Creating a personal wellness retreat doesn't always mean starting from scratch. Through thoughtful design-build solutions, this Portland metro primary bathroom renovation showcases how reimagining your existing space can deliver extraordinary results. Nestled into the side of Cooper Mountain, this stunning remodel artfully balances bold neutrality with warm, natural elegance. The centerpiece of the transformation—a spacious cedar-clad sauna—connects harmoniously with the expanded double shower, where biophilic accent tile reflects in the striking wall tile like dappled sunlight on water. The refined vanity area, featuring expertly repainted cabinetry and luminous countertops, ties the space together with subtle sophistication. The success of this luxury renovation stems from strategic space planning and custom craftsmanship. By removing the existing oversized tub and deck—elements that weren't serving the homeowners' needs—we created space for a fully custom two-person sauna. The shower expansion, though modest at 12 inches, significantly enhanced the comfort and functionality for two users, demonstrating how thoughtful design can maximize every square foot. What sets this project apart is its fully integrated design-build approach. Rather than relying on prefabricated solutions, the custom sauna was designed and constructed from the ground up. This complex undertaking required seamless coordination among electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades across the Portland Metro Area, all working together to transform a standard bathroom into a high-performance wellness retreat. Client collaboration played a pivotal role in the project's success. Through detailed 3D renderings, curated photo books, and hands-on material samples, the homeowners could confidently visualize and participate in design decisions. Every element—from the rich cedar sauna cladding to the plumbing fixtures—was carefully selected to create a perfect balance of aesthetics, performance, and budget considerations. Speaking of budget, strategic decisions helped prioritize the homeowners' main objectives: a comfortable two-person sauna and an expanded shower. Instead of complete replacement, the existing cabinetry received a professional refinishing, maintaining a fresh, cohesive look while reducing material costs. By thoughtfully retaining elements like plumbing fixtures, electrical wiring, and the toilet location, we avoided unnecessary expenses while upgrading lighting with efficient LED fixtures where needed. This primary bathroom and sauna project exemplifies how a collaborative design-build approach can transform your vision into reality. By combining strategic space planning, custom craftsmanship, and budget-conscious decisions, we created a personalized wellness retreat that delivers both luxury and functionality.

Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in Boston

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Example of a transitional basement design in Salt Lake City

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Transitional kitchen photo in Salt Lake City

Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in Boston

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This Australian-inspired new construction was a successful collaboration between homeowner, architect, designer and builder. The home features a Henrybuilt kitchen, butler's pantry, private home office, guest suite, master suite, entry foyer with concealed entrances to the powder bathroom and coat closet, hidden play loft, and full front and back landscaping with swimming pool and pool house/ADU.

This Australian-inspired new construction was a successful collaboration between homeowner, architect, designer and builder. The home features a Henrybuilt kitchen, butler's pantry, private home office, guest suite, master suite, entry foyer with concealed entrances to the powder bathroom and coat closet, hidden play loft, and full front and back landscaping with swimming pool and pool house/ADU.

Inspiration for a transitional entryway remodel in Minneapolis

This new contemporary home was commissioned by a design-loving family in Boulder, Colorado who had just purchased a house on a corner lot and wanted to build something new and contemporary with views of the Flatiron mountain range beyond. Working over a distance was easy with extensive 3D modeling leading the way. Though not on a super-busy corner, limited openings to the street were utilized counter-balanced by extensive glass and access to the side and rear yards. A detached garage was necessary because of off-street parking access from an existing alley that ran behind the house, so a breezeway connecting roof was designed to join the structures visually and provide cover in snow and rain. Hydronic radiant heated floors run throughout and large windows reveal selective views to the neighborhood. Exposed steel beams and wood framing tell the story of structure inside. White-white kitchen and baths provide clean neutral environments for food and bathing. Upstairs high ceilings allow clerestory windows inviting light but not view. The master bedroom is aimed at the Flatiron Mountains as is the large wraparound walking deck with flying roof overhead, all clad in red cedar. Much was learned about the local Colorado building environment along the way, guided by nearby structural engineers and contractor. Boulder has strict sun-shadow rules where 3D modeling was critical to show compliance. Energy and heat-loss concerns limited glazing at certain exposures but allowed us to open things up elsewhere. This home is a great example of working within a strict budget and achieve high design quality results. Built by Morningstar Homes with photos by Patterson Architecture + Interior Photography.

Photo by: Lucas Finlay A bachelor pad Bruce Wayne would approve of, this 1,000 square-foot Yaletown property belonging to a successful inventor-entrepreneur was to be soiree central for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. A concept juxtaposing rawness with sophistication was agreed on, morphing what was an average two bedroom in its previous life to a loft with concrete floors and brick walls revealed and complemented with gloss, walnut, chrome and Corian. All the manly bells and whistle are built-in too, including Control4 smart home automation, custom beer trough and acoustical features to prevent party noise from reaching the neighbours.

Brad Haines knows a thing or two about building things. The intensely creative and innovative founder of Oklahoma City-based Haines Capital is the driving force behind numerous successful companies including Bank 7 (NASDAQ BSVN), which proudly reported record year-end earnings since going public in September of last year. He has beautifully built, renovated, and personally thumb printed all of his commercial spaces and residences. “Our theory is to keep things sophisticated but comfortable,” Brad says. That’s the exact approach he took in his personal haven in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma. Painstakingly renovated over the span of two years by Candeleria Foster Design-Build of Oklahoma City, his home boasts museum-white, authentic Venetian plaster walls and ceilings; charcoal tiled flooring; imported marble in the master bath; and a pretty kitchen you’ll want to emulate. Reminiscent of an edgy luxury hotel, it is a vibe conjured by Cantoni designer Nicole George. “The new remodel plan was all about opening up the space and layering monochromatic color with lots of texture,” says Nicole, who collaborated with Brad on two previous projects. “The color palette is minimal, with charcoal, bone, amber, stone, linen and leather.” “Sophisticated“Sophisticated“Sophisticated“Sophisticated“Sophisticated Nicole helped oversee space planning and selection of interior finishes, lighting, furnishings and fine art for the entire 7,000-square-foot home. It is now decked top-to-bottom in pieces sourced from Cantoni, beginning with the custom-ordered console at entry and a pair of Glacier Suspension fixtures over the stairwell. “Every angle in the house is the result of a critical thought process,” Nicole says. “We wanted to make sure each room would be purposeful.” To that end, “we reintroduced the ‘parlor,’ and also redefined the formal dining area as a bar and drink lounge with enough space for 10 guests to comfortably dine,” Nicole says. Brad’s parlor holds the Swing sectional customized in a silky, soft-hand charcoal leather crafted by prominent Italian leather furnishings company Gamma. Nicole paired it with the Kate swivel chair customized in a light grey leather, the sleek DK writing desk, and the Black & More bar cabinet by Malerba. “Nicole has a special design talent and adapts quickly to what we expect and like,” Brad says. To create the restaurant-worthy dining space, Nicole brought in a black-satin glass and marble-topped dining table and mohair-velvet chairs, all by Italian maker Gallotti & Radice. Guests can take a post-dinner respite on the adjoining room’s Aston sectional by Gamma. In the formal living room, Nicole paired Cantoni’s Fashion Affair club chairs with the Black & More cocktail table, and sofas sourced from Désirée, an Italian furniture upholstery company that creates cutting-edge yet comfortable pieces. The color-coordinating kitchen and breakfast area, meanwhile, hold a set of Guapa counter stools in ash grey leather, and the Ray dining table with light-grey leather Cattelan Italia chairs. The expansive loggia also is ideal for entertaining and lounging with the Versa grand sectional, the Ido cocktail table in grey aged walnut and Dolly chairs customized in black nubuck leather. Nicole made most of the design decisions, but, “she took my suggestions seriously and then put me in my place,” Brad says. She had the master bedroom’s Marlon bed by Gamma customized in a remarkably soft black leather with a matching stitch and paired it with onyx gloss Black & More nightstands. “The furnishings absolutely complement the style,” Brad says. “They are high-quality and have a modern flair, but at the end of the day, are still comfortable and user-friendly.” The end result is a home Brad not only enjoys, but one that Nicole also finds exceptional. “I honestly love every part of this house,” Nicole says. “Working with Brad is always an adventure but a privilege that I take very seriously, from the beginning of the design process to installation.”

Nichole Kennelly Photography
Bathroom - large transitional master beige tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom idea in Kansas City with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and an integrated sink

Example of a mid-sized classic master carpeted and beige floor bedroom design in St Louis with brown walls

The Setup After 25+ years in their home, these long-time clients were ready to upgrade their outdated primary bath into something more modern, functional, and reflective of their personal taste. The original space had all the hallmarks of a ’90s builder-grade bathroom — bulky built-in tub, undersized shower, and a layout that wasn’t making the most of the square footage. With the kids grown and a successful kitchen remodel already under their belt, the couple returned to Drury Design for a complete bathroom transformation. Design objectives: Create a contemporary, personalized retreat with clean lines and a calming palette Incorporate the husband’s favorite color (blue) in a bold but tasteful way Add more efficient storage, including a long-desired linen closet Improve lighting and ventilation Make better use of space, especially in the old tub-and-shower zone Maintain dual sinks and a dedicated makeup area Add heated floors for extra comfort The Remodel Design challenges to be solved: Reimagine a large but awkward separate shower/tub room to feel more intentional and spa-like Integrate bold color in a way that felt stylish, not overpowering Combine two previously separate sinks into one shared vanity without losing the “his and hers” feel Maintain a sense of flow and cohesion across two adjoining zones of the bathroom Create a makeup area that feels set apart without breaking design continuity Maximize comfort in winter without dramatically inflating the project budget The Renewed Space Design solutions: Shifted the location of the tub and expanded the shower to reconfigure the secondary room into a functional spa space; introduced floating shelves and a linen cabinet to tie it all together Let the rich blue shower tile take center stage as a statement piece while keeping the rest of the palette subdued and modern with layered grays Centered a tall cabinet between the two sinks to provide extra storage and gently divide the shared vanity wall into his-and-hers zones Chose a freestanding-style tub that installs flush against the wall—preserving the aesthetic while optimizing space and maximizing flow between rooms Added subtle glam touches — like jewelry-inspired drawer pulls — at the makeup station to give it identity without disrupting the flow Installed heated floors with programmable settings, offering hotel-level comfort without blowing the budget Final Thoughts: The finished space is a stylish blend of utility and serenity. Clean lines, modern finishes, and pops of bold color reflect the homeowners’ taste without overwhelming the design. What was once a dated, underused space is now a calm, contemporary retreat with thoughtful details throughout – from the integrated makeup zone to the just-right splash of color and the luxurious heated floors. Another successful collaboration with Drury Design, this project proves that remodeling isn’t just about resale — it’s about finally getting the space you’ve always wanted, and loving it every day.

Nichole Kennelly Photography
Large transitional master carpeted bedroom photo in Kansas City with gray walls

Brian Covington
Inspiration for a timeless bedroom remodel in Los Angeles

Brian Covington
Elegant bedroom photo in Los Angeles

Brian Covington
Bathroom - traditional bathroom idea in Los Angeles