McCamy Construction

Renovated Riverbend Bathroom Goes From Dated To Daring

Thursday, February 28th, 2019

When a young couple bought a 24-year-old house in the Riverbend neighborhood in 1999, they knew they would eventually want to renovate the carpeted master bathroom. But with four young children to raise and busy careers, both as pediatricians, the bathroom sufficed as it was while the years flew by. Last August, however, the couple decided that the time had come to transition from a master bathroom that “would do” to one that would wow them. The old bathroom had a small shower and a large bathtub, which the couple never used. They wanted a larger shower, no tub, and also wondered if some of the tub space could be used to expand the small closet space in their bedroom. An architect acquaintance recommended that they contact McCamy, saying he felt confident that the McCamy team could both design and renovate the bathroom and closet space. Ashley Jones, McCamy’s Director of Design, rose to the occasion. “Ashley came out and took measurements and listened to what we wanted,” the homeowner said. “She came back with a bunch of designs and we picked the one we liked best, which removed the tub and put a walk-in closet in that space. One unusual design element is that we made sure the door to closet opened into the bathroom so that if my wife comes home from a shift at 2:00 a.m. she doesn’t wake me up. Likewise, when I get ready early in the morning I don’t wake her up if I have access to the closet from the bathroom instead of the bedroom.” For this couple, details like the placement of the closet door, the selection of materials, and the people they worked with made the difference between a satisfactory renovation experience and an exceptional one. “Ashley set up a time for us to go look at flooring, cabinets, shower tiles, and countertops to get a sense of what we liked. She understood and respected that we didn’t need the highest end materials. Sure, we could use real marble but we could also use marble that isn’t real but looks just as good and is half the price. Ashley’s good at getting a feel for people and their priorities, we just loved working with her.” For example, when choosing countertops that would complement the flooring and cabinet colors they had selected, the countertop representative showed them options that would be “playing it safe.” The husband, however, asked, “What would be daring?” The resulting dark gray countertops they chose turned out to be a striking accent to the bathroom aesthetic, and a favorite feature for the homeowners. Other accent pieces that McCamy team members suggested turned out to be favorite elements for the couple. “Ashley suggested adding a vertical tower between the sinks, which gives us a lot more and shelving and storage space and also separates our stuff,” the homeowner said. “They also designed a chair in the shower which I would have never thought of, but might need in ten years.” Extra touches like a privacy wall with shelves by the toilet add both comfort and beauty to the space. “They stained it the exact same color as the cabinets, and then put the same countertop on top of it. It’s a nice touch to the bathroom. Plus, our foreman, Ben, asked if we wanted a bench, which he then designed and stained to match the cabinets as well. “There was a lot of personal attention to detail,” the homeowner said. “Everyone really thought about what we liked and didn’t like.” The bigger shower, with a luxurious rain head, and larger closet were just what the couple was hoping for. “The closet has hardwood flooring, so while we were at it we had them replace the carpeting in our bedroom with the same flooring and give the walls a fresh coat of paint. They matched the flooring to the rest of the house beautifully.” To maximize the walk-in closet space, Ashley brought in A Place for Everything Closets. “They suggested a valet bar, which we hadn’t thought about,” the homeowner said. “You can pull the bar out and can hang your clothes for the next morning. I love it and use it every night.” Ashley was able to negotiate for the shelving to be completed by Thanksgiving, when the couple would have company visiting. “All the people we worked with were very thoughtful that way,” the husband says. “My mother-in-law, lives with us. She 94, and very sharp. Everyone from McCamy was so kind to her. We knew if she had a problem and we were out, they’d take care of her. We actually felt better that they were here because we knew she was safe.” The final touches left the homeowners knowing that nothing had been left unfinished. “When it was all done there was a crack on one tile and one side of the door wasn’t quite right, so they came in to replace that tile and adjust the door. They made sure everything was exactly right, every step of the way.” Leaving nothing unturned is characteristic of the McCamy standard of quality. Creating custom solutions for each homeowner is what motivates the team at McCamy Construction, whether for a bathroom renovation or construction of a new home. Take a look at some of our other projects on our website and blog, or follow us on Facebook to see updates on inspiring projects we’re working on! Whatever your dream may be, we can build it. If you’re considering renovating or building a custom-designed home, we would love to meet with you. Schedule your consultation by filling out this form or give us a call at (865) 247-7068.