Before and After: A Bright and Airy Redo for a Dark, Cramped Master Bath

Written by

Jamie Wiebe
Jamie Wiebe
Jamie lives in Denver, Colorado, and writes about home decor, real estate, and design trends. She is slowly renovating her '50s home with her husband and her dog, Maggie, who assists by prematurely tearing up laminate.
published Apr 16, 2019
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(Image Credit: Katherine Thomas)

Katherine‘s master bathroom was filled with wasted space, with a wall of closets and a separate room for the toilet and tub contributing to the cramped floor plan. In order to reveal this space’s true potential, “we pretty much had to start from scratch,” Katherine says. “It was in need of a major facelift.”

(Image Credit: Katherine Thomas )

They started by ripping out everything: unnecessary walls; the dark, gloomy builder-grade cabinetry; even the toilet. Katherine had long-dreamed of a glorious soaking tub, so she chose that element to center the room. To give the tub extra oomph, she hung a “fun little chandelier” above the basin and used marble tile on the surrounding wall.

(Image Credit: Katherine Thomas )

Crafting this spa-like master bathroom took about two months and cost about $15,000.

(Image Credit: Katherine Thomas )

Modern touches offset the hints at glam, providing perfect balance: The round vanity mirrors and exposed bulbs add just a touch of industrial-chic, and the black-and-white hexagonal tiles are trendy, but not overdone. It “adds an unexpected pop, and creates the right amount of contrast in such a bright, airy space,” Katherine says. The hexagonal pattern carries through into the shower floor and ceiling.

(Image Credit: Katherine Thomas )

The custom walnut vanity adds “just a bit of warmth to the space,” she says, and keeps the black-and-white theme from becoming overpowering. In front of the tub, Katherine laid the perfect final touch: a vintage red Persian rug, with its deep reds adding interest, texture, and drama.

Thanks for sharing, Katherine!