Focus on Master Suites

Some Masterful Solutions
Homeowner Neil Sturomsky loved the waterfront location of his new home but thought the small and unappealing master bedroom and bathroom were in dire need of updates.? The team at Van Selow Design/Build wanted to expand the bedroom by using space from the closet—which was larger than needed—but there were two problems: A corner of the closet was a load-bearing point and the air handler was located in the drop ceiling, which meant it couldn’t be opened up to match the bedroom’s ceiling height.? The solution? The crew added a load-bearing beam and then created niches with task lighting to show off the home-owners’ artwork. The master bathroom, which was gutted, was redone with new tile and two black-walnut, wall-hung vanities with granite countertops and fireclay lavatories.? The spacious new shower was decked out with water tile showerheads and body sprays, a glass door and matching chrome hardware, which helped achieve a clean, modern look.

A Master Suite Retreat
The owners of this circa-1950s south Tampa home wanted a spacious new master suite that resembled a spa or a retreat as much as a bedroom.? The position of the existing home on its lot posed a bit of a challenge. So in order to meet setback requirements, Greaves Construction placed the 18-by-24-foot addition at an angle. A smaller 3-by-8-foot addition was added to the side to expand the living area and create a more decorative roof line.? The original bedroom and closet were converted into a large and airy master bath. The new tile floor, with inlaid basket-weave detailing, flowed into the barrier-free shower, which was separated from the tub by a frameless glass panel. A spacious custom vanity with a granite top and a large mirror further enhanced the design. The rear addition became a hallway leading to the new bedroom, which featured his-and-hers walk-in closets. A vaulted ceiling with wood beams was also installed. The beams were distressed and faux-finished to resemble driftwood. Light pastels were used throughout while French doors were added to bring in light and expand the living area. A paver walkway, Florida-friendly landscape and an outdoor shower completed the exterior.

But That’s Another Story
This two-story, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home was transformed into a three-story, four-bedroom, four-bathroom home. West Coast Remodelers used an existing 432-square-foot, second-story porch to expand the family room and add a bathroom that’s accessible from the 
pool via spiral stairs. Directly above the transformed porch, a third floor was added to serve as a new master suite. That allows the homeowners, who sometimes work night shifts, to sleep during the day removed from the noise and hub-bub of a busy home. The former master bedroom became a child’s bedroom with a private bathroom while the master bathroom was decked out with high-end Kohler fixtures and oversized tile set in a staggered pattern. The walk-in steam shower features an all-glass enclosure, a music system, a rain showerhead, body sprays and black pebble stone that “massages” your feet. The new third-floor balcony, with glass railings and decorative ceramic tile, boasts beautiful views of Weedon Isle and Tampa Bay.

Now it’s Twice the Space
The interior of this home, built in 1959, had never been updated. The floorplan was awkward and the rooms were small. But the homeowners, who had lived in the cramped space for 10 years, liked their neighborhood and didn’t want to move. So TriplePoint Construction increased the home’s size from 1,750 to 4,000 square feet while retaining the original footprint as much as possible. It wasn’t easy. FEMA regulations, limited building setbacks and an existing swimming pool required the homeowners to build up more than out. And to protect the old-growth landscaping, the contractor carefully scheduled lumber and material drops, occasionally using a crane. The TriplePoint team opened up the main rooms to one another and increased the ceiling height while creating a spacious master suite with walk-in closets and a functional, beautiful bathroom.? Window bays were incorporated into the gazebo-shaped master bedroom to provide elevation balance and to allow for panoramic water views. To maximize those views: A combination of covered and open balconies offering abundant outdoor living space.

Oriented to the Outdoors
After a renovation that encompassed a 1,200-square-foot addition, this circa-1960s home now has an elegant master suite and a strong connection to the outdoors.? Previously, the home was a standard two-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch-style structure with a two-car garage, says remodeler John Marzulli of Emerald Contractors. Now the master suite, which sits over the newly built recreation room, has glass doors that lead to a cozy balcony overlooking a new pool.? “The view was key because the homeowners wanted everything oriented to the outdoors,” says Marzulli.? The master bedroom closet, which was “kind of small and skinny,” he adds, was transformed into more user-friendly storage when it was reconfigured. In the master bathroom, choice decorative details and features such as his-and-hers vessel sinks, porcelain floor tiles and glass tile on the walls and shower add to the room’s appeal.

A Wonderful Workplace
Numerous remodeling efforts over a number of years left this 66-year-old office building a mish-mash of unusable small offices built out of code using budget finishes. But the owner loved the lakefront setting and the downtown location and called on Bob Phillips of Bay Breeze Enterprises to transform the forlorn structure into an open, bright building that’s a delight to work in. So the Bay Breeze team removed interior partitions and created an open office with spacious work stations. The windows were enlarged and the restrooms were upgraded. In addition, although period architectural elements were retained, a portion of the second-story balcony was eliminated to create a more appealing entrance. About one-third of the second floor was removed, creating a mezzanine. Quality finishes were used throughout and energy-efficient LED lighting was installed.

What’s Cooking? Creativity
The owners of this 80-year-old commercial building wanted to expand and renovate the space for a 150-seat restaurant. So the team at Van Selow Design/Build added 1,053 square feet across the rear to enlarge the kitchen, dining area and bathrooms. The kitchen was designed to accommodate multiple chefs, each with his or her own phone and printer connected to point-of-sale stations in the dining area. This method meant that the wait staff rarely needed to venture into the kitchen, thereby preventing crowding and mitigating safety issues. Each of the restrooms were updated and upgraded with features such as custom cabinets with glass tile countertops. Neon lighting was used to illuminate an evening-sky mural on the domed ceiling. The bar area was designed with all dark oak trim with a contrasting persimmon bar top. Cobalt-colored glass was installed between booths to give customers a sense of privacy. A floor mural was hand-painted to resemble a cobblestone bath.