Before: Dated and Dingy
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Secondary baths are often overlooked. As long as the essentials are there—sink, toilet, tub—a family can make do for years. But when the vanity door in their son’s builder-grade bath came unhinged, Chip and Heidi Ridley knew it was time for an update, especially since the bath also served the nearby media room and guests.
Shown: The old bathroom’s sink area was crowded by doors to the bedroom, the closet, and the rest of the bath.
After: Bright New Look
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The couple called on designer Nicole Yee, who had previously redone the master bath of their Blackhawk, California, home. Yee first addressed access, creating a hallway vestibule between the bedroom and the bath, giving each room its own entry door.
Shown: Marble tile brightens the windowless space, and the large double vanity provides more storage.
Paint: Benjamin Moore’s Brewster Gray (cabinetry); Benjamin Moore’s Winter Orchard (wall). Vanity top: Caesarstone. Sinks, toilet: Kohler. Faucets, fittings, towel bars: California Faucets
Luxury Tile
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Inside the bath, Nicole removed the wall that isolated the sink area, and shifted the closet wall and doorway to allow for a double vanity and a wider tub. Carrara marble tiles with mosaic insets now refresh the tub wall and floor.
Shown: Large 24-by-12-inch marble tiles with a framed mosaic inset cover the tub walls. A 6-inch shelf keeps toiletries close.
Mosaic tile: Carrara and Thassos marble basketweave; TileBar.
Mosaic Runner
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Blue-gray built-in cabinetry stylistically connects the bath to the walk-in closet and establishes an attractive sight line as you enter.
Shown: A 20-inch-wide mosaic runner connects the bath to the walk-in closet. A built-in linen cupboard matches the style and color of the vanity for visual continuity.
Vanity, built-in wardrobe: Premier Glass & Cabinet, Manchester, CA. Lighting: Visual Comfort, Circa Lighting
Style and Function
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“It all came together, between what was needed functionally and then visually, too,” says Heidi. “It’s super-duper practical, but also a work of art.”
Shown: A favorite feature: the polished-nickel cabinet knobs with star backplates, which echo the mirror-mounted sconce.
Knobs: Schaub & Company
The Floor Plan: Before
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Before remodeling, the bathroom’s entry was directly off the bedroom, and three doors jammed up the sink area.
The Floor Plan: After
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In the remodeled space, a vestibule now serves as a buffer between bedroom and bath. One less wall allows for a double vanity and better flow overall.
Here’s how the work was done:
1. Moved the closet wall by about 2½ feet to boost the bath’s footprint by 23 square feet.
2. Installed a double vanity along the new wall to fit in more storage.
3. Built in a cupboard to match the vanity for a cohesive look.
4. Replaced a 30-inch tub with a 32-inch model that fills the alcove.
5. Moved the toilet away from the tub by 1 foot and removed the wall enclosing them.
6. Shifted doors to maximize floor space, with the bath door now opening onto a vestibule.
Designer: Nicole Yee, NY Interiors
Contractor: R. Da Silva Construction, Pleasant Hill, CA; 510-260-4888.
Homeowner Tip
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From Heidi Ridley of Blackhawk, CA:
“Plan for ample lighting, especially if you don’t have natural light. And put it all on dimmers!”