01 mosby masterbath

A stately 1928 home with classic architectural features had a master bathroom out of sorts with the rest of the home. Decades of remodels had removed much of its vintage charm. The size, layout and amenities didn’t meld with the couple’s modern lifestyle.

After living with this under-performing bathroom for 20 years, it was time for the homeowners to have a spacious private master bath that met their needs and matched the grandeur of the rest of their home.

02 mosby master bath before and after

Master Bathroom Design Requirements

The homeowners seldom used the tub, so wanted to trade it for a walk-in shower with bench seating. There was no need for a double sink vanity, but more storage was crucial, along with better lighting. They were open to using some of the space in an adjacent hallway closet to gain more bathroom space. The charming leaded glass arched window alcove must remain. And finally, the couple longed for a beautiful space that fit the home’s architecture, but would also feel like visiting a luxury hotel every time they walked through the door.

Master Bathroom Design Solutions

The original plaster walls and cement floors of older homes can be construction limitations. To make major remodel changes, the room was dismantled down to the stud walls and subfloor, and rebuilt with waterproof backing board and drywall after new framing for storage closets and the shower were completed.

03a mosby master bath during and after

It was decided to keep all plumbing lines where they were to avoid the costs of relocating pipes, so the toilet, sink and shower would occupy the same positions. This created the parameters to design within.

By co-opting about 1.5 feet from the adjacent closet, the Mosby designers enlarged the space from 64 to 70 square feet. This extra space allowed for a spacious walk-in shower with bench seating at one end of the rectangular room. The original angled window niche remains at the opposite end of the room, but is now framed by an arched wall with a storage closet and a new radiator cover with a marble top.

On the long wall between the shower and window is maple cabinetry custom designed and built for the space, compromised of a furniture-like vanity with a top-mount white Kohler sink flanked by a pair of floor to ceiling towers.

Adding to the extra storage is another storage closet with a flush door on the wall across from the vanity, next to the glass shower door. The couple now has the delightful job of finding things to fill up all the drawers and shelves they now have in their master bathroom.

Their need for more lighting is met with a pair of sconce lights on either side of mirror for task lighting, and dimmer switch canister lights in the ceiling for the entire length of the room.

04 mosby master bath before and after

With the physical requirements met, it was time to realize the look of the bathroom based on their desire for beauty and luxury. And the most classic way to convey 1920s luxury is marble, marble everywhere!

The flooring is a black and white basket weave marble tile with a wide black marble border, and even the floor base is made of honed marble. The vanity countertop is a soft gray and white Carrara marble (which is also in the window niche). The shower uses the same basket weave tile for the floor, and the walls and built-in bench seat are of 3”x6” Statuary honed marble in gray and white patterns.

A design detail that subtlety boosts the 1920s design aesthetic are the shiny brass fixtures in the shower, the sink faucet, even the hinges and pulls on cabinets and doors. They read like sparkling bracelets and earrings inside the marble jewelry box, lending a unique glamour to their bathroom.

See additional photos of this new master bathroom in an old home.

Mosby’s certified designers and skillful carpenters can bring your bathroom ideas to life. Learn more about their St. Louis bathroom remodeling services. And to get started, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.