REFRESH

“Alabaster” by SherwinWilliams

BEFORE & AFTER A New Shine

Katie Grace Designs updates a master bath with pattern, polish, and practicality

BEFORE

WRITER TIFFANY ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHER RETT PEEK

BEFORE

Making a room feel larger doesn’t necessarily have to be about added square footage. When designer Katie Rees came to this project, the owners wanted their bathroom to feel more spacious and open but knew it still had some functionality that worked well for them. “We were able to keep the footprint of the bath, but open it up to make it feel like a completely new space,” Katie says.

For starters, she tackled a formerly dark and seemingly cramped shower. “The homeowners said they felt like they were showering in a cave,” Katie laughs. Without changing its size or shape, she knocked out the existing sheetrock and installed frameless glass to invite light into the space. She also added a second showerhead along the back wall, creating a true double shower. A bench and handheld shower nozzle with a slide bar also improved functionality.

At the vanity, a single sink and step-down surface for applying makeup were traded for dual sinks. This change not only gave each homeowner a designated space but also simplified the overall appearance, allowing the backsplash tile to become a focal point. “This accent tile was the starting point for the entire design,” Katie says, noting it is paired with three other gray-and-white marbles in the room to create separate areas, all with a cohesive flow. Classic polished nickel fixtures and shapely mirrors complete the design.

BEFORE

“The tile is the star of the show, and we kept everything else understated to allow it to stand out.”

—Katie Rees, designer

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UP THE WALL A marble geometric tile was the starting point for the entire bath and delivers instant style to both the vanity and shower.

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TRADITIONAL TREND Brizo’s “Tresa” bridge-style faucet brings a classic, feminine shape to the vanity that complements the oval motif in the backsplash.

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EASY ON THE EYES A double sconce offers extra task lighting at the dual vanity. Its clear arms adhere to the design and give an unobstructed view of the backsplash.

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SLIDER SOLUTION A slider bar in the shower allows the user to adjust the spray nozzle to his or her preferred height, a feature that also proves to be useful when bathing pets and cleaning the space.

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Design Resources INTERIOR DESIGN Katie Rees, Katie Grace Designs ACCESSORIES, LIGHTING, AND MIRRORS Katie Grace Designs COUNTERTOPS AND TILE Inside Effects HARDWARE AND MILLWORK Duke Custom Cabinets PAINTING G&G Painting