Isn’t that the feeling you should get when you think of home?
For ACo clients Sarah and Dave Smiley, joy was the last thing her lusterless primary bathroom brought. Yes, it worked. Yes, it was functional. Yes, they could make do. But bath time (or any other time) wasn’t exactly a trip to the spa. Sarah was ready to change that.
An ACo Primary Bathroom Remodel
When Sarah approached ACo about the possibility of a bathroom remodel, she didn’t know she was already part of the family. Years before – back when we were Affordable Kitchens and Bathrooms – she’d had a backsplash done, working with Amanda Wagoner, our Director of CAD. She’d had a great experience then, and once she realized we were the same team, Sarah knew ACo was the right choice for her project.
When she approached us, Sarah made it clear that she didn’t want to manage the project; she did enough of that at work. Instead, she was looking for someone who could do design and build all in one. With a vision in mind, Sarah needed someone to execute. Enter Design & Sales Consultant, Kim Trees. Kim specializes in creating purposeful and practical spaces that enhance clients’ lifestyles and well-being. With her transformational touch, Kim was the ideal fit for this remodel.
Before the TransformationThis primary bath was dark and drab. A built-in bathtub took up a lot of prime real estate, and a closed off shower further sapped the space of light. The vanity area, a big focus of the client’s remodeling goals, was not highly functional and lacked sufficient storage and organization. Features like cultured marble and travertine tile gave the bathroom a dated look that just didn’t align with the Smileys’ desire for a sleek, light, and airy experience.
As the primary bathroom, this space is utilized by the entire Smiley household, including their young children. Young children who love bathtime. Sarah wanted the space to be functional and convenient, of course, but also elegant and inviting. Kim says, “She had a vision. I knew from the get-go that it was going to be a fun project because she has amazing taste!”
A Design Inspired by Life To give this bathroom new life – and to ensure it aligned with Sarah’s design goals for her family’s life – ACo came up with several solutions that worked with the current layout. We removed the walls surrounding the shower space, replacing them with full glass panels on one side and a half wall on the other. This opened up the space between the tub and shower, letting light flow through the entire area.
The built-in tub also had to go; the new Fleurco Opus Arpeggio soaker tub makes an indulgent statement with its gold fixtures from Delta’s Tetra Collection (a personal favorite of Kim’s). Will the kids stop to admire the elegance? Probably not… But they do have a flat-screen, flush-mounted on the accent wall to entertain them during suds sessions. (Equally useful for the adults of the household!) What was once and aesthetic eyesore is now a spa-like indulgence of design.
Lightening the Mood One of Sarah’s main objectives for this project can be summed up as: Let there be light. Kim turned up the brilliance with a wood-look panel with slim vertical lines from Louisville Tile as an accent wall in the bath area, as well as in the shower. The light finish resembles oak and is designed for high-moisture areas.
We followed with Emser Tile’s Passion in Blanco for the shower. This is a sought-after choice for many homeowners – and for good reason: The muted white/off-white variegated color palette and natural texture softens the look of the tile, complementing the light wood-look perfectly. The look finishes strong with Top Knobs hardware in chic Honey Bronze.
No trip to the spa involves travertine countertops, so Kim, with Sarah’s guidance in mind, went with Calacatta Miraggio Gold Quartz from MSI. The crisp white background and refined gold veining makes the ultimate sophisticated statement, especially with the 4” mitered front.
What about the cramped, disorganized vanity/makeup area? It had a glow-up moment of its own. There is more storage, of course, and the storage is smarter. A pull-out drawer, for example features adjustable shelving to make it easy to organize and access all the essentials, as well as built-in electrical outlets for hairdryers, straighteners, and other tools and gadgets.
Kim says, “It’s absolutely beautiful. [The client] loves it. It’s a huge difference, much lighter, more open, and elegant.”
From Lackluster to Luxurious The Smiley’s bathroom delivers on all their functionality needs while elevating their experience. Turns out joy is a soaker tub in a light, airy space!
Whether you have a vision firmly in mind, like Sarah, or you are unsure of where to start, ACo approaches your project with a singular focus: What do you need from your space so you can live your life more efficiently, conveniently, and beautifully? Let’s go from there. Connect with ACo to discuss your upcoming remodel.
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