Bathing Beauty

A dated master bathroom gets a contemporary renovation without sacrificing the home’s classic good looks.

The master bathroom—with outdated details like white marble tile, forest green accent bands, and old-school brass fixtures—of this home desperately needed an update. “The homeowners kept saying they wanted something more contemporary and transitional,” says Jennifer DesJardins, principal designer at Denver-based Motif Design Solutions. “But the rest of the home is very traditional, so it still needed to relate.” She designed a contemporary space that fits within traditional guidelines. Here, we take a tour.

1. SHOWER The shower features an eyebrow arch at its entrance, echoing similar arches on the home’s exterior.

2. LIGHTING For an elegant accent to highlight the sink area, DesJardins chose a wire mesh chandelier with crystal detail (available at DesJardins’ Motif Boutique). The Visionaire Evening Shadow tile from Design Materials Inc. ($40 to $45 per square foot) adds sparkle without going over the top.

3. WALLS Forgoing classic white paint for wainscoting and trim, Des-Jardins went on-trend with gray (Benjamin Moore Cabot Trail). The lighter Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige creates a warm contrast on the walls.

4. SPACE The goal was to reconfigure a choppy floor plan dominated by a large tub set at a diagonal. DesJardins simplified and squared off. A corridor runs the length of the bathroom, separating a walk-in closet from the rest of the bath, with linen storage at either end. The toilet is hidden with a sliding pocket door.

5. VANITIES The traditional, espresso-stained vanities add a strong pop of color, while their more transitional raised-panel doors with clean lines keep the look fresh. Square, undermount Kohler Memoirs sinks have a contemporary shape with traditional flourishes.