Take a Dated Master Bath from Ho-Hum to Holy Cow

If you’re anything like me, then you’re a busy person. I use a daily calendar. In fact, I have four of them (one on my desk at work, one on my work laptop, one I carry around, and one at home).

On this particular morning my calendar indicated it was going to be a busy one. I had not one, but two house calls scheduled before noon. The sun was still rising in the clear, cloudless sky as I headed towards my first appointment in Punta Gorda, a premier boating and fishing destination on Florida’s southwest coast. Considered by many to be one of Florida’s last remaining tropical small towns, Punta Gorda’s charming and thriving downtown still features cobblestone streets, lined with royal palm trees and gas street lamps contributed by the town’s earliest settlers.

Shortly after I passed Fishermen’s Village my trusty GPS told me to take a left turn on Bal Harbor Blvd. Further up the boulevard I was directed to turn right on Aqui Esta Drive. Majestic tall palm trees lined the street. Next turn was on Socorro Drive. As soon as I reached this street I drove slowly on the opposite side of the road. I wanted to give a dog walker and her three greyhounds the right of way. The dogs’ skinny bodies looked as if someone held them at both ends and stretched them to near breaking point. The dogs were tall, long, and very lean. The dogs seemed to be in a rush to get to a park…or wherever they were headed. They appeared to be walking their human, and not what we expect as the reverse. In their excitement and anticipation of getting to the park, the stride went from a walk to a trot. I slowed the company vehicle so I could observe the sleek and streamlined dogs, full of excitement. They darted left, then right, and then crisscrossed in front of the equally trim dog walker.

I arrived at my destination with minutes to spare. The homeowner let me inside and led me to a bathroom. She said she wanted to replace only the 60-inch countertop in this large master bath. She planned to keep her existing cabinets and hardware. She also mentioned she was price shopping. I took measurements and left my business card. I told the homeowner I would be back in touch within a couple of days. Then I left.

Heading back to the showroom, I encountered the greyhounds and walker, once again. Once more, I drove at a snail’s pace on the opposite side of the road. The three dogs were clearly in charge. A leash looped securely wrapped around the walker’s wrist while with her other hand she held a firm grip on another six-foot leash. The dogs walked with their heads held up high, confidently, in control, and in step. Follow the leader. Walking is supposed to be a great exercise. Am I right?   

When I returned to my desk at the showroom, I only had a couple of hours before it was time for me to leave again. For the second time that morning, I put the street address information in my Garmin GPS. I soon crossed the Barron Collier Bridge that crosses the Peace River connecting Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, Florida. After I passed Fishermen’s Village my trusty GPS told me to take a left turn on Bal Harbor Blvd. Further up the boulevard I was directed to turn right on Aqui Esta Drive. Hmm…I thought. These streets are the very ones I was on two hours earlier. Another turn was on Socorro Drive. Hmm…! At first, I thought I might have punched in the wrong address. But as it turned out my second destination was on a totally different street than my previous appointment. Whew, I thought. I gathered my purse and work-related items before I locked my vehicle. I rang the doorbell when I reached the front door. Promptly, the front door swung wide open.

The dog walker and her three greyhounds greeted me. Amazing, right?!?! I know!!

I was invited into a beautiful tropical waterfront home, complete with a pool. The home is just minutes to Charlotte Harbor and then on to the Gulf of Mexico. I entered this home into a spacious great room, open and bright with soaring volume ceilings. As Marilyn led the way toward two bathrooms, I was surrounded by curious deer. At least that’s what the retired racing greyhounds reminded me of. Everywhere we went, the greys followed.

Eventually, Marilyn and her husband, Bradley hired us to transform their two bathrooms. Let’s take a quick tour, shall we? First, the original master bathroom had good bones, so it didn’t need any structural changes. It was open and spacious with a large corner bathtub, a shower, and “his” and “her” vanities. Unfortunately, as many positives as there were for this bathroom, it was still very much out of date. The goal was to refresh the aesthetic of the bathroom with a clean, modern look and streamline the features to really take advantage of all this bathroom had to offer.

Now, the room is a billion times better looking than before. Across from the ‘Hers’ vanity is, of course, ‘His’ vanity. It’s smaller in size but is otherwise a replica of ‘Hers’ vanity in its design and features. Consistency is an important design element when it comes to creating a cohesive, uniform look. The built-in tub is a dramatic focal point. The showstopper is the tub skirt that consists of functioning wood cabinet doors, providing easy access should the plumbing need to be serviced. The raised-panel design created a custom built-in look that matches the new vanity cabinets. Immersing in this tub full of warm water (bubbles, scented oil and music optional) could be like a mini-vacation away from the cares of the world. It’s amazing what a difference an updated color scheme and some streamlined changes can make! The same color schemes were used in the guest bath, too.