Remodel Spotlight: Kitchen and Bathrooms

Beauty and Function
Aurora Custom Remodeling gutted and reconfigured this cramped and awkward bathroom to improve its flow, function and aesthetic appeal. The bathtub was eliminated and in its place, a spa-inspired shower with frameless glass enclosure and multiple body sprays and shower heads was installed. Above the tub had been a window, which was now in the shower. So a piece of custom stained glass was installed over the window, which provided both privacy and an artistic focal point. One vanity stayed in place while another was relocated to the area where the shower had been. Near the entry, a shallow custom entertainment cabinet with a flat screen TV was installed. But instead of using unsightly switchplates, the Aurora team connected a “touch” switch to the hardware, which activates the cabinet lights. The eclectic bathroom was dressed with porcelain and glass tile, traditional cabinetry and contemporary fixtures.?

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Lucy Simply Loves It
The homeowners’ two main requests during this project included addition of a coffee/wine bar and construction of a comfortable space for Lucy, the four-legged member of the family. Kristi Wyndham Designs borrowed space from the oversized laundry room to create a coffee/wine bar adjacent to the dining room. Electrical outlets were hidden and the back entry and hallway were decked out with family lockers to provide storage for school supplies and a convenient charging station for cell phones and other electronic devices. The soft blue-green paint chosen for the ceiling “gives a reflective quality from the pool and almost an open-air feel to the room,” Wyndham says. And, of course, Lucy wasn’t forgotten. “We redesigned the kitchen and laundry to allow Lucy her own space but within view of the family activities,” Wyndham says. “Lucy’s kennel is built into a niche in the laundry room.”

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It’s About Entertaining
The homeowner and his fianc? wanted a functional kitchen that would complement the home’s Craftsman style. And because they enjoy entertaining, they had in mind two focal points: a coffee station and wine storage. Seven Designs installed Wellborn maple cabinets in an espresso finish, adding a trio of cabinets along one wall to serve as a pantry. Opposite the new pantry is a stand-alone coffee station with a base cabinet featuring a drawer and sliding shelf. Above are two wall cabinets—staggered for visual interest—that house cups, mugs and other coffee paraphernalia. In another part of the kitchen, a recessed wall became a wine storage area. A cabinet with open storage houses the wine and attached to the wall cabinet above is a wine glass rack. A dual-height peninsula provides seating for three as well as limited wine storage. Decorative corbels add embellishment while providing countertop support.

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From Bland to Beautiful
Solid Built Construction set out to give this bland “builder-grade” bathroom a facelift. “We tore out the white shower tile and toilet, the mirrors and countertops and the cheap ceramic floor tile,” says remodeler Lex Allen. Behind the shower, where he discovered rotted wood, Allen used a new waterproofing product known as Kerdi membrane, which is guaranteed not to leak. He painted the existing double vanity cabinet a coffee color with a lacquered finish and topped it with white quartz and undermount sinks. The bulky aluminum shower frame was replaced with a knee wall and frameless glass. Then, he wrapped the space in a neutral porcelain tile and custom-fabricated travertine, which has “so much more life and originality and character” when fabricated from a slab, Allen says. Attractive off-the-shelf mirrors and lighting fixtures were money-saving choices that allowed for another splurge: A moveable showerhead that can be raised and lowered or held by hand.