An atmosphere of indulgence coupled with a spa-like feeling brings new beauty to this newly-remodeled metro area master suite.
Story by Ann Butenas | Photos by Paul Bonnichsen
While most of us would prefer that what happens in the bathroom stays in the bathroom, this casual yet subtly luxurious master bathroom is begging to tell a story. What began as a leak from the shower into the dining room below transitioned to not just a bathroom makeover but an overall master suite remodel.
“We had always talked about redoing our master bedroom,” stated the homeowner. “And that leak is what ultimately made us get the job done.”
Interesting to this particular remodeling endeavor was its focus on what to do with too much space. The footprint of the master bedroom essentially was too large for its overall purpose, so with some strategic planning and creative insight, this master suite soon took on a whole new appeal.
After partnering with owner Randall Sisk and designer Genevieve Hamel of Kitchens by Kleweno, the homeowners were ready to basically start from scratch and watch their dreams come true.
“The footprint of the space remained the same, but the entire bedroom and bathroom was torn down to the studs,” noted the homeowner, who credits Sisk and Hamel for expertly taking the homeowners’ wishes in mind while simultaneously incorporating some of their own suggestions into the plan.
“The homeowners had a definite color scheme in mind and we helped them take it from there,” expressed Hamel.
Taking its former traditional style from when the home was built in 1999 and upgrading it to something more modern/contemporary took some sweat equity, but the end result will truly make one want to sing in the shower.
“Thankfully, there is no more carpet in the bathroom anymore,” laughed the homeowner, who now appreciates the luxurious marble flooring and accompanying marble shower, which is a show-stopper in and of itself, as one wall of the shower is a full slab of marble that spoke to the homeowners from the minute they laid eyes on it.
“They chose this Calcutta gold marble slab for its beauty without interruption,” explained Sisk. Adding to the elegance of the space is the exotic veneer of the vanities, which boast a subtle horizontal grain and simple yet confident accentuating hardware.
In addition to removing the old carpet in the bathroom, the oversized tub was also removed to make room for new “his” and “hers” vanities, two linen closets, a storage closet and two water closets, also “his” and “hers”!
By adding more real estate to the space by maximizing the overall square footage of the entire suite, the designers were able to create three times more storage in the closet with the addition of glass-enclosed shelving for purses and shoes; a dresser area; and a bench with additional drawers underneath for storage. Even the layout of the lighting creates a feeling of additional space, as within the master closet is a round portal that essentially shafts light through the ceiling.
“This made a huge difference for the homeowners in terms of the lighting in the closet,” explained Sisk. “The three round sky lights installed through the attic to the roof allow for significant brightness until night time.”
The bedroom also enjoyed its new makeover, as the old carpet was removed and hardwood floors were installed, complementing the new wooden beams on the ceiling.
“I actually got the idea for the wooden beams from an article I previously saw in Kansas City Homes & Style,” commented the homeowner, who indicated both the bathroom and bedroom ceilings were reconfigured to accommodate the new design.
In place of the traditional ceiling fan hangs an orb-like light fixture for an extra layer of contemporary elegance. The gas fireplace opposite the bed is framed with a contrast of smooth and textured stone.
By reducing the square footage of the master bedroom, the designers were effectively able to incorporate an office area, which is accessed by a pocket door to the left of the bed, offering not only ease of entry but also complete privacy for those late nights of pouring over professional documents for work.
“The homeowner wanted a private escape to do research for work,” said Sisk, who added a gas fireplace in the office which is framed by dry stack stone to complement the fireplace in the master bedroom. The dual computer monitors hanging above the glass top desk cover the recesses in the wall behind them that allow for telescoping the monitors and moving them about while still allowing them to remain flush to the wall.
A decided team effort, when the homeowners requested a reconfiguration of the extra-large space at the beginning, Kitchens by Kleweno delivered a solution that promises to bring years of enjoyment to the homeowners.
“We really enjoy using our master suite now,” smiled the homeowner.
