There are people who cherish a long soak in a warm bath with a candle or two flickering nearby. And then there are those who haven’t taken a bath in ages and think a shower is the finest way to come clean.
Members of the latter segment of the population, Cindy and Mark Humphreville of Hilliard, decided that it was finally time to bid adieu to the whirlpool tub that held center stage in their master bath for more than a dozen years.
“It’s hard to justify the tub taking up that much space when you hardly ever use it,” says Mark.
Cindy and Mark knew from the start that they wanted to create a larger shower space in general. Specifically, they wanted to lose the framed door and use materials with a rustic feel to create a soothing retreat. For additional inspiration, the two perused books and magazines, marking pages with their remodel in mind. Plus, Mark picked up a few design ideas during his extensive business travels.
When it came time to hire a contractor, Dave Fox Design-Build Remodelers caught their eye.
“We knew Dave Fox had a good reputation in the community,” Cindy says. After meeting with Keith Sharrock, a designer with the firm, she says, “We liked what he said and didn’t feel the need to talk to anyone else.”
From there the design was formed through a collaborative effort between the homeowners and Sharrock. Together they arrived at the perfect solution—doing away with the tub and creating a shower along the whole back wall of the bathroom. The new shower would consume an incredible 6×12-foot area.
The plan was to place showerheads at each end of the massive space until Mark came up with the idea of including a fireplace.
“We wanted something that was a little unique,” says Mark. “We kicked around a few ideas, like a water feature or pool, then the idea just came to me. I hadn’t seen it anywhere else. After that, the team at Dave Fox took over, did some research and figured out a way to make it work.”
According to Sharrock, the challenge was in keeping the cost in line with the budget. Traditional gas fireplaces need piping and exterior venting which made that option extremely complicated and expensive. Knowing Mark wanted to add a bit of ambience rather than a dramatic heat source, Sharrock and his team found a small manufacturer in New Zealand who had what was needed.
The two-sided fireplace is inset into a wall that runs between the bath and bedroom. While it does provide added warmth for the shower, Mark especially likes the effect it creates at night from the bedroom.
A long, low bench in a dry area near the fireplace is perfect place for toweling off and resting a morning cup of coffee. This is a spot that makes great sense to Sharrock. “It’s great to have a place to towel dry and never get any water on the main floor,” he says. “That’s the way they do it in Japan.”
Above the bench, a window made of a vertically-patterned rain glass diffuses the view from outside, while a clear upper section lets the Humphrevilles enjoy glimpses of backyard treetops.
Although most of the focus was on the shower, the rest of the space got a bit of a facelift as well. Since the existing cabinets were high quality and in great shape, they stayed. Countertops were swapped out, lighting was changed and vessel sinks and mirrors were moved in. New floor tiles hide radiant heat technology.
I love the floors,” says Cindy. “It’s nice to not hit cold tiles with bare feet in the morning.”
Despite its size, thanks to a careful selection of materials and features, the new space has a lock on warmth while not missing a single functional beat. It’s the Humphrevilles’ favorite room in their home. And Sharrock is just about as pleased with the results as the homeowners.
“Mark travelled the world,” he says. “I like the fact that we were able to give him a space better than what he’d experienced in all those beautiful hotels.”
Despite its size, thanks to a careful selection of materials and features, the new space has a lock on warmth while not missing a single functional beat. It’s the Humphrevilles’ favorite room in their home. And Sharrock is just about as pleased with the results as the homeowners.
“Mark travelled the world,” he says. “I like the fact that we were able to give him a space better than what he’d experienced in all those beautiful hotels.”
