I always find it sad that people spend so much time and money on tile, which often ends up looking dated very quickly (referring to the "before" shot). The "after" is gorgeous and I absolutely love the wall colour.

such a fab job. well done.

I'm glad to see they put in two shower heads. Those overhead ones are luxurious, but can be a pain to use if you don't want to get the hair on your head wet.

Just looking at those after shots makes me relax. Beautiful.

I'm always interested to see master baths being remodeled without a giant tub. I did it recently, and I'm so glad I did. We really use the space now!

GORGEOUS!

The outside must be really private. Nice, but don't care for the 'after' framing around the mirrors. A nagging feeling this will look dated eventually. For the expense of a bathroom remodel, I'd hope I'd try to shoot for timeless vs current style for the present decade.

I wonder what constitutes design that won't get dated? Some places truly can age gracefully through the decades while others barely last 10 years before looking old.

Very very nice. I might have had the shower tile on the walls meet the ceiling instead of cutting off, but maybe it just struck me funny in the photo, in person it might look different.

This definitely looks more 2013 than 1986. Nice job. I think I would have stopped the marble walls at door height, but that's just me.

What a great renovation!! I too live in a 90's home. The bathroom is the worst. This is a great inspiration. Thanks for sharing!

Wow!!!!!

Oh, thank goodness for this makeover! Looks wonderful!

It's Abigail improvement. I love marble, but it's a very high maintenance material and it looks like the old bathroom wasn't maintained at all. I'm redoing my bathroom and your honest habits are something you have to bear in mind when selecting materials.

Is there a reason the setter left the gap between the top of the ,arbke and the ceiling?

* a big improvement. I swear this machine changes words after I hit Post.

This is a fantastic makeover! The after is très chic. Nicely done.

Really nice, but just getting rid of the dirty glass and brass would have made it look better.

Ooh, love this. Saving that last picture of the bathroom vanity so I can recreate it. I have a black vanity cabinet (needs to be painted again and want to redo the rest). I have a problem in that I have one of those big fiberglass shells for a bath/shower, though. IN BEIGE.

I liked the dark marble & would have tried to make it work, but the afters are really nice.

I do perfer the after as well.
When traveling, I stayed in hotels that had these 1/2 shower doors and they did not hold the water within the shower stall. We had to lay towels down before showing so you didn't fall while getting OUT of the shower.

The most amazing part is the lightness of the bathroom. You didn't even notice the window was there in the before photos.

Very cool - any budget info?

Gorgeous. Our master bath shower was at one point a tub and was converted with glass doors and faux marble walls. Definitely not as fancy as that, but low maintenance, and taught me just how much I love having a huge shower.

I love the after airiness although I think detailing might have gone a bit further when this amount of money is invested. I am not a big fun of how the marble is cut off and of the finishes patchwork in the shower but I do agree this colour palette is way more timeless than the before. I agree with some previous comments that the framing around the mirrors is going to look dated soon but I think the overall effect is great in terms of lightness and functionality. Brave job!

I see many comments here along the lines of "wow I wish that were my budget". Yes, renovations can be expensive, but you can save a lot of money by researching your suppliers, doing a lot of the labor yourself and budgeting. Yes, many people have $$$ and don't need to think about costs, but many research, save and sacrifice to get the look they want. I'm doing a big renovation on my space, I bought a small apt so I could afford to go high-end on tile etc and have been on a strict budget. A year without cable was well worth it to walk in to Ann Acks on Saturday and order the Vivian 2 in the colour of my choice.

I am not a "tub person," so I think removing a tub is the best thing I can do for myself. As I get older and since I live in an 55+ community, I think most people here prefer not having to negotiate the getting in/out of the tub, and would rather just step over a 6" raised edge. It would be easier to clean and more pleasing to the eye. I think to remove tub/install shower would cost around $2,200, which would include tiling the walls to the ceiling, and the floor of the shower. Keep buying those lottery tickets!!! Great job you did on your bathroom!!

Wow… gorgeous.  I thought our in-shower window was huge, but now it looks small... I sometimes wonder if the next owner will wish we’d gotten rid of it, but I absolutely love it.

This is fantastic. We have a condo with two good sized bathrooms, both of which sport oversized jacuzzi tubs ( yes, it was a circa 1999 renovation). One of them no longer works, and I see them as both leak-hazards and dangerous for guests, some of which are now in their 80s and 90s. Not to mention the fact that I don't want anybody to use them because of the hot water they consume. FInally, I haven't taken a bath in my own home for over 12 years.

I would like to replace both of them with large walk in showers, but have been advised by friends that we MUST have at least one bathtub. Comments and suggestions please ! The good news is that the current walls and floors in the bathrooms are both Carrerra Marble and in good shape.

Fabulous makeover!

The makeover is so much brighter, but can someone explain to me why people are always pulling out tubs. To me it is a resale no-no. I am not even a bubble bath person, but I would not even look at a home without a tub, unless I had tons of money for a remodel to add one back in.

Question: Does anyone know if it's true that in California, at least one bathroom MUST have a tub? I wanted to remove my tub altogether but was told by the contractor that I needed to have a tub or put one back in if I was to re-sell my condo. I'm sorry I didn't research it first and just took his word for it. I too, am not a tub person.

I have the tub/no tub dilemma myself. Realtors say you must have a tub in the MBA but I say why? No one ever uses them or rarely. If you want a bath, go take one in the kid's bathroom. If you don't take baths, why refuse to look at house without one? I would have no problem buying a house without a master bathtub - a great shower is preferable! We are planning on pulling out the wasteful jacuzzi (builder grade) tub and expanding the shower.

So lovely and bright!

It's a beautiful renovation...but honestly for resale value...there should be a tub included. They'll be regretting that in years to come. That shower area is ridiculously big in my opinion and there is enough room for a tub and separate shower. I think this two person shower thing is ridiculous. Honestly..how many couples, older couples, future owners are seriously going to take a shower at the same time? It's wasteful to me.

It's amazing how much brighter the bathroom is with the lighter tile, despite the dark greet walls. I love it!

Unless you know you are only planning to stay in a place for a few years and trying to up resale value I don't understand why you would renovate to the general publics taste, its your house - love it your way....anyway, I think it looks great! I wish the tile had gone all the way to the ceiling, and the tile looks very thick. It seems to come off the wall at least an inch..? Maybe it's the photo. I think your color choices will be timeless. They are very soothing and neutral.

Fantastic makeover

I love the idea of a "no tub" bathroom.

Definitely going into my inspiration file. Especially love the pyramid knobs on the cabinets!

The big, giant tubs in bathroom (with a small, claustrophobic shower) make absolutely no sense to me. Sure, maybe some people take baths more than a few times a year, but the vast majority of people take showers almost daily. So, why wouldn't you make the shower luxurious, since it is getting the most use?

It looks like there are handles on the windows. So can you open and close them? We have moved to a house where baths run parallel to the windows and it would be a major hassle to redesign that. Our ensuite has similar layout though less generous and the window doesn't work. I've been told that it's impossible to have a window next to a shower and we would need to replace it with glass bricks. I love fresh air in bathrooms so really would prefer not to do it. Is there a trick which allows to have a fully operation window with a shower next to it? It would be fantastic if there was.

We have had nothing but positive responses since tearing out our old, outdated tub and installing a large shower similar to that pictured. Ours is door-less and has a small ledge/step to keep the water in. A bathmat on the part right when you step out catches any spray.

We also added some seating in the shower stall which gives it more of a spa-like feel. I had a glass of wine in there the other day. Heaven!

I'm not a tub person, but we kept a tub in the guest bathroom in the event one is needed someday. I just know that I've lived in my house for 5 years and had used the tub 4 times and the space was able to be used in a much more useful way (for us).

I absolutely need to have a tub! Other than that, I love the cooler colors in the "after" version of the bathroom.

GORGEOUS!

Truly an amazing transformation. I love the accessories, the soap trays, cool glass bottles, towel container and especially the galvanized bucket with gorgeous hydrangeas. Love.

What, what, what? How is this transformation possible! Gobsmacked! Fantastic job!!!!

It's a lovely renovation. The only flaw was the feature tile on the floor of the shower - it doesn't add to the look and it will date much faster than the rest of the bathroom.

On a happier note, the neighbours will certainly get an eyeful if they happen to glance across when the owners are showering!

I have a very similar vanity mirror situation and with lots of shiny brass trim and fixtures. This must have really been the shit back in the 90s! I just had to replace the faucet and was stumped as to what to do with the brassy mirror trim and light fixture. It was too big a job for me to take on a total reno at this time. I ended up painting the trim and stupid Hollywood dressing room light fixture silver for now. It's actually much better and less obvious than the brass was. My sink and vanity are separate from the rest of the bathroom so, for now, I just shut the door on that part of the brass-tastic bathroom.

I hate our 90's bathroom. It is ridiculously large and has a giant tub that I have never used in the two years we have lived here. (The cats sleep in it.) And I won't even go into the massively huge mirror like the one pictured above. Because it is only seen by myself and my husband it has taken a back seat to the renovation budget, but I can't wait until we redo it.

this makeover is perfection

I'd lvoe to hear from people who have an open shower like this one what they think about it. would you do it again? It seems to me water would splash out even though it is onthe far side, and it seems like it woudl be chilly/drafty on a cold morning, with no door or curtain to contain the heat of the shower water. Anyone? I;m considering it for a bathroom redo, but...

I hate jacuzzis too! Our master bath is the worst - jacuzzi tub (unused), tiiiiiny shower stall, carpet... it's not just an awful '90s bathroom, it's an awful bathroom period! Love this reno - not sure I'd be brave enough to go tubless... but if we planned on living here forever, you bet I would!

I think tubs for resale just provide more buyer options. There actually ARE some people who "must" have a tub -- I hear European ex-pats often feel strongly about this -- and people with young kids. But a sizeable part of the population does prefer a shower, too, so I figure if there is a bathroom where a tub/shower combination is practical, like a guest bath, have one there for future owners (or guests!) After that, it's your home, have what YOU like. (We have twin master suites and there is a small connecting room that ONLY has a bubble tub. Real jacuzzis require cleaning of the water jets to prevent mildew. Bubble tubs shoot jets of air, so they don't need as much maintenance. The down side is that they tend to cool the water eventually. I use the tub a few times a year, often after doing strenuous gardening all day. The rest of the time it's mostly unused.)

@Jacquielin and others commenting on the "quality" of the before photos- this is a common strategy in Before & Afters. Lighting and composition are huge elements in presenting a space, and using poor lighting, dirty or cluttered rooms, etc. emphasizes the transition and makes the finished product more dramatic. Pretty much every B&A does it.

It looks a LOT better, but I feel like this design is also going to date quickly.

i think a new mirror is like a paint, easily changed, and shouldnt be considered something that will date the room. its not structural

Good job,well done.

Beautiful transition into 2013. I love almost everything about this makeover....except, no tub! Kudos for getting rid of that bacteria infested, unused jetted tub but instead of a shower, I would replace it with a simple, yet elegant tub. I take baths regularly (at least 1x week) and I need to soak. I'm okay with shower/tub combo if I'm short on space but I have to have a tub. Also- just had to chuckle at the "LUSH" reference in an earlier comment. I love my bubble baths so I can't be without a tub. And one more thing: are people still using jetted tubs? Jets are extremely difficult to clean. Bacteria grows quickly in the tubing. I would think it's more of a hassle to have those than to just keep it simple with a plain tub.

I'm also a bath person, but had to go back and check the post. The designer just said they got rid of the tub in the master, which makes room for a master worthy shower. Does not mean there's no other tub in the house. Our master does not have a tub, but another bath does. Works fine for me.

Well done renovation. Regarding the tubs in the bathroom, the majority of Europe (mainland not england) where people are much more conscious than americans about usage of water or heat required to heat a LARGE amount of water), people have and take showers. Bathtubs are not very common. In my family we never take baths, we take only showers and in the next house we will have showers only (getting rid of the two cheap bathtubs) not only that, but baths are really bad for skin and for womens' health generally. If you have a small child, buy a small plastic tub to give them a bath. Everybody screams about saving the planet, but everyone wants to live like MarieAntoinette, taking bubbly baths... :-) can't have it both ways people, if you want to save the plant, give up bathing...

It really depends on whether you are thinking about resale or planning to live there for a long time - just like most other renovation decisions. Buyers with kids and some that are just adults are going to want a tub, some buyers don't care. I personally would not buy a home without a tub. We are about to move a wall 6 inches in our tiny house in order to fit a tub that I can take a proper bath in. It's been a major frustration for the past 6 years.

My mom takes a bath every night - she leaves the water for my dad, who takes a bath after her. Growing up we all took baths that way, one after another - if the water started getting cold, you would let a little out and add some hot. It used less water than separate showers and nobody was that dirty because we bathed regularly.

Very nicely done, the only addition I would have made would be to add a small ofuro. Japanese soaking tubs are small but deep and easy to clean. Nothing beats being able to soak tension away after a long day.