McCamy Construction

Sequoyah Bathroom Design Incorporates Risks That Worked

Wednesday, April 24th, 2019

Taking risks with design and renovation projects isn’t typically the safest approach. However, in the case of a Sequoyah bathroom renovation and a homeowner experienced in interior design, taking a few design risks paid off. Plans for the renovation began unexpectedly, on the last day that the McCamy crew was finishing up with an outdoor fireplace entertainment addition. Homeowners Shannon and Emily Harper asked the crew if they could take a look at a spot on the ceiling in their T.V. room that Shannon had just noticed that week. He wondered if the spot indicated that there could be a leak in the master bathroom above. Sure enough, closer inspection revealed a slow leak from the bathroom’s shower and bathtub, which would need to be fixed before further damage was done. Because the bathroom is small and the couple had been wanting to renovate the sink area anyway, they decided it was most cost effective to gut the bathroom and redesign the whole space. Emily works part-time as a designer, so she was eager to take the reins on a mix of traditional and contemporary design elements to match the style of their house. “I enjoy taking a few risks in our own house to see how something might work for clients’ homes,” she said, adding, “I figure it’s ok to make mistakes on our own house rather than experiment with a design in a client’s house.” One of those risks was with the sink and countertop design. “The house was built in 1929, and all of the bathroom countertops were lower than they typically are now, which drove us nuts,” Emily said. “But our cabinets were still good, so we wanted to find a way to raise the countertop height without replacing the cabinets.” The solution was to add a larger piece of stone with an apron-front on top of the existing cabinets. “That isn’t something I might have risked in a client’s home before, but it turned out well so now I know that it can work,” she said. To add to the amount of storage space, a small cabinet was added above the countertop between the double sinks. “The left and right hand sides pull out, and have shelves that are just perfect for medicine and makeup,” Emily said, adding that the handiness of this new cabinet is one of her favorite things about the new bathroom. The shower tile is another favored element. Emily and McCamy’s Director of Design, Ashley Jones, went to Floor and Decor to look at tile for the shower. As soon as Emily saw the floral-patterned tile in shades of gray mixed with marble, she knew that’s what they’d use, and that she’d take a risk with it, too. “I had wanted to see what a smaller tile pattern on a whole side of the shower walls would look like,” Emily said. “It’s usually safer to use decorative tile as a border or as an accent, but we used the patterned tile on two walls, and I love it.” To round out the design of the bathroom, the Harper’s added a free-standing bathtub. “I wanted to add a piece of art by John-Richard above the tub, but it wasn’t large enough, so we added the sconces to fill the space and also add a little more light that was needed. It’s a beautiful focal point now.” The piece of art showcases orchids, of which Emily said, “Combining the delicacy of the orchids with the heaviness of the metals used in the bathroom design was done on purpose. I love all the different materials that we chose, like the heavy stones mixed with touches of teak wood for warmth.” For the finishing hardware touches, Emily used a mix of square knobs she found at Anthropologie and more traditional knobs from Closet Solutions. “The blend of both makes it unique and adds a little funk,” she said. Now that the master bathroom renovation is complete, Emily says, “A bathroom can seem like a little thing, but it’s really not. Our new bathroom feels like a game-changer. We use it every day and it has made life a little happier and more fun. I feel like I’m in a spa everytime I walk in.” Creating spaces that make homeowners’ lives happier is what motivates the team at McCamy Construction, whether it’s a bathroom renovation or construction of a new home. Take a look at some of our other projects on our website and blog, follow us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram to see updates on inspiring projects we’re working on! Whatever your dream may be, we can build it. If you’re considering renovating an existing space 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.