As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage. Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials. In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms. A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival. The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power. Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove. A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage. Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials. In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms. A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival. The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power. Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove. A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY MERIT AWARD WINNER; 2012 QUALIFIED REMODELER MASTER DESIGN AWARD This 1950 brick colonial featured a floor plan typical of homes of that era--small boxy rooms, each separated by four walls. The young couple who owned the home loved its potential, but needed more space. The main goal of this project was to create a seamless and open floor plan on the first floor, adding a family room and enlarging the kitchen. A master bedroom and bathroom suite were planned to make better use of the second level. To accomplish these goals, a 20’ x 20’ two-story addition was designed by Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes. The new expanded kitchen and family room features limestone floors, a new gas fireplace surrounded with built-ins and glass stone hearth to complement the kitchen countertops and backsplash. Use of espresso colored cabinetry topped by a light granite countertop with brown veins running through it is one of the decorative touches that make this project stunning. The large middle island which consists of a second sink, wine chiller and seating space is another bonus point of this kitchen. Commercial quality appliances assure gourmet cooking at its finest. Large first floor windows face the home’s new flagstone patio, which can be accessed via a French door. The second floor consists of the master bedroom with a sitting area , French doors leading into a French balcony facing back yard, double-sided stoned gas fireplace (between the bedroom and master bath) and a cathedral ceiling. The master bathroom features a large steam shower, body sprays and rain shower, a large double person Jacuzzi, tumbled marble floor and wall tiles with accents. The use of wide plank exotic tiger wood has beautified this master suite. Keeping the homeowners’ contemporary style in mind and achieving their wishes has transformed this old 1950 colonial into a fully functional 21st Century dream home.

As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage. Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials. In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms. A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival. The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power. Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove. A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage. Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials. In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms. A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival. The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power. Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove. A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage. Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials. In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms. A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival. The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power. Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove. A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage. Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials. In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms. A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival. The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power. Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove. A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS
Example of a mid-sized classic master white tile and subway tile marble floor bathroom design in Portland Maine with an undermount sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, a wall-mount toilet, gray walls and recessed-panel cabinets

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View of master bedroom, facing the ocean. Photo © John Whipple
Mid-sized beach style master medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in Portland Maine with blue walls

Photography by Ryan Davis | CG&S Design-Build
Example of a mid-sized beach style master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Austin with blue walls

Like many California ranch homes built in the 1950s, this original master bathroom was not really a "master bath." My clients, who only three years ago purchased the home from the family of the original owner, were saddled with a small, dysfunctional space. Chief among the dysfunctions: a vanity only 30" high, and an inconveniently placed window that forced the too-low vanity mirror to reflect only the waist and partial torso--not the face--of anyone standing in front of it. They wanted not only a more spacious bathroom but a bedroom as well, so we worked in tandem with an architect and contractor to come up with a fantastic new space: a true Master Suite. In order to refine a design concept for the soon-to-be larger space, and thereby narrow down material choices, my clients and I had a brainstorming session: we spoke of an elegant Old World/ European bedroom and bathroom, a luxurious bath that would reference a Roman spa, and finally the idea of a Hammam was brought into the mix. We blended these ideas together in oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, and a tiny tile mosaic in beautiful Bursa Beige marble from Turkey and white Thassos marble from Greece. The new generously sized bathroom boasts a jetted soaking tub, a very large walk-in shower, a double-sided fireplace (facing the tub on the bath side), and a luxurious 8' long vanity with double sinks and a storage tower. The vanity wall is covered with a mosaic vine pattern in a beautiful Bursa Beige marble from Turkey and white Thassos marble from Greece,. The custom Larson Juhl framed mirrors are flanked by gorgeous hand-wrought scones from Hubbardton Forge which echo the vine and leaf pattern in the mosaic. And the vanity itself features an LED strip in the toe-kick which allows one to see in the middle of the night without having to turn on a shockingly bright overhead fixture. At the other end of the master bath, a luxurious jetted tub nestles by a fireplace in the bay window area. Views of my clients' garden can be seen while soaking in bubbles. The over-sized walk-in shower features a paneled wainscoting effect which I designed in Crema Marfil marble. The vine mosaic continues in the shower, topped by green onyx squares. A rainshower head and a hand-held spray on a bar provides showering options. The shower floor slopes gently in one direction toward a hidden linear drain; this allows the floor to be read as a continuation of the main space, without being interrupted by a center drain. Photo by Jeff Fiorito

When dreaming about the perfect master suite remodel, there are two important ingredients that are always in the mix– the closet space and the master bath. Too often, existing homes will have small closets and baths in the master suite leaving homeowners frustrated and ultimately unsatisfied. At Thompson Remodeling, we have seen our share of strange configurations, but that’s part of the fun. We enjoy the challenge of reconfiguring space to make it work better for our clients. In this recent master suite remodel, the existing floor plan had a small bath with vanities located in the bedroom not the bath, two reach-in closets, and a massive closet with a vaulted ceiling and skylight. Now, who doesn’t love a great big closet? But this one was roughly 11’x 14’ – big enough to be a bedroom! To start, we decided to get rid of the two reach-in closets to make the main section of the bedroom larger, a gain of 66 square feet. In the massive closet space we designed a spacious bathroom and dressing area. With a window and skylight already in place, there is a ton of natural light. Next, we swapped the original bath space out for a closet. The flow of this master bedroom is so much better now! Before, you would walk in to the room and be facing a double vanity sink. Now, there’s a small entryway that leads to a much more open and inviting space. The homeowners wanted an organic feel to the space and we used an existing corner fireplace to set the tone. Cream, muted grays and taupes are mixed with natural and weathered woods throughout. We replaced glass block with a barn door made of reclaimed wood. This creates a beautiful focal point in the room. In the bathroom, quartz countertops are accented with a stone mosaic backsplash. Maple cabinets with a java finish are a rich offset to the lighter wood vanity mirror and heated ceramic floor. We think this new master suite remodel is stunning! What a major improvement in the functionality of the entire space.

This Master Suite while being spacious, was poorly planned in the beginning. Master Bathroom and Walk-in Closet were small relative to the Bedroom size. Bathroom, being a maze of turns, offered a poor traffic flow. It only had basic fixtures and was never decorated to look like a living space. Geometry of the Bedroom (long and stretched) allowed to use some of its' space to build two Walk-in Closets while the original walk-in closet space was added to adjacent Bathroom. New Master Bathroom layout has changed dramatically (walls, door, and fixtures moved). The new space was carefully planned for two people using it at once with no sacrifice to the comfort. New shower is huge. It stretches wall-to-wall and has a full length bench with granite top. Frame-less glass enclosure partially sits on the tub platform (it is a drop-in tub). Tiles on the walls and on the floor are of the same collection. Elegant, time-less, neutral - something you would enjoy for years. This selection leaves no boundaries on the decor. Beautiful open shelf vanity cabinet was actually made by the Home Owners! They both were actively involved into the process of creating their new oasis. New Master Suite has two separate Walk-in Closets. Linen closet which used to be a part of the Bathroom, is now accessible from the hallway. Master Bedroom, still big, looks stunning. It reflects taste and life style of the Home Owners and blends in with the overall style of the House. Some of the furniture in the Bedroom was also made by the Home Owners.

When dreaming about the perfect master suite remodel, there are two important ingredients that are always in the mix– the closet space and the master bath. Too often, existing homes will have small closets and baths in the master suite leaving homeowners frustrated and ultimately unsatisfied. At Thompson Remodeling, we have seen our share of strange configurations, but that’s part of the fun. We enjoy the challenge of reconfiguring space to make it work better for our clients. In this recent master suite remodel, the existing floor plan had a small bath with vanities located in the bedroom not the bath, two reach-in closets, and a massive closet with a vaulted ceiling and skylight. Now, who doesn’t love a great big closet? But this one was roughly 11’x 14’ – big enough to be a bedroom! To start, we decided to get rid of the two reach-in closets to make the main section of the bedroom larger, a gain of 66 square feet. In the massive closet space we designed a spacious bathroom and dressing area. With a window and skylight already in place, there is a ton of natural light. Next, we swapped the original bath space out for a closet. The flow of this master bedroom is so much better now! Before, you would walk in to the room and be facing a double vanity sink. Now, there’s a small entryway that leads to a much more open and inviting space. The homeowners wanted an organic feel to the space and we used an existing corner fireplace to set the tone. Cream, muted grays and taupes are mixed with natural and weathered woods throughout. We replaced glass block with a barn door made of reclaimed wood. This creates a beautiful focal point in the room. In the bathroom, quartz countertops are accented with a stone mosaic backsplash. Maple cabinets with a java finish are a rich offset to the lighter wood vanity mirror and heated ceramic floor. We think this new master suite remodel is stunning! What a major improvement in the functionality of the entire space.

When dreaming about the perfect master suite remodel, there are two important ingredients that are always in the mix– the closet space and the master bath. Too often, existing homes will have small closets and baths in the master suite leaving homeowners frustrated and ultimately unsatisfied. At Thompson Remodeling, we have seen our share of strange configurations, but that’s part of the fun. We enjoy the challenge of reconfiguring space to make it work better for our clients. In this recent master suite remodel, the existing floor plan had a small bath with vanities located in the bedroom not the bath, two reach-in closets, and a massive closet with a vaulted ceiling and skylight. Now, who doesn’t love a great big closet? But this one was roughly 11’x 14’ – big enough to be a bedroom! To start, we decided to get rid of the two reach-in closets to make the main section of the bedroom larger, a gain of 66 square feet. In the massive closet space we designed a spacious bathroom and dressing area. With a window and skylight already in place, there is a ton of natural light. Next, we swapped the original bath space out for a closet. The flow of this master bedroom is so much better now! Before, you would walk in to the room and be facing a double vanity sink. Now, there’s a small entryway that leads to a much more open and inviting space. The homeowners wanted an organic feel to the space and we used an existing corner fireplace to set the tone. Cream, muted grays and taupes are mixed with natural and weathered woods throughout. We replaced glass block with a barn door made of reclaimed wood. This creates a beautiful focal point in the room. In the bathroom, quartz countertops are accented with a stone mosaic backsplash. Maple cabinets with a java finish are a rich offset to the lighter wood vanity mirror and heated ceramic floor. We think this new master suite remodel is stunning! What a major improvement in the functionality of the entire space.

View in the Master Bath facing the tub. Main floor is 12 IN square black granite tile. Tub terrace and enclosure is surfaced with Idaho Quartzite. Twin pedestal sinks framed by twin vanity cabinets and a glass shelf.

In the master bath, the lady of the house has a vanity that faces the window so she can be naturally illuminated. Her makeup mirror is not pictured, but it sits on a stand so it can be easily moved and adjusted. Two metal shelving units (one is shown) flank the doorway and provide both display and storage opportunities. A Bonisolli Photography

Unlimited Style Photography
Inspiration for a small timeless master multicolored tile and stone tile porcelain tile bathroom remodel in Los Angeles with raised-panel cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops