WHEN SUSAN GOFF AND HER HUSBAND, Boyd, purchased their two-story traditional Derwood, Maryland home back in 1994, they considered the place to be livable–at least for the time being. “It was built in 1985 so it really was in move-in condition,” says Goff. “I never cared for the pink master bathroom, though, but a remodel was such a major investment that we just decided to live with it.”
But by 2007, the couple felt the room needed to be updated–and they wanted the space to reflect their interests and better suit their needs. “We travel a lot,” says Goff, “and we really wanted our master bath to be more spa-like, with cool, refreshing colors that were more masculine than the pink.”
Designer Gina Fitzsimmons, owner of Fitzsimmons Design Associates in Annapolis, Maryland, had been working with the pair on remodeling many other rooms in the home and was thrilled they were finally tackling the bathroom space.
“It was dated, dated, and more dated,” she jokes, recalling the pink rosebud wallpaper, brass hardware, and Corian countertops. “My goal was to transform it into a serene, ethereal space that my clients would still like ten years from now.”For a more functional layout, Fitzsimmons began with structural changes that included relocating the toilet to where the original shower had been placed and enclosing it for privacy. To brighten this new water closet, she added a recessed window panel with frosted glass to allow both the natural and artificial light to penetrate.
A palm-leaf panel and shadowboxed seashells from Details of Design in Annapolis, Maryland are important details that remind the homeowners of their favorite, relaxing travel destinations. Hung on the wall adjacent to the vanity, they complement the coastal hues of the tiles and cabinetry.
The designer also pivoted the whirlpool tub and outfitted it with a hand-blown glass waterfall spout to make room for a new glass-enclosed shower complete with handheld and wall-mounted sprayer, bench, and recessed niche for shampoos and soaps. Fitzsimmons situated the new arrangement so that the original two skylights were still centrally positioned over the new configuration. There is also a set of French doors in the room that leads to the pool in the backyard, and thanks to the new layout, anyone taking a soak can appreciate the view.
Because of the ample natural light, “I don’t ever have to turn on the lights during the day,” says Goff. To make the space just as bright at night, Fitzsimmons incorporated plenty of recessed and mounted lighting fixtures into the design.
The stall for the bathroom's original shower provided the structure for a water closet, which designer Gina Fitzsimmons had constructed to provide privacy for the homeowners.
a combination of brown, green and beige hues–she found while vacationing in Boca Raton, Florida, and presented it to the designer, who also liked the idea of green because it flowed nicely with the faux-finished mint-green treatment on the walls of the adjoining master bedroom. To complement the vanity’s frosted-glass inserts, chrome hardware, and oatmeal-speckled Silestone countertop, Fitzsimmons selected sea-glass-colored glass mosaic tiles for the backsplash as well as for an accent stripe between the sandy-hued travertine molding, and installed them just below the putty-colored crown molding, which was painted to match the cabinets and walls.
The designer was also mindful of how the homeowners planned to use the space. Although the previous vanity provided storage, it did not allow for maximum efficiency and organization. The newly installed unit’s center cabinet houses three shelves, ideal for keeping things like makeup and lotion bottles at eye level; plus, the built-in cubby is perfect for spare towels.
Although Fitzsimmons chose 12-inch square travertine tiles for the floor and shower walls, she opted for a combination of travertine and Carrera marble mosaics for the shower’s floor. “The smaller tiles make the surface less slippery,” she explains.
But it is perhaps the personal touches that allow the Goffs to feel like they’ve escaped the hustle and bustle without ever leaving their home. “They both really like the beach, plus the ocean definitely helps create that feeling of being at a spa,” says Fitzsimmons, who incorporated accent tiles in the shower imprinted with shells and sea anemone, along with the palm-leaf panel and shadow-boxed shells hanging on the wall.
Goff and her husband could not be more pleased with the outcome. “My favorite part of the remodel is that now when I am in the shower I can see through the French doors all the way to the petunias blooming near the pool house. It is like being outdoors in the garden,” she says. “I am just tickled pink.” She bursts out laughing, “I guess I shouldnĂt say pink…I just love it!”
Kelli Rosen is a frequent contributor to ChesapeakeHome.
Contact:
Fitzsimmons Design Associates: fitzsimmonsdesign.com or 410-269-1965
