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Sweet Retreat
Hotel-inspired design makes this remodeled
master bath feel like a vacation getaway.
DESIGN BY LINDA WHITCOMB
CONSTRUCTION BY VILLAGE KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN
TEXT BY RACHEL ARROYO
COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE VIERRA
Travel has the power to give new perspective. It can make the old look new or the old look, well, old. The latter was the case for the owners of this 20-year-old Centerville home. With experiences of upscale hotels fresh in their minds, they realized their old master bathroom needed an update.
After 14 years of ownership—and many travel destinations later—these homeowners decided to give their second-floor master bathroom a whole new look. With the help of Village Kitchen & Bath Design in Hyannis, they were able to create a bathroom that fit their needs and wishes. The atmosphere of the new bathroom is what designer Linda Whitcomb describes as “simplicity, comfort and luxury”—exactly what the owners wanted.
To achieve this goal, space, lighting and style were addressed. Originally segmented, the floor plan was opened up by removing the doorway separating the toilet and shower from the vanity, mirror and only source of natural light: the 12-over-12 double-hung window. The owner mused she often felt as if she were taking a shower in a dark and dreary cave. The removal of the doorway accomplished two goals: it opened up the floor plan, creating a large, continuous space of 10 by 17 feet, which instantly made the bathroom more comfortable and visually appealing. And it allowed for more natural light, creating a brighter, more vibrant space.
The very same shower that was once the source of dark and dreary discontent was then transformed into a completely customized, upscale version of itself. A glass-enclosed shower with a large European-style showerhead opens up the bathroom by creating a continuous space easily permeated by light. Marble, as well as the neoclassical accents, such as the simple leaf design on the recessed soap holder and handmade cast-concrete decorative tiles on the wall caps in the shower, add elegance and refinement.
The shower is the apotheosis of luxury, but the newly installed window is the owners’ favorite part of the bathroom remodel. The original was the typical two-foot double-hung window. The new window can best be described as an elliptical window combination, which easily lets in twice as much light—with twice as much style. Whitcomb says she chose the window design because “it brings the outside into the bathroom space and gives it a luxurious, retreat-like feel.” The addition of the specialty window does create the illusion of a larger space. And the non-traditional shape is aesthetically interesting.
The diagonal installation of glazed monochromatic tile is yet another way of optimizing space and style. By installing tile diagonally, the space appears greater than it really is. A monochromatic tile scheme, in this instance designed to look like stone, also produces a visually larger space. The tile choice complements the marble and handmade tiles in the shower.
The theme of “simplicity, comfort and luxury” trickles its way over to the vanity design. The black granite countertop and under-mount sink allow for a flat, continuous counter surface, which makes for easier cleaning. The vanity ties in with the shower and echoes the stone-inspired floor tiling to create a cohesive vision.
The mirror is similarly designed to increase space and style. A retractable makeup mirror is affixed to the left-center of the full-sized mirror. This on-the-spot customization gives the bathroom a sleeker, more finished look, while having obvious functional benefits.
The cabinet rests on legs, placing it off the floor. The cabinet legs free up space and decorate with sophistication. An electrical outlet was built into the cabinet drawer to give the owners the ability to keep a blow dryer plugged in and accessible at all times without taking up precious counter space.
The owners say they are “very satisfied” with their bathroom remodel. With the expertise of Village Kitchen & Bath Design, their goal of creating a comfortable, luxurious retreat was accomplished in six weeks.
Whitcomb, who says she likes to “educate the consumer in the product and the process,” views this as a fruitful collaboration between client and company in keeping with the Village Kitchen & Bath Design motto: “We design each project as personal as our customer’s signature.”
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The very same shower that was once the source of dark and dreary discontent was then transformed into a completely customized, upscale version of itself. A glass-enclosed shower with a large European-style showerhead opens up the bathroom by creating a continuous space easily permeated by light. Marble, as well as the neoclassical accents, such as the simple leaf design on the recessed soap holder and handmade cast-concrete decorative tiles on the wall caps in the shower, add elegance and refinement.
The theme of “simplicity, comfort and luxury” trickles its way over to the vanity design. The black granite countertop and under-mount sink allow for a flat, continuous counter surface, which makes for easier cleaning. The vanity ties in with the shower and echoes the stone-inspired floor tiling to create a cohesive vision. 
