We have another exciting announcement! Recraft has won the 2026 Remodeler of the Year Regional Award in the Residential Bathroom $100-$150K category, and this is a project we can’t wait to show you! Keep reading…
The Story
The owners of this stunning 1920s Colonial sought a Primary Bath that would reflect the grandeur of the rest of their home. The previous 1990s remodel felt outdated, and persistent moisture issues had rendered the shower nearly unusable. The original bathroom entrance (shown below on the left), was located in the bedroom entry hall rather than the bedroom itself, which made access feel disconnected from the suite, while an unusable nook space within the bedroom itself (shown below on the right) made for an awkward layout. They longed for a quiet, restorative space to relax and decompress, with a private water closet and ample natural light.
Before
How We Brought The Vision To Life
We got to work transforming their vision into reality, starting with relocating the bathroom entry to the center of the bedroom for direct, private access.
The previously awkward, unusable nook is now a clean, open space with a cozy window seat just outside the new bathroom entrance.
Our bathroom remodel transforms a once dark and dated space into a tranquil retreat. We replaced the outdated neo-angle shower, framed shower glass, and wing wall with a custom heated tile shower pan and sleek frameless glass, creating a clean, modern look.
Light, bright, and restful colors now replace the previous dark, dingy black tile, instantly refreshing the room. Mottled porcelain heated floor tiles add warmth underfoot while guiding the eye toward the shower, enhancing the sense of tranquility. Every detail was designed to create a peaceful, inviting atmosphere that feels like a private spa.
By swapping the toilet and tub, we created a luxurious bathing room with a separate water closet.
The new water closet is elegantly enclosed with a textured glass pocket door and side lite, allowing natural light from the adjacent window to gently illuminate the surrounding space. This subtle transparency enhances the sense of openness while maintaining privacy. The carefully divided layout establishes a clear, linear path that guides the eye toward the shower room, creating a harmonious flow.
Cabinetry is cleverly tucked into the water closet, painted to match the wall and trim, staying under the radar while maximizing functionality. Repeating the vanity’s quartz countertop in the water closet creates a dedicated dry space for clothes or a fresh towel. The existing window is preserved to maintain the home’s exterior character, allowing natural light to enter and blending practicality with aesthetics.
The shower room now serves as the focal point of the space, featuring seamless porcelain wall tiles accented by a full wall of iridescent glass tile. A soaking tub nestles in the corner beneath a heated, wrap-around bench, while river rock-heated floor tiles create an inviting entry.
Functional details such as a Venetian Bronze dual showering system, a linear drain, and multiple tiled recessed niches make the space as practical as it is beautiful.
Dual showerheads and a handheld fixture now sit perfectly aligned against smooth honed large-format porcelain tile, replacing the old, non-functioning sprays and dark wall tile.
Exceptional craftsmanship was taken in the precise layout of plumbing fixtures and the bench, where every grout line aligns perfectly as planned. Beneath it all, a heated pebble floor adds warmth, texture, and natural contrast.
Achieving a serene sense of harmony and balance is a wrap-around tile bench and large-format porcelain tile, flawlessly installed on a single level for effortless cleanability. Innovative solutions address design challenges, such as disguising an immovable cold air return within the tile bench back so the feature does not disrupt the tile accent wall.
Functionality and comfort are integrated throughout, with a grab bar for safe entry and exit from the tub, and an angled bench and tub back designed for lumbar support. Both the bench and floor are heated, enhancing the spa-like experience, while a dedicated bath fan in the shower room helps prevent future moisture issues. Storage is key, with multiple recessed shower niches in the tub and shower area providing practical, unobtrusive organization.
Custom fir cabinetry in a rich dark stain echoes the home’s original woodwork while providing sufficient storage, including a hidden pull-out laundry hamper.
A quartz countertop with gold and gray veining offers generous surface space. The double vanity was thoughtfully designed to blend with the home’s existing dark fir woodwork.
Responding to the homeowners’ desire for additional upper storage, we created a matching wall cabinet that is held off the ceiling for a more balanced look, partially recessed into the wall, and fitted with a mirrored door to keep it from feeling heavy. The lower cabinets extend to the floor, providing ample storage while eliminating hiding spaces for dust bunnies.
The finishes in the new bathroom are particularly stunning, offering a calm and inviting retreat. Iridescent accent tiles in a wave-like pattern shimmer softly in the shower, paired with sand-colored porcelain tiles featuring gentle veining. You might even feel like you’re at the beach!
Natural gray-blue veining in the quartz countertop beautifully complements the shower tile, while traditional Venetian bronze fixtures pay tribute to the home’s history, bringing a timeless elegance to the space. The countertop elegantly extends atop the shower pony wall, creating a visual transition that enhances the room’s cohesive design.
The clients are thrilled with the result: a harmonious blend of beauty, comfort, and function that elevates their daily experience and honors the historic elegance of their home.
The Obstacles
Many of the project’s obstacles lay within the small space, which was loaded with intricate details and material interactions. A considerable amount of time was dedicated to laying out the shower tile during the framing stage, ensuring that the grout joints would align with both the plumbing fixtures and the bench and tub deck.
We also faced the task of incorporating a cold air return in the shower room, which was less than ideal. Our solution was to install a tile-ready register cover into the sloped back of the bench, allowing it to blend in as discreetly as possible.
Another critical coordination point was at the pony wall. The quartz countertop continues across this wall into the shower, setting both the wall height and the finished cabinet height. These two dimensions come into play at different stages of construction, and any misalignment would have thrown the other off entirely.
Our craftsmen had to think several steps ahead to ensure that every element came together as planned. Maintaining the schedule required close teamwork and constant communication, as multiple templates were needed at key moments. For example, the glass panel atop the pony wall couldn’t be installed until after the countertop was in place, while the quartz backsplash couldn’t go in until the glass was set.
An unexpected twist came from the homeowner’s hobby as a beekeeper. The hives, located on the primary suite deck (where our workspace was set up), were buzzing with activity throughout the summer. Their lively presence was met with mixed reactions from our crew!
In the end, the homeowner is dazzled with the absolute beauty and function of their new bathroom, and equally relieved that the project was completed on schedule and within budget.
The Stunning End Result
We were thrilled with how this bath transformation came to life, and our homeowners are too. Together we created a true retreat, a calming space to either gear up or wind down each day that’s as functional as it is beautiful. And winning an industry award for this project was the icing on the cake!
Let’s get started on your own dream remodel… perhaps it will be our next award winner! Reach out to us here at ReCraft today!
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