This bathroom is teeny tiny, and we couldn't change the original footprint. But using quality materials and light finishes made it feel new and bright, and perfectly suited to the elegance of the house. Beveled white tile, lots of Carrara marble, polished nickel fixtures, and period sconces all played a role in this spectacular facelift.

A marble tile "carpet" is used to add a unique look to this stunning master bathroom. This custom designed and built home was constructed by Meadowlark Design+Build in Ann Arbor, MI. Photos by John Carlson.

Jessica Glynn

Small attic bathroom with white vanity, quartz countertop, subway tile shower, patterned hex tile floor and grey walls

Subway tiles with pattern design. Vinyl plank flooring wood look.

This traditional renovation project by our Lafayette studio was a joy to work on. The entryway sets the tone with its grandeur and sophistication, boasting a warm and welcoming ambiance that's perfect for greeting guests. The bedrooms are peaceful retreats, featuring a cozy and comfortable atmosphere ideal for rest and relaxation. The family room exudes elegance and charm, creating a space that's ideal for both entertaining and unwinding. The dining room is designed for gathering with loved ones, with its tasteful decor and comfortable seating. The bathrooms, with luxurious amenities and a serene atmosphere, promotes relaxation and rejuvenation. The kitchen is a chef's dream, with its top-of-the-line appliances, high-quality finishes, and ample counter space for meal prep. The laundry room is both functional and stylish, making this household task a breeze. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply spending a cozy night in, this traditional renovation project has everything you need to live comfortably and luxuriously. --- Project by Douglah Designs. Their Lafayette-based design-build studio serves San Francisco's East Bay areas, including Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Danville, Alamo Oaks, Diablo, Dublin, Pleasanton, Berkeley, Oakland, and Piedmont. For more about Douglah Designs, click here: http://douglahdesigns.com/

Design Assistant - Zach Degnan

The design is a modern take on the traditional men’s club style by blending deep dark brown walls and dark blue accent pieces with organic and linen textiles to brighten up the space. The final touch is artwork with meaning and intent. Truly a space to unwind and re-charge.

A new master bath with an extra-large walk-in shower and gorgeous oversized custom furniture grade double vanity sits right outside a brand new home gym

One of three bathrooms in the home, this one features a polished counter and charcoal grey floor tiles. Tucking the toilet behind a wall offers some privacy. Mounting the vanity light so that the lights shine upwards bounces light off the white ceiling and reduces shadows on the face when using the mirror.

Specialty cabinetry manages all of the storage needs. Design and construction by Meadowlark Design+Build. Photography by Sean Carter

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

Re fresh of hall bath in 1898 home