Before and After: From Cramped Closet to Open Master Bathroom
Seattle homeowners work with a design team to transform an attic closet into a bathroom with a shower and walk-in closet
Before. There was a lot of work to be done to transform the old closet into an en suite bathroom, but the designers also saw a lot of potential.
This side of the house faces east, giving the homeowners a view of Lake Washington and an abundance of morning sunlight. The existing bedroom was large but not functional. Space under the eaves was wasted, and parts of the attic were still unfinished.
“We find that when you are working with constraints, such as dormers, brick facades, tight spaces, it is an opportunity to create a unique space,” says project manager Alev Seymen.
This side of the house faces east, giving the homeowners a view of Lake Washington and an abundance of morning sunlight. The existing bedroom was large but not functional. Space under the eaves was wasted, and parts of the attic were still unfinished.
“We find that when you are working with constraints, such as dormers, brick facades, tight spaces, it is an opportunity to create a unique space,” says project manager Alev Seymen.
After. A bright and open bathroom replaces the once closed-in closet. The design team extended the existing gable along the front of the house to match the footprint of the first floor, recapturing vertical space that was lost under the eaves. The new peaked dormers fit in with the Tudor’s original character, looking as if it was built this way from the start.
Design. The designers used the homeowners’ living room and its neutral palette for design inspiration. The colors also make the room feel fresh and calm.
“Keeping the general palette very neutral gave us space to do some fun black-and-white encaustic tile in the bathroom and play with blackened-steel sliding mirrors in front of the vanity windows,” Seymen says.
Design. The designers used the homeowners’ living room and its neutral palette for design inspiration. The colors also make the room feel fresh and calm.
“Keeping the general palette very neutral gave us space to do some fun black-and-white encaustic tile in the bathroom and play with blackened-steel sliding mirrors in front of the vanity windows,” Seymen says.
Barn door mirrors. The designers did not want to choose between having vanity mirrors or external windows, so they kept both. They did this by installing mirrors that could slide to reveal the windows.
Because it was difficult to find hardware for the mirrors, the team hired a local iron fabricator to make a blackened-steel rail and frames.
Designer challenge. Placing the exterior windows in the dormer, where the vanity sits, was not an easy task.
“There is always a surprise or two with remodels,” Seymen says. The roof posed a challenge to this team. They made assumptions about the existing roof structure, but when they uncovered it, they realized they had to rework the design.
“Trying to connect to the existing roofline, while also preserving a reasonable window height, was a lot of math and careful coordination with our builder,” Seymen says.
Countertop: Pental Surfaces; faucet: polished nickel, Terra Widespread, Graff; vanity mirrors: custom, Boiler Room
Because it was difficult to find hardware for the mirrors, the team hired a local iron fabricator to make a blackened-steel rail and frames.
Designer challenge. Placing the exterior windows in the dormer, where the vanity sits, was not an easy task.
“There is always a surprise or two with remodels,” Seymen says. The roof posed a challenge to this team. They made assumptions about the existing roof structure, but when they uncovered it, they realized they had to rework the design.
“Trying to connect to the existing roofline, while also preserving a reasonable window height, was a lot of math and careful coordination with our builder,” Seymen says.
Countertop: Pental Surfaces; faucet: polished nickel, Terra Widespread, Graff; vanity mirrors: custom, Boiler Room
Vanity. The team chose a thick countertop for the double-sink vanity because the designers wanted the sinks’ plumbing pipes to be stored inside the countertop, instead of inside the cabinet. This choice leaves the bottom storage area open and not cluttered with pipes.
They made the base of the vanity to look like a solid piece of wood and left off exposed hardware. A slight gap between the countertop and vanity cabinet allows the homeowners to access the doors underneath. The team also built storage space into the wall.
“Built-ins are great for utilizing odd-shaped areas and make it look purposeful, while making the space feel taller,” project associate Ryan Adanalian says.
They made the base of the vanity to look like a solid piece of wood and left off exposed hardware. A slight gap between the countertop and vanity cabinet allows the homeowners to access the doors underneath. The team also built storage space into the wall.
“Built-ins are great for utilizing odd-shaped areas and make it look purposeful, while making the space feel taller,” project associate Ryan Adanalian says.
Hidden storage. Behind the full-length mirror is an entrance to additional storage over the garage.
Shower. The designers considered adding a bathtub, but they quickly decided it was not the best option. A bathtub didn’t work well within the bathroom’s space, and expanding the space past the tall mirror wasn’t an option.
The family also has a bathtub in the kids’ bathroom on this same floor, so the parents didn’t include one in their master bathroom.
Floor tile. The design team knew the floor was a great place to go with a bold pattern.
“In small spaces like this, it’s ideal to have only one dramatic element,” Seymen says, “and be very mindful of how you execute it.”
The designers used a recessed shower pan to eliminate a shower curb, and they were able to install the tile throughout the room without interruption. “Piecemealing such a pattern would have ruined the impact,” Seymen says.
Because cement tiles like these are easy to chip and hard to align and level, the team brought in a professional to install them.
Pro tip. When you choose to use cement tiles in rooms with moisture, you need to seal and maintain them. The tiles will naturally weather over time, Seymen says. Cement is more commonly used outdoors, she says, but it was the perfect fit for this indoor project.
Floor tile: Pacific Collection, Cement Tile Shop; full-length mirror: custom
Contractor: NRC Homes
See the rest of the home’s remodeled second floor
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Shower. The designers considered adding a bathtub, but they quickly decided it was not the best option. A bathtub didn’t work well within the bathroom’s space, and expanding the space past the tall mirror wasn’t an option.
The family also has a bathtub in the kids’ bathroom on this same floor, so the parents didn’t include one in their master bathroom.
Floor tile. The design team knew the floor was a great place to go with a bold pattern.
“In small spaces like this, it’s ideal to have only one dramatic element,” Seymen says, “and be very mindful of how you execute it.”
The designers used a recessed shower pan to eliminate a shower curb, and they were able to install the tile throughout the room without interruption. “Piecemealing such a pattern would have ruined the impact,” Seymen says.
Because cement tiles like these are easy to chip and hard to align and level, the team brought in a professional to install them.
Pro tip. When you choose to use cement tiles in rooms with moisture, you need to seal and maintain them. The tiles will naturally weather over time, Seymen says. Cement is more commonly used outdoors, she says, but it was the perfect fit for this indoor project.
Floor tile: Pacific Collection, Cement Tile Shop; full-length mirror: custom
Contractor: NRC Homes
See the rest of the home’s remodeled second floor
More
Read more bathroom design stories
Find a professional to help with your next project
Look for bathroom products and materials
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses this space: Parents of young children
Location: Seattle
Size: 175 square feet (16 square meters)
Designers: Jeffrey Pelletier, principal; Alev Seymen, project manager; and Ryan Adanalian, project associate, of Board & Vellum
A couple found their forever home after a long search in the competitive Seattle housing market. With one child and another on the way, these homeowners needed a place where they could comfortably raise their growing family.
The couple hired a team from Board & Vellum to make the second floor of their brick Tudor home more efficient and useful. Through smart design decisions that stayed true to the home’s character, the team transformed a dark attic closet into a fresh master bathroom that basks in the morning light.