The cottage wasn’t their first home in German Village, a neighborhood better known for its Italianate and Victorian abodes. It was Ron and Barb Hagan’s second home in the village after downsizing from a traditional four-bedroom suburban residence that had been home as they raised their two daughters. Their first try at a cottage home in the historic neighborhood was too small; at 1,500 square feet they eventually decided it just wasn’t working. This house, the second cottage they bought in the neighborhood and a bit larger, was just right.
After much debate, the owners decided to tweak a few things in their home, one of which was the master bath. Village renovating restrictions only applied to external changes; anything inside was fair game as long as the footprint remained the same. So it became that the owners worked with Todd Schmidt of Renovations Unlimited and architect Gary Alexander to craft the perfect master bath.
Using the angled ceiling of a Cape Cod for design esthetic, the new spacious master bath is a charming mix of angles everywhere you look.
It includes a laundry center, heated floors, a new cast iron free-standing tub, custom cabinetry, additional lighting and more. “In the shower, we included French doors instead of the typical single door opening,” Schmidt explains. “It added a wider opening for universal design planning and also is more esthetically appealing.”
The shower tile work is a mastery of four finishes, with three different tiles and all colors blended together to create a cohesive, modern look. According to Barb, luxurious is the only way to describe the master bath.
Barb and Ron agree the renovations and camping out in the basement were worth the ten months of phased renovation. “We feel the space is a successful mix of the old and the new. It’s a look that allows our antiques and family heirlooms to be showcased in an updated and modern space.”
Now they are the proud owners of an elegant, but relaxing and comfortable place to call home—hidden behind the unassuming front door.