Written by: Joan Pearlstein Dunn/Photos by: Craig Thompson
When a home office is spun into a luxurious master bathroom, the planning process is no easy feat. This Greensburg bathroom remodel would require entrances, walls and hallways to be relocated and redefined. The original floor plan had the master bedroom sandwiched between the office and bathroom. “We completely transformed the space,” says the owner. “Where the old master bath used to be is now walk-in closets and a dressing room.”
Changing spaces
Trudy Shaffer, of Interior Advisors at The Murrysville Design Center, was brought on board to lead the complicated project. The designer and the homeowner started the design process months before the actual construction began. “Since the footprint of the original space was so greatly modified, we wanted to be very prepared before beginning demolition,” explains Shaffer. “Our biggest challenge was in moving the shower to a new location.”
Functionality and simplicity were at the top of the homeowner’s list. “Trudy quickly understood my style and that I wanted natural elements to define the room,” explains the homeowner. “I’m not real fussy, and wanted a less-is-more look that incorporated high end design mixed with nature.”
With all of the trees outside and the beautiful natural setting surrounding the home, they wanted to bring nature inside. The glass-enclosed shower has tile that mimics marble but is actually porcelain. They incorporated a beautiful river walk tile on the shower floor and then repeated it on the shower wall and in the decorative and functional niche. The owner loves her rainfall showerhead and all of the features that it offers.
The owner was particularly drawn to the chandelier, which she says, “reminds her of bubbles.” The dangling crystals look like jumbo raindrops and add a touch of elegance to the spa-like room. Countertops are granite with a chiseled edge, and took time to find because they wanted a perfect blend to pull in tones from the original hardwood floor and custom cabinetry.
A freestanding porcelain tub brings an old fashioned vibe to the room, but with new-age accouterments. Once the tub drains, a system automatically shoots air through the jets to thoroughly dry the inside. Both ladies love the unique shape of the tub, as well as the Kohler vanity sinks and Delta faucets. “We were lucky enough to have a big window in this room to work with, which usually isn’t the case in a bathroom,” says Shaffer. “Right away, we knew that this is where the bathtub would go.”
Elegant necessities
The owner wanted a separate vanity, as her own private space, for hair and makeup. For this reason, they didn’t include a sink, and instead, opted to install double sinks on the other side of the room. A distressed metal curio cabinet is both purposeful, and stunning. “It makes my towels and accessories look great,” says the owner. “We liked it because it brought in that natural look and at the same time adds warmth and beauty.”
Commanding attention is the decorative finish that was applied to the wall surface behind each vanity mirror. The crystal branches were custom designed by artist Deann Clark and created by a process that used crushed crystals. After painting the backdrop a gray-blue, Clark began by using a stencil to draw the initial outline of each individual branch, and the next step was to paint them. While they were still wet, she opened jars of crushed crystals and threw handfuls of the tiny and sharp shards at the paint. Some of it stuck to the paint and the rest was swept up off of the floor. The end result is 3-dimensional, adding a dramatic essence to the room along with a bit of whimsy.
Both ladies attribute the smooth sailing of the project to the extra time taken for design planning before demo began. “This client is one of the most easy-going people that I have ever worked with,” says Shaffer. “She knew what she wanted so we made decisions quickly, and once we got in there the project was completed in eight weeks and turned out beautifully.”
Resources: Interior designer: Trudy Shaffer, Interior Advisors at The Murrysville Design Center; Contractor: Babz Construction; Artist: Deann Clark; Bathtub: BainUltra Evanescence; Sinks: Kohler Escale; Faucets: Delta Tesla; Vanity mirrors: Uttermost; Window blind: Hunter Douglas Pirouette