A Modern Farmhouse Bath for a Couple’s Forever Home
A better layout, an improved shower, and new cabinetry, lighting and flooring refresh the room
Erin Carlyle
September 30, 2017
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
Photos by Brianne Ippolito of Zoon Photography
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of six
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Size: 90 square feet (8 square meters)
Project cost: US$28,500
Designers: Knight Custom Homes and Live Well Interiors
The backstory: The owners of this 1970s house in Calgary, Alberta, intended for this to be their forever home. The home had been updated over the years. This bathroom remodel is part of a recent renovation of the whole home.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of six
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Size: 90 square feet (8 square meters)
Project cost: US$28,500
Designers: Knight Custom Homes and Live Well Interiors
The backstory: The owners of this 1970s house in Calgary, Alberta, intended for this to be their forever home. The home had been updated over the years. This bathroom remodel is part of a recent renovation of the whole home.
Before
Layout: Prior to the renovation, there was a large walk-in shower that was tiled halfway up but lacked glass. The toilet was next to a full-length window that faced the neighboring property, making privacy a concern. The homeowners did not care for the room’s finishes.
After
Layout: Since the square footage of the room was sufficient, Neal Ganske, co-owner with his wife, Natalie, of Knight Custom Homes, worked within the existing space, focusing on making it more inviting and functional. The builder moved the window to a more pragmatic location between the two sinks in the double vanity and relocated the toilet to the opposite corner of the room (not shown in these photos) behind a half wall, adding privacy to this zone.
Layout: Prior to the renovation, there was a large walk-in shower that was tiled halfway up but lacked glass. The toilet was next to a full-length window that faced the neighboring property, making privacy a concern. The homeowners did not care for the room’s finishes.
After
Layout: Since the square footage of the room was sufficient, Neal Ganske, co-owner with his wife, Natalie, of Knight Custom Homes, worked within the existing space, focusing on making it more inviting and functional. The builder moved the window to a more pragmatic location between the two sinks in the double vanity and relocated the toilet to the opposite corner of the room (not shown in these photos) behind a half wall, adding privacy to this zone.
“The walk-in shower with frameless glass became the focal point instead of the eyesore, with a huge linen closet in the space beside it,” Natalie says. You can see the built-in linen closet just to the left of the shower in this photo.
Style: The builders gave this bathroom a modern farmhouse look. This style can encompass a range of features, but generally it has a relaxed vibe. In different combinations, this style blends traditional farmhouse elements with modern features.
“I believe vintage and schoolhouse-style lighting, furniture that’s been repurposed — for example, dressers made into vanities — and using pieces that tell a story rather than match the look of the space, are all great keys to creating a traditional farmhouse style,” Natalie says. “The modern farmhouse style brings a crisp and updated approach, with the intention of the same comfortable and ‘homey’ vibe in any space.”
For Natalie, a modern farmhouse look means a neutral and calming color palette, Shaker-style cabinetry, natural woods and industrial-style lighting. She also likes to use tile on the floor or the backsplash for a wow factor.
Shower: As this photo shows, two sides of the shower are covered in what looks like shiplap — which might make you wonder how it stays dry. “Our designer got creative with the shower tile, and instead of doing a typical subway layout with the tiles surrounding the herringbone feature, she chose to lay them more sporadically to create a shiplap look there as well.” The designer is Susan DeRidder of Live Well Interiors in Calgary.
Floors: As a bonus feature, the builders added heated floors beneath the wood-look tiles.
Flooring: Wood series 6-by-40-inch porcelain tile in gray, Euro Ceramic Tile; shower floor tiles: dark gray hexagon tile in gloss finish, Olympia Tile; shower wall tile (shiplap style): Colour & Dimension series 6-by-24-inch tile in Arctic white, Olympia Tile; herringbone tile detail: Colour & Dimension series 3-by-6-inch tile in Arctic white, Olympia Tile; all plumbing fixtures (shower, sinks): Delta Faucet; find wood-look floor tiles
Shaker Style Still a Cabinetry Classic
Style: The builders gave this bathroom a modern farmhouse look. This style can encompass a range of features, but generally it has a relaxed vibe. In different combinations, this style blends traditional farmhouse elements with modern features.
“I believe vintage and schoolhouse-style lighting, furniture that’s been repurposed — for example, dressers made into vanities — and using pieces that tell a story rather than match the look of the space, are all great keys to creating a traditional farmhouse style,” Natalie says. “The modern farmhouse style brings a crisp and updated approach, with the intention of the same comfortable and ‘homey’ vibe in any space.”
For Natalie, a modern farmhouse look means a neutral and calming color palette, Shaker-style cabinetry, natural woods and industrial-style lighting. She also likes to use tile on the floor or the backsplash for a wow factor.
Shower: As this photo shows, two sides of the shower are covered in what looks like shiplap — which might make you wonder how it stays dry. “Our designer got creative with the shower tile, and instead of doing a typical subway layout with the tiles surrounding the herringbone feature, she chose to lay them more sporadically to create a shiplap look there as well.” The designer is Susan DeRidder of Live Well Interiors in Calgary.
Floors: As a bonus feature, the builders added heated floors beneath the wood-look tiles.
Flooring: Wood series 6-by-40-inch porcelain tile in gray, Euro Ceramic Tile; shower floor tiles: dark gray hexagon tile in gloss finish, Olympia Tile; shower wall tile (shiplap style): Colour & Dimension series 6-by-24-inch tile in Arctic white, Olympia Tile; herringbone tile detail: Colour & Dimension series 3-by-6-inch tile in Arctic white, Olympia Tile; all plumbing fixtures (shower, sinks): Delta Faucet; find wood-look floor tiles
Shaker Style Still a Cabinetry Classic
Before
Here is a look at the bath prior to the renovation. Note that the layout changed during the remodel. As this photo shows, there was no window between the vanity sinks.
Here is a look at the bath prior to the renovation. Note that the layout changed during the remodel. As this photo shows, there was no window between the vanity sinks.
After
Here’s a look at the new vanity wall after renovation.
Feature wall: Gray shiplap brings a modern feeling to the space.
Mirrors: These frames feature reclaimed barn wood, adding another farmhouse touch.
Cabinetry: This was a custom design from a local cabinetmaker, and as mentioned previously, the Shaker style helps cement the modern farmhouse look.
Cabinet pulls: The homeowners selected cabinetry hardware with a black finish, adding a dose of contrast to the room. Similarly, the dark shower floor and gray feature wall also add contrasting notes.
Cabinets: custom, Marvel Cabinetry; countertops: TCE Stone 1196 quartz, King’s Stones & Granite; sinks: American Standard; cabinet hardware: Top Knobs, from Banbury Lane; barn-wood mirrors: Two Birds Furniture; main wall paint: Stonington Gray HC-170, Benjamin Moore; shiplap paint: Barnwood CSP-115, Benjamin Moore; find bathroom vanities
Here’s a look at the new vanity wall after renovation.
Feature wall: Gray shiplap brings a modern feeling to the space.
Mirrors: These frames feature reclaimed barn wood, adding another farmhouse touch.
Cabinetry: This was a custom design from a local cabinetmaker, and as mentioned previously, the Shaker style helps cement the modern farmhouse look.
Cabinet pulls: The homeowners selected cabinetry hardware with a black finish, adding a dose of contrast to the room. Similarly, the dark shower floor and gray feature wall also add contrasting notes.
Cabinets: custom, Marvel Cabinetry; countertops: TCE Stone 1196 quartz, King’s Stones & Granite; sinks: American Standard; cabinet hardware: Top Knobs, from Banbury Lane; barn-wood mirrors: Two Birds Furniture; main wall paint: Stonington Gray HC-170, Benjamin Moore; shiplap paint: Barnwood CSP-115, Benjamin Moore; find bathroom vanities
Lighting: DeRidder, the interior designer, picked out these rustic Edison bulb sconces, which add to the room’s farmhouse feel.
Walls moved: No
Plumbing moved: Yes
Plumbing replaced: Yes
Also on the team: Powersource Electrical, MDR Plumbing & Gasfitting, Eye Create (painters), Charles Daniel Tile & Stone
Lighting: Lamson three-light vanity light by Trent Austin Design
More
5 Ways with a Modern Farmhouse Bathroom
11 Modern Farmhouses That Could Make You Want to Change Your Life
Walls moved: No
Plumbing moved: Yes
Plumbing replaced: Yes
Also on the team: Powersource Electrical, MDR Plumbing & Gasfitting, Eye Create (painters), Charles Daniel Tile & Stone
Lighting: Lamson three-light vanity light by Trent Austin Design
More
5 Ways with a Modern Farmhouse Bathroom
11 Modern Farmhouses That Could Make You Want to Change Your Life
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Your Work Is Simply Beautiful!
Just to bad we are so far away - you in Canada and I am in the USA! I Could not help not browse your site, just to find your work is truly crafeted to perfection! I have 25 years in the industry "not easy" to be a female running a construction business yet, through the years I have learned that I can be very strong! God bless you all as family in business...
Love Love the modern farmhouse bathroom. We recently remodeled our powder room in a farmhouse style - we love it! https://happyhautehome.com/2016/11/22/blog-post-title/