This project was featured as Houzz Bath of the Week. Read the article here.

Project Story

Overlooking the Ellett Valley, this custom primary bathroom remodel in Blacksburg, Virginia, is a great example of how thoughtful bathroom remodel ideas can completely transform an underutilized space. The original bathroom, while large and full of potential, was broken up and underutilized with three tiny bathroom vanities in separate, random locations. A large, unused whirlpool jetted tub took up the majority of one side of the room, while a standard builder-grade fiberglass tub stood in the way of the opposite corner.

Knowing their bathroom had great potential, these homeowners were ready to start the design build process with our team to transform the space into their dream bathroom.

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Project Challenges

This bathroom remodel project faced two main challenges from the beginning. The first opportunity for improvement was determining how to lay out the space for a custom bathroom renovation that maximized the view, improved space usage, and accentuated the grandeur of the room. Additionally, the client had rough-sawn lumber that held sentimental value and wanted it incorporated into the project. We originally planned to build their cabinetry from the wood, but quickly realized they did not have enough material for the cabinet design.

The initial challenge in the new layout of the space was a large, intrusive beam that hung low from the ceiling, dividing the space into what felt like two unusable halves. This beam was heavy, and right away we began planning to vault the ceiling above it to open up the space. It wasn’t until the construction phase, when demolition had occurred, that our team was able to identify alternative framing methods that would allow us to completely remove the beam and design a vaulted ceiling. This required special framing techniques, a structural engineering evaluation, and some elbow grease, but at the end of the day, the final result was better than anyone could have hoped.

Additionally, the bathroom’s layout was maximized to prioritize the view of the valley floor below and symmetry to promote feelings of nature. Each detail in the project was designed with this theme in mind.

When it came time to get creative with the material sourced from their family farm, the plan became clear. We decided to order cabinetry that seamlessly blended with the natural tones of our live-edge wood material, which we would be using as trim details within the rest of the bathroom. Our team hand-selected pieces to use as live-edge shelves, window trims, and live-edge window sills, but the most prominent of all is the curved shower step.

The shower shape was designed to gently echo the curvature of the adjacent freestanding tub while promoting a low-barrier entry for ease of entrance. This meets the needs of the clients now and into the future while incorporating nature’s beauty and family heritage into a curved step trim used to frame the shower entrance.

The Solution & Project Features

The transformed primary bathroom is a bright, unified retreat that balances nature, spaciousness, and functionality. Every detail, from the vaulted ceiling and skylight to the handcrafted wood accents, was designed to echo the natural surroundings, honor family heritage, and deliver a space that functions in a timeless, efficient manner.

Project Features include:

Wet-room style shower
Tile shower with corner niche
Freestanding tub with tub filler
Natural-tone bath vanities
Quartz countertops
Live-edge slab trim
Great Northern Cabinetry
Vaulted ceiling design
Pella window replacement
VELUX skylight
SmartWings window shades

Custom Primary Bathroom Remodel

Project Story

The Solution & Project Features