Room of the Day: Water Leak Leads to Good Things in a Master Bath
Take a peek inside to see its new features, including a vaulted ceiling, a heated floor and lots of natural light
When bathroom water started leaking into their kitchen below, Eileen and Charlie Deschapelles decided to look on the bright side. They had a reason to remodel their 15-year-old master bathroom.
Eileen, an interior designer, started planning the new space and had a design ready within a week. “My husband jokes that this was the most expensive leak in history,” Eileen says, “but we wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Eileen, an interior designer, started planning the new space and had a design ready within a week. “My husband jokes that this was the most expensive leak in history,” Eileen says, “but we wouldn’t have it any other way!”
AFTER: A pocket door slides open to reveal a more spacious, fully remodeled bathroom. They opened up a 2-by-3-foot section of the hallway to give the bathroom a little more space and to add the pocket door.
Overhead, they opened unused attic space to create a vaulted ceiling, a move that required city approval. The ceiling was previously 8 feet high. Now it stretches up to 11½ feet.
Overhead, they opened unused attic space to create a vaulted ceiling, a move that required city approval. The ceiling was previously 8 feet high. Now it stretches up to 11½ feet.
This antique door came from a nearby house that was being torn down. A contractor working on the project told Eileen about the doors and offered to bring her one for free. “I was skeptical about the quality,” Eileen says, “but it was amazing.”
She then had most — but not all — of the painted stripped away by a local craftsman. They installed the door using a pocket door kit. Eileen also had the door sealed to protect the family from any lead paint that could have been left behind. “He said it had to be at least 150 years old,” she says. “It had layers and layers of paint. I just love the way it slides.”
She then had most — but not all — of the painted stripped away by a local craftsman. They installed the door using a pocket door kit. Eileen also had the door sealed to protect the family from any lead paint that could have been left behind. “He said it had to be at least 150 years old,” she says. “It had layers and layers of paint. I just love the way it slides.”
AFTER: The bathroom layout remains similar after the remodel. The shower still stands in the corner of the room. But instead of the glass shower walls stretching up to the ceiling, they end at about 8 feet, and open space continues up to the vaulted ceiling.
Raising the ceiling gave them the chance to add spray-in foam insulation, which has made the space warmer and almost soundproof. They also used the extra ceiling space to add a skylight.
Raising the ceiling gave them the chance to add spray-in foam insulation, which has made the space warmer and almost soundproof. They also used the extra ceiling space to add a skylight.
The couple added another window inside the shower. “That was my husband’s idea,” Eileen says. She didn’t think she was going to like the window and hesitated to add it. Today, it’s one of her favorite parts of the room. “You have privacy, but you still feel like you are up in the treetops,” she says.
A herringbone tile pattern flows into the shower. Underneath the tile, they added radiant floor heating designed to be safe for use in showers. It quickly heats up the space. “We only need to use it about seven months of the year,” Eileen says.
Super White paint: Benjamin Moore; Ash Gray floor tile (4 by 12 inches) and China White shower tile: Greenwich Tile & Marble; floor heating: Schluter Systems
A herringbone tile pattern flows into the shower. Underneath the tile, they added radiant floor heating designed to be safe for use in showers. It quickly heats up the space. “We only need to use it about seven months of the year,” Eileen says.
Super White paint: Benjamin Moore; Ash Gray floor tile (4 by 12 inches) and China White shower tile: Greenwich Tile & Marble; floor heating: Schluter Systems
Inside the shower, the couple had enough room to add a bench and a niche the same width as the window above.
The succulent, called string of bananas, thrives on its perch. “It’s as happy as a clam,” Eileen says.
Cascading Succulents Bring Fun Shapes to Your Indoor Garden
The succulent, called string of bananas, thrives on its perch. “It’s as happy as a clam,” Eileen says.
Cascading Succulents Bring Fun Shapes to Your Indoor Garden
The couple had a rain shower head before, and Charlie wanted that feature to stay. Water now rains down from the vaulted ceiling above.
Rain shower head, handheld shower head and faucet: One collection, Kallista
Rain shower head, handheld shower head and faucet: One collection, Kallista
AFTER: The sinks and cabinets line the same wall. When the Deschapelles opened up the hallway and added the pocket door, they gained 2 feet along the vanity wall. This allowed them to put in more storage.
Eileen chose to make the vanity float, and only the tall cabinet has legs. “I love the lightness it gives the room,” she says.
Overhead, a lantern commands the center of the room. Eileen had used a larger version of this lantern in an entryway in a client’s home and fell in love with the look. She added the medium size to the bathroom. “It ends up being a piece of sculpture,” she says. The lantern materials — polished nickel and frosted glass — continue on the wall sconces.
The couple also added outlets inside the mirrored medicine cabinets. This allows them to plug in things like hair dryers and to keep the countertop clutter-free.
High-gloss Marina Gray vanity paint: Benjamin Moore; sinks: Ronbow; medicine cabinets: Robern; Bradley wall sconces: Robert Abbey via Houzz; Morris lantern: Circa Lighting
Eileen chose to make the vanity float, and only the tall cabinet has legs. “I love the lightness it gives the room,” she says.
Overhead, a lantern commands the center of the room. Eileen had used a larger version of this lantern in an entryway in a client’s home and fell in love with the look. She added the medium size to the bathroom. “It ends up being a piece of sculpture,” she says. The lantern materials — polished nickel and frosted glass — continue on the wall sconces.
The couple also added outlets inside the mirrored medicine cabinets. This allows them to plug in things like hair dryers and to keep the countertop clutter-free.
High-gloss Marina Gray vanity paint: Benjamin Moore; sinks: Ronbow; medicine cabinets: Robern; Bradley wall sconces: Robert Abbey via Houzz; Morris lantern: Circa Lighting
Eileen went with a gray-and-white palette and clean lines because she wanted her bathroom to be a calming retreat. “I deal with color all day long,” she says, “and I wanted something more serene at home.”
Cabinet hardware: Klaffs
Cabinet hardware: Klaffs
Installing the vessel sinks with wall-mounted faucets provided the biggest challenge. “There is a lot of math there,” she says. “Thankfully my contractor had a lot of experience with them. If you are 1 or 2 inches off, it could be disastrous.”
Photo by Jane Beiles Photography
AFTER: With the tub removed, the couple could make the shower larger and add a console table, lamp and towel hooks. “It was a big decision for us to remove the tub,” she says. “But we decided to make the room for us and the way we live.”
Artwork: Andrea Bonfils
Contractor: Nelson S. Construction
Electrician: Expert Electric Co. of Port Chester, New York
More
Before and After: 6 Bathrooms That Said Goodbye to the Tub
Bathroom Workbook: Turn Your Shower Niche Into a Design Star
See more Rooms of the Day
AFTER: With the tub removed, the couple could make the shower larger and add a console table, lamp and towel hooks. “It was a big decision for us to remove the tub,” she says. “But we decided to make the room for us and the way we live.”
Artwork: Andrea Bonfils
Contractor: Nelson S. Construction
Electrician: Expert Electric Co. of Port Chester, New York
More
Before and After: 6 Bathrooms That Said Goodbye to the Tub
Bathroom Workbook: Turn Your Shower Niche Into a Design Star
See more Rooms of the Day
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut
Size: 130 square feet (12.1 square meters)
Designer: Eileen Deschapelles Interior Design
BEFORE: Eileen and Charlie Deschapelles and their three kids have lived in this house for 20 years, and Eileen did the last remodel of the bathroom 15 years ago. But now the shower in the corner leaked, causing water to drip down in the kitchen below. Eileen also thought the room was too tight. It had everything you see here, plus a tub on the left behind the door.