Primary Bathroom Expands to Add a Soaking Tub and a Larger Shower
A new addition opens up space for a design-build firm to create a relaxing retreat for an empty-nest couple
With their nest officially empty, this Wayzata, Minnesota, couple knew they wanted to remain in their beloved neighborhood for years to come. But their primary suite no longer met their needs, so they hired Murphy Bros. Design | Build | Remodel to design and build a 385-square-foot second-story addition above the garage and reconfigure the existing floor plan.
The project nearly doubled the size of the primary bathroom and closet, creating space for a double vanity, a soaking tub, a roomy shower and the extra linen storage they had always wanted. White oak and Taj Mahal quartzite combine in a timeles, A design-build firm helps an empty-nest couple reconfigure the space to create a relaxing retreat
The project nearly doubled the size of the primary bathroom and closet, creating space for a double vanity, a soaking tub, a roomy shower and the extra linen storage they had always wanted. White oak and Taj Mahal quartzite combine in a timeles, A design-build firm helps an empty-nest couple reconfigure the space to create a relaxing retreat
After: At 109 square feet, the new bathroom comfortably accommodates every item on the homeowners’ wish list. “It was very important to the wife to have a bathtub and increased storage, and they both wanted a larger shower stall,” Birch says.
Beyond the functional requirements, Birch wanted to understand the homeowners’ design preferences. The wife took the lead on that part of the project. “She wanted a spa-like feel and a room she could relax in,” the designer says. “They really valued their adult daughter’s ideas and she was a big help.” The mother, daughter and designer used Houzz ideabooks to share inspiration photos and ideas throughout the design process.
A custom white oak vanity introduces warmth, while the rift-sawn grain provides subtle vertical texture. Thin Shaker-style profiles reinforce the clean, understated aesthetic Birch carried throughout the room.
Sinks: Caxton rectangular undermount, Kohler; sink faucets, tub filler and shower controls: Litze, Brizo
Beyond the functional requirements, Birch wanted to understand the homeowners’ design preferences. The wife took the lead on that part of the project. “She wanted a spa-like feel and a room she could relax in,” the designer says. “They really valued their adult daughter’s ideas and she was a big help.” The mother, daughter and designer used Houzz ideabooks to share inspiration photos and ideas throughout the design process.
A custom white oak vanity introduces warmth, while the rift-sawn grain provides subtle vertical texture. Thin Shaker-style profiles reinforce the clean, understated aesthetic Birch carried throughout the room.
Sinks: Caxton rectangular undermount, Kohler; sink faucets, tub filler and shower controls: Litze, Brizo
The homeowner wanted to use natural stone, and the material palette began with Taj Mahal quartzite. “She loved the warm taupe undertones and the little bit of pink in Taj Mahal,” Birch says. The quartzite continues from the countertop up the wall to create an 8-inch backsplash.
The backlit mirrors and polished nickel fixtures add a bit of shimmer. The lighted mirrors also eliminated the need for wall-mounted sconces, keeping the vanity wall clean and uncluttered and reinforcing the room’s calm, spa-like atmosphere.
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The backlit mirrors and polished nickel fixtures add a bit of shimmer. The lighted mirrors also eliminated the need for wall-mounted sconces, keeping the vanity wall clean and uncluttered and reinforcing the room’s calm, spa-like atmosphere.
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The original bathroom lacked a window. “I pushed them to add one because natural light is so invaluable. It is the most important part of any space,” Birch says. The new operable window floods the room with daylight, while its high placement preserves privacy. For added peace of mind, Birch specified a sleek roller shade.
Storage was also tailored to the couple’s lifestyle. Because they prefer oversize bath sheets, Birch designed a linen cabinet deep enough to accommodate them and added rollout interior drawers for easy access to backup toiletries. She also reserved space to the right of the cabinet for a long towel bar.
Bathtub: Hibiscus 67-inch oval acrylic soaking tub, Signature Hardware
Storage was also tailored to the couple’s lifestyle. Because they prefer oversize bath sheets, Birch designed a linen cabinet deep enough to accommodate them and added rollout interior drawers for easy access to backup toiletries. She also reserved space to the right of the cabinet for a long towel bar.
Bathtub: Hibiscus 67-inch oval acrylic soaking tub, Signature Hardware
After dreaming of a bathtub for years, the wife was drawn to this model’s clean-lined rim. To anchor it, Birch designed a narrow knee wall topped with Taj Mahal quartzite. The feature creates a crisp horizontal line, provides a spot for bath products and serves as a mounting surface for the plumbing fixtures.
“A floor-mounted filler can get in the way when you don’t have a lot of space,” Birch says. “It also requires extra cleaning on the floor around the base.”
To maintain a cohesive look, Birch used large 24-by-48-inch porcelain tiles for the wainscoting that match the floor. “This looks like travertine but has a smooth texture instead of pits,” Birch says. While natural travertine is beautiful, its porous surface makes it more difficult to maintain in wet areas.
Floor and wall tile: Italic in Travertino, 41zero42
“A floor-mounted filler can get in the way when you don’t have a lot of space,” Birch says. “It also requires extra cleaning on the floor around the base.”
To maintain a cohesive look, Birch used large 24-by-48-inch porcelain tiles for the wainscoting that match the floor. “This looks like travertine but has a smooth texture instead of pits,” Birch says. While natural travertine is beautiful, its porous surface makes it more difficult to maintain in wet areas.
Floor and wall tile: Italic in Travertino, 41zero42
The homeowners’ previous shower measured just under 3 by 4 feet. Their new shower measures 4 by 5½ feet, creating room for a 3½-inch-high floating travertine bench tucked behind the pony wall. Smooth travertine-look porcelain tile wraps most of the shower, while a 3D accent tile draws attention to the back wall. “This tile is pillow-like, and the homeowners and I love the way it reflects the light,” Birch says.
Echoing the tub’s knee wall, Birch bumped out the shower wall a few inches to create a continuous ledge for bottles. “I’m a big fan of a shower ledge that goes all the way across a wall because it looks so clean and simple,” she says. Another thoughtful detail is a hook integrated into the shower glass for hanging a towel or robe. To incorporate one, the glass fabricator drills a hole in the panel before it’s tempered.
Tiles: Italic in Dune Gloss (accent wall) and Italic mosaic mix (floor), 41zero42; shower head and hand spray; Purist, Kohler; toilet: Nexus one-piece, Toto
Echoing the tub’s knee wall, Birch bumped out the shower wall a few inches to create a continuous ledge for bottles. “I’m a big fan of a shower ledge that goes all the way across a wall because it looks so clean and simple,” she says. Another thoughtful detail is a hook integrated into the shower glass for hanging a towel or robe. To incorporate one, the glass fabricator drills a hole in the panel before it’s tempered.
Tiles: Italic in Dune Gloss (accent wall) and Italic mosaic mix (floor), 41zero42; shower head and hand spray; Purist, Kohler; toilet: Nexus one-piece, Toto
Floor plan: The lower half of this conceptual floor plan shows the new addition above the garage, which houses the home’s secondary bedrooms. Relocating those rooms freed up the existing second-floor footprint, allowing Birch to significantly expand the primary suite.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Wayzata, Minnesota
Size: 109 square feet (10 square meters)
Design-build firm: Kasey Birch (designer) and David Betz (project manager) of Murphy Bros. Design | Build | Remodel
Before: The original primary bathroom measured just 56 square feet. It had a single vanity and lacked both a bathtub and adequate storage. Designer Kasey Birch was able to expand the primary bedroom, bathroom and closet within the existing second-floor footprint by relocating the home’s two other bedrooms into the addition. (See floor plan below.)
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