My Amazing New Bathroom & Closet Reveal!
Are we done yet?!
I asked myself over and over, as the time frame for my master bath and closet remodel dragged on…and on…and on.
The remodeling project began in June. Aside from a couple of small tweaks, the project is finally completed, in November. That’s five months of contractors, dust, demolition, noise, hammering, paint fumes…and so frequently, days and weeks of nothing at all.
Anyone who works with construction contractors right now knows that quality, reliable workers are hard to find. The days of a worker abundance at a good price point have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Currently, the market faces worker shortages, higher prices for work completed, and difficulty locating the materials for project completion. Ah, the joys of home improvement.
Bathroom renovation…revealed!
Just kidding! That was my “Before” bathroom. Wasn’t it a gem?
This is the current rendition of my master bathroom. If the room appears larger, it is not. However, clearing the room of the oversized Jacuzzi tub, and streamlining the footprint of the oversized shower, made a huge difference! Gone are the mornings when my husband and I bumped into each other–literally–if one of us was using the sink and the other needed to get into the closet. Now we have a much wider walkway through the bathroom!
The dark 90’s finishes were replaced with bright white and contrasting black finishes. The walls were painted Moonshine (Benjamin Moore paint, OC-56) to be consistent with the rest of the home. All faucets and handles were updated with matte black fixtures by Moen, and the oversized plate glass mirror was replaced by two separate framed mirrors.
New improved bathroom flooring
The flooring was the most significant improvement in the room. Originally, a custom tile mosaic graced the center of the bathroom floor. For redesign, I selected a rectangular tile in charcoal, with coordinating grout. Not only will the new grout not show dirt, it provides excellent contrast with the walls and white surfaces in the room.
Upgraded bathroom cabinets
The custom-built cabinets were the factor that slowed the project the most. My remodel project was slated to begin last December, but the cabinet maker could not meet the timeline. That was the reason for a six-month delay in the start date. It is worth the wait, though, because the Shaker-styled cabinets are well-made, sturdy, and gorgeous!
One feature missing from the original bathroom was a linen closet or towel cabinet. Departing from the 1990’s bathroom plan, I ordered the built-in vanity to be torn out and replaced by a tall cabinet with multiple shelves. After all, I never used the vanity because the lighting was so poor! Now, we have adequate room for towels, bathing supplies, my medicine kit, and extra storage.
Lighting that doesn’t suck
Lighting–rather the lack of adequate lighting–was a major problem in the old bathroom. Overhead lighting was dim and blocked by the mirror frame ledge. Due to the large plate glass mirror, no lighting was installed closely enough to the mirror for makeup application. Not that my husband worried about that, but for me it was a daily annoyance. The remodel included brighter LED canned lights, as well as three-light sconces above both mirrors. Now I can apply my makeup easily, and my husband can shave his face in good lighting!
Closet remodel
I can’t say enough about the custom cabinetry in the master closet! Previously, we had open shelves that were impossible to keep tidy, as well as hanging rods that were underutilized. We had no drawers in the closet, so we kept certain items in the bedroom. I felt frustrated not having all of my clothing items in the same place, and so did my husband.
The new closet plan includes his-and-hers banks of drawers with vanity-style countertops, allowing us space to get ready in the morning. (This morning, I enjoyed my coffee in the closet as I chose my outfit!) We both have customized hanging rods and shelving for our shoes. Since we both purged our wardrobes of infrequently worn clothing, everything fits nicely in the new space.
Overwhelmed with joy over the renovation!
The professionals at Cabinet Concepts in Greensboro, North Carolina, located subcontractors who possessed excellent craftsman skills. Every detail was tended to along the way, and the few details that were missed were rectified quickly. I was impressed by the large network of excellent tradespeople who tackled our project, bit by bit, until it was completed. Many thanks to Tim and Matt for making it happen!
Hillary McAlhany is the owner of Gate City Design. She is a certified professional home stager/redesigner, E-designer & color expert. Although she is based in North Carolina, she offers remote design services outside of the central North Carolina region.
