This master bath remodel is a classic example of the value of thoughtful space-planning and design.

The owners, Barry and Annette have a beautiful house with plenty of space for the entire family. The problem was the master bedroom suite.

Although the bathroom was large by most accounts (14’ x 15’ for a total of 210 square feet) the walk-in closet was not up to the standard of the rest of the house. Tucked into a corner of the bathroom, it was a small patch of space with an angled wall providing a mere 16 linear feet of hanging space while the bathroom itself had over 75 square feet of open floor space.

Before Photo of Existing Closet

The large, oval tub consumed more than its share of the floor space and the rest of the bathroom sorely needed updating. Both Barry and Annette had their fill of the wallpaper and the carpeted floor didn’t help matters any.

Before Photo

Their concept was simple: re-design the bathroom and build as large of a closet as possible with new countertops, fixtures and a heated tile floor. Since they use the tub infrequently, it could be of a more modest size but the shower, which is used daily needed to be open, light and spacious.

The drawings below show the before and after floor plans of the space.

Existing Floor Plan

Remodeled Floor Plan

The closet has been redesigned to run the entire length of the room, increasing its area by more than 50%. The remainder of the space has been laid out to accommodate all of the essential functions in a compact yet open plan. The result is far more closet space and drastically reduced open floor area that was essentially wasted, transitional space.

Brent, the lead carpenter is off to a great start, having demolished all of the unwanted walls and surfaces in the first week. The new wall has been framed in as well as the tub deck and the plumbers have capped off the old plumbing and roughed-in all the new plumbing including the shower valve. He has tarped-off the work area to contain any dirt and dust from infiltrating the bedroom and he has also erected a scaffold outside to provide access for workers and equipment, thus reducing the potential for damage to the interior of the house. Not bad for five days work, Brent and Dean!

Underfloor Plumbing

Tub Deck and Framing

Dust Protection Wall

Scaffolding Entrance

Check back as we follow the project through all of its phases. Those of you interested in warm floors may want to pay particular attention when we start installing the floor tile.

The house is now complete. Kate and Drew have been moved into the former attic space for several weeks now, and the pictures and furniture have all found their new homes. We though we’d take a short trip back and see how the addition has changed the house.

From the outside, there is very little that has changed. Except for the discrete addition of dormers, the house is substantially the same as it was. Powell Construction believes that an addition which doesn’t look like an addition is a successful project, meaning that the designer and owner are sympathetic to the existing building and have not over-built or ignored “what the house wants to be”. At the same time, the dormers are the critical element in the overall design, creating the additional volume necessary for the essential functions of the new space: bedroom, bathroom, study and the required circulation space.

Before

After

Recalling what the attic actually looked like in the beginning is a testament to the vision of Kate and Drew. The surprising part to them is how much space was really there. Again, the dormers were the key element in acquiring the full use of the existing floor space. The dusty, dark attic corner where Kate envisioned herself reading a book while looking out over the river is now a reality. The addition of new windows and skylights brightens the space during the day without the need for artificial light.

Before

After

Whenever a second-story addition is considered, the most challenging element to deal with is the new staircase. In this instance, the stair is used as a focal point, making a welcoming gesture from the front door and creating a dynamic backdrop in the living room. The additional light spilling down the stair-well into the entry and living room also adds drama to the space.

Before

After

Before

After

We hope you have enjoyed following this project through all of its stages. We would also like to thank Kate and Drew for choosing Powell Construction as the team to bring their dream to fruition.

Award Winning Kitchen!

To be considered for the Contractor of the Year Award, a company must be a NARI member in good standing.  NARI members represent an elite group from the approximately 8,100 companies throughout the United States.  NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics.

View toward new dining area

Judging took place at NARI’s national headquarters in Des Plaines, Illinois, in mid-January.  An impartial panel of judges who are experts within the industry selected winners based on each entrant’s “before and after” photography and project description.  Judging was based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty, and entry presentation.

Kitchen

Dining Area

You’re Invited to the Linn County Home Show  to be held at the Albany Fairgrounds on February 5^th to 7^th!  For  free eTickets please email us at martine@powellconstruction.com.  Parking is free for the event and the ticket is good for all three days. Please stop by our booth and say hi.  We hope to see you there!

Claw-foot Bath Tub

The stairs and railings are being finished this week, and are adding detail and scale to the space. Notice the way the hand rail curves around the wall providing a continuous railing (as required), but allowing more room at the bottom of the stair from the entry. The newel posts provide a sturdy anchor for the railing and are another opportunity for additional detail. Now that the lights are in, the whole space seems a lot less temporary and the workers are relieved of dragging utility lights around with them.

Stair Rail Details

Stair Rail Details

Stair Rail Details

Stair Rail Details

The wall between the bedroom and the closet ends about 16 inches from the ceiling. This gap allows the ceiling to flow from the bedroom to the closet, expanding the virtual space of both rooms.

Bedroom Looking Toward Closet