When I first began working with the homeowners, we walked around the beautiful, river front lot which was set in an incredibly wonderful, sunny setting. It was lovely. Before renovation the house did not live up to the land on which it sat. We worked tirelessly to ensure there was a home worthy of this most spectacular, peaceful setting. Photograph by Brian McCloud

For a couple of young web developers buying their first home in Redwood Shores, we were hired to do a complete interior remodel of a cookie cutter house originally built in 1996. The original finishes looked more like the 80s than the 90s, consisting of raised-panel oak cabinets, 12 x 12 yellow-beige floor tiles, tile counters and brown-beige wall to wall carpeting. The kitchen and bathrooms were utterly basic and the doors, fireplace and TV niche were also very dated. We selected all new finishes in tones of gray and silver per our clients’ tastes and created new layouts for the kitchen and bathrooms. We also designed a custom accent wall for their TV (very important for gamers) and track-mounted sliding 3-Form resin doors to separate their living room from their office. To animate the two story living space we customized a Mizu pendant light by Terzani and in the kitchen we selected an accent wall of seamless Caesarstone, Fuscia lights designed by Achille Castiglioni (one of our favorite modernist pendants) and designed a two-level island and a drop-down ceiling accent “cloud: to coordinate with the color of the accent wall. The master bath features a minimalist bathtub and floating vanity, an internally lit Electric Mirror and Porcelanosa tile.

Starting Each Day Clean and Refreshed In This Classically-Modern, Marble Masterpiece In 1985, the previous owner of the house had added an addition of which part included a 17 feet by 13 feet space off the master bedroom for both a master bath and walk-in closet. Irrespective of the dated red carpet that blanketed the entire bathroom of this 1964 colonial in Annandale, VA, the combination bathroom/closet space had its other oddities, primarily in that there was no shower. The current homeowners -- a family of five, who has been in the home for 7 years, was tired of going down the hall to use the kids’ bathroom to take a shower before work. The renovation that they have created now is a bright and luxurious space that one could bask in all day. They used this bathroom renovation opportunity to total remake the layout and function of this essential room that sets the tone for the day ahead. Prior to the renovation, the existing bathroom oddly had two entrances, a typical one off of the master bedroom, but another straight off the upstairs hallway. As the toilet was out in the open in the previous design, ensuring that this second door was closed when company was in town was essential and a nuisance. As you entered the room, situated below the arc window, a large soaking tub that was covered on three sides with wooden steps dominated the room from the corner it projected. A relatively small 42” single bowl sink did not leave much space for his and hers toiletries, and there was no other linen closet or cabinetry for storage in the bathroom. The 8 foot by 5 foot closet with accordion doors had poorly laid out rungs not letting the storage space to be fully utilized. At over 220 square feet, the room did offer considerable space to work with, yet the existing layout, which even included a partition wall behind the vanity, felt cramped and dysfunctional. The homeowners wished to create a classic yet modern, private, deluxe bathroom that would better integrate into their master suite and enable them to start and end each day in a luxurious way. They wanted to maintain having a soaking tub, add in a large shower, have an enclosed commode, expand to include double sinks, and add more storage for toiletries and linens. We worked with the customer to develop a creative design with extensive plumbing rework that accomplished all these needs and more. The first order of business was to gut out all the carpet, tub, cabinetry, and non-load bearing partition walls. The new tub would be generally in the same location, but as the previous walk-in closet would be repurposed for the commode and the walk-in shower additional water lines, plumbing, and draining needed to be added; fortunately the room below is the garage, which enabled the team to frame out some bulkheads to accomplish this complex plumbing. Following the framing, including walling up the second entrance to the bathroom, adding in a pocket door for the commode, and creating the shape of the new shower, the team also laid down the wiring for one of the luxuries of this room – heated flooring. A glossy percaline boarder, and two-inch hexagon shape percaline tiles cover the entire floor, making it much easier and cleaner than the previous carpet. Marble look tile is predominant throughout the bathroom as despite the angled frameless glass door, the entire shower is covered in 18 inch polished marble look tiles. The shower coats the user in water from either the overhead rain head, large main showerhead and/or the hand held sprayer. Over 7 feet of white Italian Statuetto marble countertop, enable the couple to have two sink bowls and plenty of room on each side. The bowls are exposed in this stainless steel console sink design which required the team to ensure that the exposed plumbing looked pristine, and painting the bottom of the porcelain bowl to match the coloring. The white cast-iron 72-inch Cecilia claw-foot soaking tub and its chrome lion’s paws complement that other chrome and white used throughout the room. A tall, almost floor-to-ceiling linen closet finished in arctic white is nestled in the corner near the tub, enabling ample storage of towels, etc. Other cabinetry includes an 18 inch-wide vanity with decorative footing is centered between the two sinks, and a 27 inch wall mounted cabinet with shelf is above the Kohler Devonshire elongated toilet. Billowing cloud colored grey blue paint was a great choice for this room to pick up on the veining in the marble. Mirrored medicine chests, a chandelier, wall sconces, and overhead recessed lighting also were incorporated into the design and function of the new room. The artful combination of classic design from material choices, such as free-standing Victorian claw-foot tub along with the modern design as seen in the angled shower, frameless medicine cabinet mirrors, and frosted glass pocket door on the commode, make this bathroom quite a masterpiece. The clients are enjoying having their private space and not having the use the kids’ bathroom anymore.

The first floor consists of a large living room, dining room, kitchen, and professional barbecue area. The living room with a fireplace is spacious and soft in its colour scheme. The designer ceramic vases with ikebanas fill the space with senses and flowers. Two floors have merged in the dining room, creating plenty of room for white loose clouds by Serhii Makhno. large wooden bench and an Elephant armchair wait for dinner to be served. And dinner is being cooked in the kitchen — there are light oak slabs instead of the countertop. The barbecue area can easily become a terrace — the windows can be adjusted.

Our latest redesign of this home’s main level seamlessly blends architectural elegance with contemporary comfort. The foyer now makes a striking first impression, featuring refined wall molding, a fresh coat of paint, and a custom veneer bench seat. A breathtaking chandelier in polished nickel and crystal serves as the focal point, adding a layer of timeless sophistication. Moving into the family room, we introduced a textured Manila hemp wallpaper on the ceiling, evoking the soft movement of clouds. The fireplace was refaced in quartz while the existing mantel was carefully reapplied per the client’s request. A 14-foot curved performance fabric sofa, complemented by custom velvet throw pillows, sets the stage for a welcoming yet luxurious space. To enhance the room’s flow, we incorporated a 10-foot diameter rug that follows the sofa’s elegant curve, along with new drapery, swivel chairs, and carefully selected occasional tables. Storage and smart functionality were key in this redesign. Custom cabinetry flanking the fireplace provides ample storage while floating shelves above, equipped with smart home-enabled LED strip lighting, showcase thoughtfully curated accessories. In the powder room, we introduced an ebony veneer push-to-open custom vanity topped with a striking Calacatta Viola marble sink. A custom mirror and premium light fixtures accentuate the rich new paint colors, elevating this small yet impactful space. The result is a refined, harmonious interior that reflects both the home’s architecture and the client’s desire for warmth and sophistication. Tags: interior design, home renovation, foyer design, luxury interiors, modern classic style, family room makeover, fireplace redesign, custom cabinetry, smart home integration, powder room update, bespoke furniture, home decor, elegant interiors, ceiling wallpaper, LED lighting, high-end finishes, design inspiration, contemporary home, architectural details, home styling

Make sure your gallery wall represents you! I first start with the wall color. I used Behr nimbus cloud, a white color with hints of gray and violet, to help my art "pop." Next I choose my favorite porcupine mirror from Arhaus as the focal point, then place paintings & prints around it. I replaced some of my favorite print's frames & matting, to have a more warm contemporary feel. Then I updated an old console by whitewashing the wood and changing out the old glass for blue glass, for a modern regal look. Accents to finish, plants on each side of the console. Plus light blue candle sticks from crate & barrel and an old wood bowl, that I restained "natural wood" on the outside, and "gray" on the inside.

This whimsical mural was painted in this laundry room. The client loved Disney characters, so I incorporated some into the mural. Different garments of clothing were taken from each family member and hung on the clothes line painted.

Volunteer Project Manager for the first phase of construction for a private residence in a non-profit, social and educational Balinese foundation. Awan Damai (Peace of Clouds) is built on the steep mountainside of Northern Bali. Built from recycled tires, locally sourced lumber and plaster, this passive build combines Earthship principles and Balinese carpentry.

The owners wanted to take advantage of their views, add more natural light, increase storage, and have the kitchen function more efficiently. From dark and feeling closed-in, it was transformed to open, inviting and a place they enjoy every day. All the wall cabinets were removed and a bank of three tall windows were added for more light and ventilation. After a new layout was designed, materials and finishes were selected. The first thing that is noticed when you walk into the room is the wall behind the range. The large expanse is very unique, like a work of natural art. When viewed it can look like waves or patches of clouds. The wall is a full slab of Dekton. The color is inspired by the industrial look of oxidized steel, with shades of grey, brown and black with metallic effects. Mixed woods and stains were used for the cabinets. Storage was maximized, each drawer and cabinet have a function. The island is a perfect landing spot for groceries, meal prep or a buffet. Floating shelves add and open look. The elegant banquette was custom built for the space. It has a slanted back for comfort and with styled legs it keeps it airy and light. The “L” shape optimizes the space and created a natural conversation spot and view of the water. The kitchen has French doors that access an expansive deck, perfect for entertaining. The space was designed for this active couple making it a place to entertain and live everyday with joy.

For a couple of young web developers buying their first home in Redwood Shores, we were hired to do a complete interior remodel of a cookie cutter house originally built in 1996. The original finishes looked more like the 80s than the 90s, consisting of raised-panel oak cabinets, 12 x 12 yellow-beige floor tiles, tile counters and brown-beige wall to wall carpeting. The kitchen and bathrooms were utterly basic and the doors, fireplace and TV niche were also very dated. We selected all new finishes in tones of gray and silver per our clients’ tastes and created new layouts for the kitchen and bathrooms. We also designed a custom accent wall for their TV (very important for gamers) and track-mounted sliding 3-Form resin doors to separate their living room from their office. To animate the two story living space we customized a Mizu pendant light by Terzani and in the kitchen we selected an accent wall of seamless Caesarstone, Fuscia lights designed by Achille Castiglioni (one of our favorite modernist pendants) and designed a two-level island and a drop-down ceiling accent “cloud: to coordinate with the color of the accent wall. The master bath features a minimalist bathtub and floating vanity, an internally lit Electric Mirror and Porcelanosa tile.

For a couple of young web developers buying their first home in Redwood Shores, we were hired to do a complete interior remodel of a cookie cutter house originally built in 1996. The original finishes looked more like the 80s than the 90s, consisting of raised-panel oak cabinets, 12 x 12 yellow-beige floor tiles, tile counters and brown-beige wall to wall carpeting. The kitchen and bathrooms were utterly basic and the doors, fireplace and TV niche were also very dated. We selected all new finishes in tones of gray and silver per our clients’ tastes and created new layouts for the kitchen and bathrooms. We also designed a custom accent wall for their TV (very important for gamers) and track-mounted sliding 3-Form resin doors to separate their living room from their office. To animate the two story living space we customized a Mizu pendant light by Terzani and in the kitchen we selected an accent wall of seamless Caesarstone, Fuscia lights designed by Achille Castiglioni (one of our favorite modernist pendants) and designed a two-level island and a drop-down ceiling accent “cloud: to coordinate with the color of the accent wall. The master bath features a minimalist bathtub and floating vanity, an internally lit Electric Mirror and Porcelanosa tile.

Volunteer Project Manager for the first phase of construction for a private residence in a non-profit, social and educational Balinese foundation. Awan Damai (Peace of Clouds) is built on the steep mountainside of Northern Bali. Built from recycled tires, locally sourced lumber and plaster, this passive build combines Earthship principles and Balinese carpentry.

The Design Styles Architecture team worked on this 3 story custom home right off the water in Indian Rocks Beach Florida. The spaces were designed to highlight and take advantage of the views afforded by Indian Rocks and the 3 story heights. This 3600 SF home has 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. The first level of the home has a two car garage and outdoor covered patio adjacent to the pool and paved outdoor patio. The second story of the home features the main living space with an open concept great room, dining, and kitchen all looking out onto the covered lanai and the water. The great room has a cloud ceiling feature with recessed can lighting and highlights the living space and seating area. Photo Credit: Design Styles Architecture

Starting Each Day Clean and Refreshed In This Classically-Modern, Marble Masterpiece In 1985, the previous owner of the house had added an addition of which part included a 17 feet by 13 feet space off the master bedroom for both a master bath and walk-in closet. Irrespective of the dated red carpet that blanketed the entire bathroom of this 1964 colonial in Annandale, VA, the combination bathroom/closet space had its other oddities, primarily in that there was no shower. The current homeowners -- a family of five, who has been in the home for 7 years, was tired of going down the hall to use the kids’ bathroom to take a shower before work. The renovation that they have created now is a bright and luxurious space that one could bask in all day. They used this bathroom renovation opportunity to total remake the layout and function of this essential room that sets the tone for the day ahead. Prior to the renovation, the existing bathroom oddly had two entrances, a typical one off of the master bedroom, but another straight off the upstairs hallway. As the toilet was out in the open in the previous design, ensuring that this second door was closed when company was in town was essential and a nuisance. As you entered the room, situated below the arc window, a large soaking tub that was covered on three sides with wooden steps dominated the room from the corner it projected. A relatively small 42” single bowl sink did not leave much space for his and hers toiletries, and there was no other linen closet or cabinetry for storage in the bathroom. The 8 foot by 5 foot closet with accordion doors had poorly laid out rungs not letting the storage space to be fully utilized. At over 220 square feet, the room did offer considerable space to work with, yet the existing layout, which even included a partition wall behind the vanity, felt cramped and dysfunctional. The homeowners wished to create a classic yet modern, private, deluxe bathroom that would better integrate into their master suite and enable them to start and end each day in a luxurious way. They wanted to maintain having a soaking tub, add in a large shower, have an enclosed commode, expand to include double sinks, and add more storage for toiletries and linens. We worked with the customer to develop a creative design with extensive plumbing rework that accomplished all these needs and more. The first order of business was to gut out all the carpet, tub, cabinetry, and non-load bearing partition walls. The new tub would be generally in the same location, but as the previous walk-in closet would be repurposed for the commode and the walk-in shower additional water lines, plumbing, and draining needed to be added; fortunately the room below is the garage, which enabled the team to frame out some bulkheads to accomplish this complex plumbing. Following the framing, including walling up the second entrance to the bathroom, adding in a pocket door for the commode, and creating the shape of the new shower, the team also laid down the wiring for one of the luxuries of this room – heated flooring. A glossy percaline boarder, and two-inch hexagon shape percaline tiles cover the entire floor, making it much easier and cleaner than the previous carpet. Marble look tile is predominant throughout the bathroom as despite the angled frameless glass door, the entire shower is covered in 18 inch polished marble look tiles. The shower coats the user in water from either the overhead rain head, large main showerhead and/or the hand held sprayer. Over 7 feet of white Italian Statuetto marble countertop, enable the couple to have two sink bowls and plenty of room on each side. The bowls are exposed in this stainless steel console sink design which required the team to ensure that the exposed plumbing looked pristine, and painting the bottom of the porcelain bowl to match the coloring. The white cast-iron 72-inch Cecilia claw-foot soaking tub and its chrome lion’s paws complement that other chrome and white used throughout the room. A tall, almost floor-to-ceiling linen closet finished in arctic white is nestled in the corner near the tub, enabling ample storage of towels, etc. Other cabinetry includes an 18 inch-wide vanity with decorative footing is centered between the two sinks, and a 27 inch wall mounted cabinet with shelf is above the Kohler Devonshire elongated toilet. Billowing cloud colored grey blue paint was a great choice for this room to pick up on the veining in the marble. Mirrored medicine chests, a chandelier, wall sconces, and overhead recessed lighting also were incorporated into the design and function of the new room. The artful combination of classic design from material choices, such as free-standing Victorian claw-foot tub along with the modern design as seen in the angled shower, frameless medicine cabinet mirrors, and frosted glass pocket door on the commode, make this bathroom quite a masterpiece. The clients are enjoying having their private space and not having the use the kids’ bathroom anymore.

In My Sister’s Garden-A Wistful Romp through a Drought Resistant Oasis "Spring is the time of the year, when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade." - Charles Dickens One of the great things about growing up on a farm in the boondocks is that your tribe is your family. We five siblings were as thick as thieves as we climbed trees, worked the fields, pulled fences, drove tractors, branded cattle, and planted the spring garden. We played, we quarreled, and we dug in the dirt together. By the time May arrived, we ached to get our hands grubby in the vegetable patch. Waiting for the vegetables to sprout and be harvested taught us patience and responsibility. Of course, Mom’s beautiful flower gardens would already be abloom by this time of year getting us into constant trouble because we were forever picking bouquets not only for her, but, for teachers, 4-H leaders, and Sunday masses. As we grew into adults, our love of the earth grew as well. Following in the big shoes of my Father, my brother continued the family tradition of being a farmer and has one of the most beautiful vineyards in the county. Our Mother’s love of gardening instructed the gardens of her girls. Recently I walked with my sister Debbie through her eclectic garden. There is a saying that “you can take the girl out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the girl.” With Deb, she’s never left the land where we were born. She is a country cowgirl through and through. She’s always adorned with her cowboy hat, rodeo belt buckle, and boots! She hunts, fishes, grows her food, and would have relished being a pioneer in the 1870’s. Debbie and her husband are the ultimate recyclers and re-purposers. With their barnyard of adopted animals-pigs, goats, donkeys, chickens, even Texas long horns at one time, all the weeds and garden cuttings feed the animals and the manure is then recycled back to the garden. They collect rooftop rain runoff in used wine barrels then pipe it to a storage tank to help with summer watering. It’s never enough, but every drop helps. Their garden art includes rusted plows, wooden swings, a plethora of homemade birdhouses, multiple fountains made from found objects, wagon wheels, antlers, the cutest country chicken coop you ever did see, and a sleeping shed outfitted with a bear hide, antique fishing gear, pinecones, and found treasures of every sort. From their patio they watch the wildlife on their hillside property-deer, bobcats, raccoons, turkeys, skunks, and the occasional mountain lion. It’s a playful, restful garden setting, albeit with a watchful eye for the rattlesnakes that enjoy this oasis as well. What I love about Debbie’s garden is how it reflects her unique personality, her love of the land, and her admiration for the history of the Wild West. As we ambled around the property with her happy dogs in the lead, the songbirds sang, a bevy of butterflies delicately landed on her flowers, and the koi in the pond swam to the surface to greet me. This time together immersed in this sustainable landscape nurtured my soul and brought our childhood memories to vivid life. Although we grow the same plants, shrubs, trees, and succulents in both of our yards, our designs and esthetics are completely different. And that’s the beauty of creating a garden, making it your own special paradise where you can find peace, tranquility, and restoration in tandem with the wild kingdom. TIPS TO CREATING YOUR OWN UNIQUE PLAYGROUND ⎫ Don’t over-think it! Make lists of everything you enjoy in a garden then do it. ⎫ Be conservation conscious as well as considerate of nature. ⎫ Be creative. Think swathes, angles, circles, and flow. There is nothing more boring than a box. ⎫ The hardscape must include natural materials: rocks, gravel, barn wood, shells, or anything meaningful to you. ⎫ Instead of buying art, repurpose childhood toys, old sinks, even a commode overflowing with flowers can be comical. ⎫ Be playful. When you are going to spend time in the outdoors, you want to enjoy yourself. Allow your personality to shine. ⎫ Add surprises, secret gardens, hedged rooms, anything that will enhance the whimsical and magical element to your garden experience. ⎫ Lead to a focal point or view with meandering paths, walkways, and trails. ⎫ Invite the pollinators; bees, butterflies, and birds by providing housing, nectar flowers, protection, fountains, and ponds. ⎫ Mix it up. For a drought resistant garden, consider an array of beautiful succulents, cactus, lavender, bulbs, iris, daylily, geraniums, and other plants that will add color, texture, form, and structure, yet require little maintenance and minimal water. ⎫ A potager, pots, or area designated for edibles and herbs is a must have. There is nothing better than picking your dinner from your own property. ⎫ Benches, swings, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and places to unwind, watch the clouds, savor sunsets, and marvel at the stars make your garden your home. ` What’s so fun about our family gardening experience is the sharing that we all do in giving each other clips, snips, cuttings, bulbs, and volunteers. We grow the same specimens and as we stroll and admire our handiwork, we can’t remember who gave what to whom first. As I said farewell to my sister, she handed me a hand-painted tin filled with blooming echeveria from clippings I had given her a few years before. We shared a laugh. Little did I know this would be the last walk with my sister. She died just a few days before this article was published. She would have loved to have seen her passion in print. Debbie may you garden in the heavens. The circle of life continues. Happy Trails to you, Debbie. Until we meet again... Read more: https://www.lam orindaweekly.com/archive/issue1006/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian.html Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/doc/313702488/My-Sister-s-Garden-Digging-Deep-With-Cynthia-Brian Radio Broadcast: http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/92459/porn-alarm-effective-apologies-in-my-sisters-garden Press Pass: http://vapresspass.com/2016/05/24/in-my-sisters-garden-a-wistful-romp-through-a-drought-resistant-oasis-by-cynthia-brian/ ©2016 Cynthia Brian The Goddess Gardener Starstyle® Productions, llc Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com www.GoddessGardener.com 925-377-STAR Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show at www.StarStyleRadio.com I am available as a speaker, designer, and consultant. Keywords: Debbie’s garden my sister’s garden, a cowboy western garden, drought resistant plants, cynthia brian, lamorinda weekly, starstyle, goddess gardener.

The first floor consists of a large living room, dining room, kitchen, and professional barbecue area. The living room with a fireplace is spacious and soft in its colour scheme. The designer ceramic vases with ikebanas fill the space with senses and flowers. Two floors have merged in the dining room, creating plenty of room for white loose clouds by Serhii Makhno. large wooden bench and an Elephant armchair wait for dinner to be served. And dinner is being cooked in the kitchen — there are light oak slabs instead of the countertop. The barbecue area can easily become a terrace — the windows can be adjusted.

Our latest redesign of this home’s main level seamlessly blends architectural elegance with contemporary comfort. The foyer now makes a striking first impression, featuring refined wall molding, a fresh coat of paint, and a custom veneer bench seat. A breathtaking chandelier in polished nickel and crystal serves as the focal point, adding a layer of timeless sophistication. Moving into the family room, we introduced a textured Manila hemp wallpaper on the ceiling, evoking the soft movement of clouds. The fireplace was refaced in quartz while the existing mantel was carefully reapplied per the client’s request. A 14-foot curved performance fabric sofa, complemented by custom velvet throw pillows, sets the stage for a welcoming yet luxurious space. To enhance the room’s flow, we incorporated a 10-foot diameter rug that follows the sofa’s elegant curve, along with new drapery, swivel chairs, and carefully selected occasional tables. Storage and smart functionality were key in this redesign. Custom cabinetry flanking the fireplace provides ample storage while floating shelves above, equipped with smart home-enabled LED strip lighting, showcase thoughtfully curated accessories. In the powder room, we introduced an ebony veneer push-to-open custom vanity topped with a striking Calacatta Viola marble sink. A custom mirror and premium light fixtures accentuate the rich new paint colors, elevating this small yet impactful space. The result is a refined, harmonious interior that reflects both the home’s architecture and the client’s desire for warmth and sophistication. Tags: interior design, home renovation, foyer design, luxury interiors, modern classic style, family room makeover, fireplace redesign, custom cabinetry, smart home integration, powder room update, bespoke furniture, home decor, elegant interiors, ceiling wallpaper, LED lighting, high-end finishes, design inspiration, contemporary home, architectural details, home styling

Utility room - mid-sized transitional single-wall porcelain tile, gray floor and wall paneling utility room idea in Kansas City with gray walls, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer and gray countertops

Starting Each Day Clean and Refreshed In This Classically-Modern, Marble Masterpiece In 1985, the previous owner of the house had added an addition of which part included a 17 feet by 13 feet space off the master bedroom for both a master bath and walk-in closet. Irrespective of the dated red carpet that blanketed the entire bathroom of this 1964 colonial in Annandale, VA, the combination bathroom/closet space had its other oddities, primarily in that there was no shower. The current homeowners -- a family of five, who has been in the home for 7 years, was tired of going down the hall to use the kids’ bathroom to take a shower before work. The renovation that they have created now is a bright and luxurious space that one could bask in all day. They used this bathroom renovation opportunity to total remake the layout and function of this essential room that sets the tone for the day ahead. Prior to the renovation, the existing bathroom oddly had two entrances, a typical one off of the master bedroom, but another straight off the upstairs hallway. As the toilet was out in the open in the previous design, ensuring that this second door was closed when company was in town was essential and a nuisance. As you entered the room, situated below the arc window, a large soaking tub that was covered on three sides with wooden steps dominated the room from the corner it projected. A relatively small 42” single bowl sink did not leave much space for his and hers toiletries, and there was no other linen closet or cabinetry for storage in the bathroom. The 8 foot by 5 foot closet with accordion doors had poorly laid out rungs not letting the storage space to be fully utilized. At over 220 square feet, the room did offer considerable space to work with, yet the existing layout, which even included a partition wall behind the vanity, felt cramped and dysfunctional. The homeowners wished to create a classic yet modern, private, deluxe bathroom that would better integrate into their master suite and enable them to start and end each day in a luxurious way. They wanted to maintain having a soaking tub, add in a large shower, have an enclosed commode, expand to include double sinks, and add more storage for toiletries and linens. We worked with the customer to develop a creative design with extensive plumbing rework that accomplished all these needs and more. The first order of business was to gut out all the carpet, tub, cabinetry, and non-load bearing partition walls. The new tub would be generally in the same location, but as the previous walk-in closet would be repurposed for the commode and the walk-in shower additional water lines, plumbing, and draining needed to be added; fortunately the room below is the garage, which enabled the team to frame out some bulkheads to accomplish this complex plumbing. Following the framing, including walling up the second entrance to the bathroom, adding in a pocket door for the commode, and creating the shape of the new shower, the team also laid down the wiring for one of the luxuries of this room – heated flooring. A glossy percaline boarder, and two-inch hexagon shape percaline tiles cover the entire floor, making it much easier and cleaner than the previous carpet. Marble look tile is predominant throughout the bathroom as despite the angled frameless glass door, the entire shower is covered in 18 inch polished marble look tiles. The shower coats the user in water from either the overhead rain head, large main showerhead and/or the hand held sprayer. Over 7 feet of white Italian Statuetto marble countertop, enable the couple to have two sink bowls and plenty of room on each side. The bowls are exposed in this stainless steel console sink design which required the team to ensure that the exposed plumbing looked pristine, and painting the bottom of the porcelain bowl to match the coloring. The white cast-iron 72-inch Cecilia claw-foot soaking tub and its chrome lion’s paws complement that other chrome and white used throughout the room. A tall, almost floor-to-ceiling linen closet finished in arctic white is nestled in the corner near the tub, enabling ample storage of towels, etc. Other cabinetry includes an 18 inch-wide vanity with decorative footing is centered between the two sinks, and a 27 inch wall mounted cabinet with shelf is above the Kohler Devonshire elongated toilet. Billowing cloud colored grey blue paint was a great choice for this room to pick up on the veining in the marble. Mirrored medicine chests, a chandelier, wall sconces, and overhead recessed lighting also were incorporated into the design and function of the new room. The artful combination of classic design from material choices, such as free-standing Victorian claw-foot tub along with the modern design as seen in the angled shower, frameless medicine cabinet mirrors, and frosted glass pocket door on the commode, make this bathroom quite a masterpiece. The clients are enjoying having their private space and not having the use the kids’ bathroom anymore.