A lot can happen in 8 weeks. When we moved into this home, we knew that our ensuite bathroom would eventually change. We had two years to think about what we wanted to do. The goal was to ground the space by getting rid of the glass shower enclosure and infinity vanity mirrors.
We kept the same layout because after two years we knew it worked. We talked about using the smaller vanity nook for a freestanding tub, but in the end, realized that having two vanities is a luxury and probably best for resale.
Let’s take a look at where we started.
And here is the after.
In every renovation for my own home, I try to do one practical thing that saves money, then splurge on something that makes a big impact. Here, I decided to save the existing vanities. They are in good shape and function well (even though I don’t really love them). I installed knobs and pulls for a little added interest. The splurge was replacing the existing quartz vanity tops with marble. I bought a unique Calacatta Viola marble slab and had new vanity tops fabricated.
The other splurge was to rework the plumbing to accommodate wall-mounted sink faucets. They look great together! The faucets are Speakman Lura Cross Handle in brushed bronze. I love the warmth these fixtures bring to the space. They are substantial, beautiful quality pieces that will last forever.
We used matching Speakman fixtures in the shower. Again, they make the shower feel so luxurious. That huge rain showerhead is a dream. The hand shower is something we added not just for us, but it doubles as a dog shampoo station. No more Maltipoo in the kitchen sink, life-changing!
The shower glass is not installed yet, so I’ll have to update once we have shower doors.
Because we ripped out that big tub, we knew we’d have to replace the floor. I wanted natural stone rather than porcelain, and ultimately decided on Athens Silver Cream marble laid in a herringbone pattern. It has just enough variation to keep things interesting.
I went with a tone-on-tone palette of whites, grays, and creams, so adding textiles for texture was so important for the space. The linen curtains and vintage rug bring an old-world vibe to the space. Since both of these are not permanent, we can change them at any time if we decide to make this bathroom feel more contemporary.
One more fun detail, we wrapped the beam that runs all the way across the room in walnut-stained wood. I love how it makes the room feel so much more thought-out and finished. That's a wrap, except for those few details that we’re still waiting for (missing curtains on the left window!).
December 2022 update
Shower glass is in and curtains arrived. So glad to call it done!
