Bathroom: Empty nesters go all out for a relaxing retreat

Projects

Meghan Haynes, Associate Editor
March 1, 2004
Professional Remodeler

Fixtures can go wherever the homeowners desire in a new bathroom in a new space, but roughing in the plumbing and drain lines can be a challenge. This was especially true for this project. The existing home had only one bathroom, on the first floor, and the back of the property dives sharply after approximately 10 feet, which called for the addition to go up and out. Normally not a fan of bulkheads, Paul Wright ran one along the homeÆs rear wall at the existing bathroomÆs ceiling level. He then ran pipes through the new floor deck's joist cavities. He says the bulkhead created an architectural element preferable to "a box with drywall around it."

A bay window over the tub serves as the 200-square-foot bathroom's visual center, giving a grand view of the rear of the property. The window, skylights and use of glass block to isolate the tub area maximize the natural light flow into the area.

Wright says a tiled sitting bench in the shower, double undermount sinks and the air-bubble tub make this space ultra-luxurious. Additionally, the master closet has a morning kitchen with a small refrigerator, a coffee maker and other amenities that cater to the homeowners' empty-nester lifestyle.

Remodeler: Case Design/Remodeling Inc., Bethesda, Md. Project location: Alexandria, Va. Age of home: built in 1955 Scope of project: master bathroom, part of a third-story addition in a whole-house remodel

The $54,000 project took six months. Wright estimates that once he completed the whole-house remodel that included this bathroom project, the home's appraised value tripled what the homeowners paid for the home.

Floor Plan