A fresh master bathroom renovation with no tub

If you’re looking to simply refresh an outdated bathroom or yearning to create a serene spa-like retreat in the comfort of your own home, you’re not alone. Most homeowners are planning to renovate their homes this year. And a bathroom remodel is at the top of the list, according to a report from Zillow.

Bathroom Remodeling Is On-Trend in 2022.

Home improvement expert Bob Vila weighs in on why a bathroom upgrade is among the top home remodeling trends in 2022: “Spending more time at home with other family members can mean a lack of privacy, and that can lead to frustrations. Those seeking privacy in a crowded home might look to increase their bathroom space even further.” Precisely, Vila forecasts these renovation projects will create spa-like spaces with a mix of luxurious features and practical ones, like added built-in storage.

Take a tour of one of Dover’s recent master bathroom remodels.

Led by designer Patti Saracusa, our team at Dover recently remodeled a master bathroom for homeowners living in a neighborhood on the west side of Cleveland. Here’s a snapshot of what that project looks like, before and after:

The Master Bathroom was tired, dated and cramped.

The Master Bathroom after updating is clean, open and inviting.

Where it all started: Upgrading a builder-grade bathroom

The existing master bathroom had grown dated and worn over the past 20 years or so. While the room had ample space—and even vaulted ceilings and a skylight—the bathroom still felt cramped. The culprit was the bathroom’s inefficient layout: A corner-cabinet vanity made storage nearly impossible to reach, and the oversized soaking tub swallowed up most of the bathroom, leaving room for only a tiny stall-style shower.

Design vision: Here’s what the homeowners wanted in their new master bathroom

Topping the couple’s master bathroom wish list was a large walk-in shower and no bathtub. The homeowners had already decided the massive soaking tub had to go: Not only did they rarely use the tub in their master bathroom, but they also had a bathtub in their guest bathroom if needed. Eliminating the tub allowed for better use of the existing space within the room, which now includes a spacious shower with niches and a built-in seat.

Also on their must-have list was moving the toilet to a separate space with a door for privacy and lots of bathroom storage with functional features.

Before

After

How we delivered: The master bathroom redesign notes

Our team designed the new master bathroom layout to work within the existing footprint of the room. After gutting the bathroom down to the studs, we reconfigured the new bathroom in a way that purposefully optimized every inch of space.

The homeowners have a great sense of design awareness, which helps dictate design elements and product selections. They offered quite a bit of direction from inspiration gathered on Houzz and Pinterest. Based on that input, we designed the new master bathroom to jive with their home’s traditional style to flow seamlessly with the existing space.

To create that design continuity, we installed the wood-look luxury vinyl plank flooring (Mannington Adura in Sausalito Sunrise) in both the master bathroom and the guest bathroom down the hall. This product not only looks great; it’s waterproof and low maintenance, making it an ideal choice for spaces that get wet, like bathrooms, mudrooms and laundry rooms.

We replaced the old, dingy skylights to give the new master bathroom a more open, airy feel and added a new window along the back wall for more natural light.

Creating the shower details

The homeowners made their shower product selections at the Dover Floor & Tile Center using Emser tile throughout. To keep the space neutral, they chose 12” x 14” Action tile in Advance for the shower walls. For the mosaic accent at the back of the niches, they selected Fray Warm Tatami Mosaic in 1″ x 6″ with a horizontal installation. The framing inside of the niches is a wood-look tile: Millennial Sequoia in 6” x 35” plank tile. For a rich contrast on the shower floor, they chose mini hexagon tile and a sleek linear drain to finish the space.

The homeowners wanted a rainfall showerhead, but the pitch of the ceiling made the installation a bit tricky. To achieve the rain-shower effect, we installed the showerhead using a shepherd’s arm to give it more reach. A hand-held sprayer and additional spray heads on the shower’s sidewalls complete the Voss shower ensemble.

His & her combination vanity

The homeowners wanted their sinks side by side, not in separate vanities. To create a cohesive, balanced space, we used base cabinets for the vanity, built a soffit to meet the custom valance with undercabinet lighting, and installed his-and-her countertop storage cabinets on both ends to frame the space. Corian quartz countertops in Venetia Cream create a clean, sleek vibe.

Loads of bathroom storage

To provide the extra storage the homeowners so desperately wanted in their new master bathroom, we designed a space customized for their use. A large cabinet outside the shower includes built-in laundry bins, linen shelves and other easy-access storage. In addition to the spacious countertop cabinets, the vanity also features drawers and doors to keep everyday necessities organized.

How we maximized our project budget

To help the homeowners create the master bathroom of their dreams—while staying on budget—we mixed stock and custom appointments to give the new space a premium feel. For example, we used stock cabinets but then modified them with custom features to keep the cost down. A custom stain match for the trim and mirrors gave us a beautiful, consistent finish throughout.

We always use the Schluter waterproofing system at Dover for quality shower installations. For this project, we also installed the Schluter linear drain system. To create a clean, seamless look, we used Schluter’s metal trim pieces as tile curbs in an oil-rubbed bronze finish to match the Voss shower fixtures.

Our team delivered on its promises, incorporating all the homeowners’ choices, reflecting their vision and design style and meeting their expectations, while completing this master bathroom renovation on time and on budget.