Before and After: A Dreary Attic Turned Luxe Bathroom Makes Smart Use of Space

Finishing an attic can add huge resale value to your home, and plenty of clever homeowners have found ways to squeeze home offices, bedrooms, and even studio apartments into their smallest, most slanted spaces to get more bang for their bucks.

When homeowner Will Pryor first toured his house, he could see the potential in its 1930s-era attic. He grew up doing home projects with his dad, so he knew there was a way to maximize square footage (and appraisal value) by adding a third-floor bathroom directly above the bathroom downstairs, plus a bedroom on the opposite side.

“Between this vision, the amazing hardwood floors downstairs, and other architectural details from the 1930s, I was sold on this house,” Will says.

He enlisted the help of contractor Thor Benediktsson, who is “all about the details,” Will says, and it’s the well thought-out details that really make this space work.

For instance, Thor built the floating shelves beneath the sink, which perfectly match the space’s modern and clean lines. He also came up with the idea to install an in-wall toilet, which would better work within the attic’s existing framing.

“Finding an in-wall toilet proved difficult and surprisingly expensive,” Will says, as many suppliers had shipping delays due to COVID. But the Starck commode is one of of the luxe details that gives the new space its spa-like feel, as is the standing shower, which has eight sprayers (!!!) and is Will’s favorite part.

Not to mention the standing shower leaves plenty of space for a modern and large soaker tub — Will’s other favorite part. (That sleek bathtub tray? It was made using leftover wood from the floating shelf project.)

If there’s one thing Will would change, it’s the flooring in the shower — he would have opted for river stone or tile instead of the black plastic option that’s there now. “I have to wipe it down constantly to cut down on soap scum,” he says. But he loves the rest of the finishes.

The whole bathroom is full of sleek glass, wood, and iron details, like the rectangular mirror from Joss and Main and the freestanding tub filler from Wayfair.

The modern finishes and appliances — plus the added light from the window upgrades — make the whole space a simple, calm retreat. “I love the bathroom, the flow, and the simplicity,” Will says of the final product. “I love how airy and spacious everything feels.”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.

Correction: An earlier version of this post mistakenly said the bathroom floors were bamboo. They are actually porcelain tile.