Project Goals

• Update an out-of-date bath with clean lines and contemporary finishes
• Create a soothing, spa-like retreat within a modest footprint
• Improve lighting levels and reduce visual clutter
• Keep plumbing changes to a minimum to respect high-rise restrictions

Design and Implementation

Layout / Structural Changes

• Replaced the original sunken tub with a freestanding soaking tub positioned near the window
• Left the primary plumbing wall intact yet rerouted supply lines inside the cavity where feasible
• Installed a floating vanity; extra blocking was added inside the metal-stud wall to support the weight
• Introduced layered lighting: recessed ceiling fixtures, LED strips beneath the vanity, and mirror-side sconces

Materials and Finishes

• Shower walls: book-matched porcelain slabs with a warm wood-grain stripe running vertically
• Vanity: semi-custom carcasses wrapped in the same quartz used for the countertop
• Floor: 48 × 48 in. cement-look porcelain tile—large scale for fewer grout lines and a seamless feel
• Fixtures, mirrors, and hardware were chosen together during a showroom visit to ensure every piece felt right

Key Elements

• Quartz-wrapped floating vanity
• Freestanding tub in place of the old drop-in unit
• Full-height porcelain slab shower with integrated niche
• Large-format floor tile that makes the room read larger than its actual size

Challenges

• Limited ability to relocate plumbing in a high-rise environment
• Metal-stud construction required creative reinforcement for the floating vanity
• All materials had to meet strict building fire and acoustic ratings
• Coordinating elevator bookings and deliveries within the condo’s schedule

Outcome

By project’s end the bathroom felt like a boutique hotel suite. Wide slabs, a restrained palette, and soft lighting provide quiet luxury, while the refined layout simplifies the client’s daily routine. Acting as both designer and licensed general contractor, I guided every phase, giving the homeowner one clear point of contact from concept through punch list