too large. Goulart suggested that they remove the frame, which created a perfect fit and a casual look.
Above the bed hangs a painting that the homeowners had brought back from Mexico. Although they had envisioned the painting in this spot, a large frame around it had made it too large. Goulart suggested that they remove the frame, which created a perfect fit and a casual look.
Before: The bedroom’s fireplace was the only upstairs heating element. The firebox’s poor fit, combined with the old single-pane windows, resulted in an uncomfortable environment much of the time. “It was the hottest room in the house and the coldest room in the house,” Goulart says.
After: After setting the firebox correctly, Goulart refaced the fireplace in a honey-colored subway tile with accent tile pieces to reinforce the Craftsman aesthetic. The art on the mantel came from other rooms in the house, and the armchair was a piece the homeowners owned that Goulart had re-covered in a warm white fabric.
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Before: A small redwood-paneled hallway connected the master bedroom to a little bunkroom-turned-storage closet at the end of the hall and the original bathroom off a door to the left. A built-in dresser ran along the left side of the hallway. The staircase connecting to the rest of the house is to the right of this photo.
This was another space the homeowners hoped to brighten, as the wood paneling and the small original window made for a dark and sometimes dreary space.
This was another space the homeowners hoped to brighten, as the wood paneling and the small original window made for a dark and sometimes dreary space.
After: Goulart combined the master bathroom and the bunkroom, enlarging the bathroom and closing off the original door to it on the left.
While they preserved the paneling and original window on the right side of the hall, they removed the paneling and built-in dresser on the opposite wall (where the old bathroom doorway was filled in) to brighten the room and create a smooth surface across the wall.
They repurposed the redwood boards and Douglas fir flooring in other areas of the home, including to patch paneling in the living room and flooring in the new master bedroom walk-in closet. “With an older home, it’s so good to save,” Goulart says, as it matches the wood used in the house that’s often not available anymore.
While they preserved the paneling and original window on the right side of the hall, they removed the paneling and built-in dresser on the opposite wall (where the old bathroom doorway was filled in) to brighten the room and create a smooth surface across the wall.
They repurposed the redwood boards and Douglas fir flooring in other areas of the home, including to patch paneling in the living room and flooring in the new master bedroom walk-in closet. “With an older home, it’s so good to save,” Goulart says, as it matches the wood used in the house that’s often not available anymore.
Before: After the bedroom redesign, they turned to the bathroom, which also needed an update.
After: A new arched window in the expanded bathroom opens the room to views and natural light. “There’s really this sense of being up in a treehouse now,” Goulart says. The window also coordinates with another similarly shaped window on the home’s first floor. The gabled ceiling and fir beams open up the room even more.
Materials with a classic feel and modern detailing play an important role in honoring the age of the home while helping it feel current. “I wanted to choose materials that were complementary to a Craftsman aesthetic,” Goulart says.
The geometric tiles on the floor are porcelain — chosen for their resiliency and ease of cleaning — but they resemble concrete, which was what covered the floor before. The floor also has radiant heat, contributing to a comfortable temperature upstairs.
The fish fossil on the wall is another piece that the homeowners had collected. Goulart says she specifically designed this wall to display the artifact.
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Materials with a classic feel and modern detailing play an important role in honoring the age of the home while helping it feel current. “I wanted to choose materials that were complementary to a Craftsman aesthetic,” Goulart says.
The geometric tiles on the floor are porcelain — chosen for their resiliency and ease of cleaning — but they resemble concrete, which was what covered the floor before. The floor also has radiant heat, contributing to a comfortable temperature upstairs.
The fish fossil on the wall is another piece that the homeowners had collected. Goulart says she specifically designed this wall to display the artifact.
How to Add a Radiant Heat System
A new built-in double vanity spans the wall that the old sink used to occupy. The vanity front is wire-brushed oak, where layers of wood were removed to create more pronounced texture and grain. An acid stain was then applied to age, darken and silver the wood. “We were trying to take new wood and make it look like it’s been sitting outside for a year,” Goulart says.
A quartz counter designed to resemble concrete tops the vanity.
A quartz counter designed to resemble concrete tops the vanity.
Before: Alcoves in the bathroom broke up the room to make it feel smaller and darker. The existing shower-tub also didn’t function for the homeowners’ needs.
After: A new oversize shower nestles into the corner opposite the vanity (on the same wall the toilet and shower-tub had shared). Goulart capped the shower walls with the same quartz used for the vanity counter. Penny tiles complementing the colors of the hexagonal floor tiles cover the shower floor and niche.
The homeowners had indicated that they wanted a Japanese soaking tub in the master bath, as well as a large walk-in shower, but there was room for only one. “They already had a hot tub,” Goulart says, “so [we decided to] do the big shower.” The existing floor joists prevented the use of a linear drain, so they couldn’t do a curbless shower.
An antique elmwood bench contributes to the farmhouse flavor of the room.
The homeowners had indicated that they wanted a Japanese soaking tub in the master bath, as well as a large walk-in shower, but there was room for only one. “They already had a hot tub,” Goulart says, “so [we decided to] do the big shower.” The existing floor joists prevented the use of a linear drain, so they couldn’t do a curbless shower.
An antique elmwood bench contributes to the farmhouse flavor of the room.
A print by Janet Turner, an artist and a longtime professor of art education at the nearby California State University, Chico, hangs next to the shower. “The owner has collected her pieces over the years,” Goulart says.
A pocket door with a glass insert divides the bathroom from the upstairs landing, saving space while bringing more light into the wood-paneled room beyond.
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Master Suite at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple — he is a retired physical education professor at the local community college who now manages the boutique winery business and grounds rental; she is a pension consultant for retirement planning.
Location: Durham, California
Size: 500 square feet (46 square meters), including a bathroom of 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Marci Goulart
Goulart approached the renovation of this home’s master suite with respect, both for its current owners and its previous inhabitants. She asked herself: If people from a century ago saw the house today, would they recognize it?” But Goulart, who also lives in a 100-year-old house, also sought to create a space that would enhance modern-day living.