HOME REMODELING
Masterpiece Master Bath
Alexandria Solution Wins COTY award | By John Byrd
A comprehensive master bathroom renovation in a circa 1980’s center hall Colonial has won a regional “Contractor of the Year” (CoTY) award for Michael Nash Design Build and Homes. The recently completed makeover to a home in the Mt Vernon Estates section of Alexandria was named “best residential bathroom in the $75,000-$100,000 category” in an 11-state competition sponsored by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
The winning solution converts an existing bathroom and adjacent changing area into an open spa bath that boasts many cutting-edge amenities. The remodel features a walk-in steam shower, pedestal whirlpool bath and a sauna. A custom designed make-up table and several original “built ins” provide accommodations that smoothly integrate into a stand-out “transitional-style” interior.
Acknowledging the prize, Michael Nash president and founder Sonny Nazemian credited his design and production team:
“We achieve cost benefits for our clients by exploring ideas that advance their design agenda while maximizing the investment,” Nazemian noted. “Since the CoTY is about outperforming the limits of a budget, winning one verifies that our core mission remains on track.”
For the winning homeowners (who are now approaching retirement) the award is also an acknowledgment of many hours researching contemporary design styles.
“The process works especially well when the homeowners have given a lot of thought to style and space-use preferences,” Nazemian observes. “In this case, we wanted to balance textured surfaces, glass and an interplay of colors and tones in an interior design that facilitates everyday requirements.”
“We achieve cost benefits for clients by exploring ideas that will advance their personal design sensibilities and maximize the investment.”
-Sonny Nazemian
Looking back, what began as a quest for a larger master bathroom with a view of the back yard and pool gradually evolved into a multi-component luxury spa.
Along the way, the Michael Nash team eliminated both an interior closet and a wall between the bathroom and dressing room, and installed a 5′ x 6′ picture window in a brick-and block bearing wall just above a two-step Jacuzzi platform
A new dressing area with make-up table has been positioned to the hot tub’s left; to the right, the remodeler installed a walk-in steam shower complete with bench, rain shower head and body sprays.
A frosted glass door to the shower’s right reveals an infrared sauna the contractor installed by borrowing a few feet from a closet in an adjacent bedroom. Personal storage cabinets flank opposite sides of a black stone vessel sink.
“There are more decision points in a bathroom than any other part of the house,” Nazemian says. “As a company, we’ve concentrated on developing an interior design staff skilled at helping homeowners discover their personal style. It’s our combination of broad-based purchase options and seasoned talent that gets each new project off to an inspired start.”
But the first question is often more basic: Can an out-dated “production house” floor plan be transformed into a free flowing postmodern design that stays strictly within the bathroom’s existing footprint?
“The owners wanted to replace the old shower with a much larger walk in design that wouldn’t require a builtin curb to keep the water in,” the remodeler says. “To meet these requirements, we raised the bathroom floor about an inch. The shower is now lower than before, and bevels slightly toward a linear drain so there’s no need for a built-in lip around the shower.”
Michael Nash Design Build and Homes recently received a regional “Contractor of the Year” award for “best residential bathroom in the $75,000 to $100,000” range. The winning solution converts a thirty year-old bathroom and ad jacent changing area into a 410-square-foot suite that includes a walk-in steam shower, pedestal whirlpool bath and a sauna. Custom-designed built-ins smoothly advance the relaxing “transitional style” interior.
Above: The steam shower (left), sauna (behind frosted glass door), custom-design vanity with vessel sink. Floors are ascot/ cinder-hued porcelain tile.
Inset: Before
At left: The contractor borrowed a few feet from a closet in an adjacent bedroom to create the footprint for an infrared sauna.
Opposite page, top: The steam shower sits on black pebble stone flooring that visually connects it to a freestanding pedestal tub clad in textured tile. Tucked under a new 5’ x 6’ picture window, the Jacuzzi provides a restful treetop view; and the shower’s inside wall is finished in contrasting light and stone tiles with a softly accentuated moire pattern; there are three shower heads and a long built-in bench; “cubbies” designed for personal items are within easy reach.
“Of course, this kind of change requires precision,” he adds. “Water is always the judge of whether a shower design works well.”
The open shower tucked behind three 7′ glass walls sits on black pebble stone flooring that visually connects to a freestanding pedestal tub clad in textured tile. There’s a small bench at one end and a hand-held shower nozzle within easy reach.
Overhead, the stainless steel “waterfalls” rain shower head features a range of body sprays with varied pressures.
The shower’s inside wall is finished in contrasting light and stone tiles with a softly accentuated moire pattern. There are three shower heads and “cubbies” designed to hold personal items are within easy reach.
For a still more leisurely bathing experience, the Jacuzzi positioned under a picture window presents a restful treetop view. With the new crystal chandelier catching outside light, the magical new space shimmers into life like something out of a fairy tale.
Built-in linen closets on “his” and “her” vanities flanking opposite walls hold towels and personal use items Scone lights with layered glass cast a glimmering light on the entire scene.
With its mission-style cabinet facings and black marble surfaces, the vanities present clean, linear elegance in a room that is now refreshingly simplified and spacious.
“There are more decision points in a bathroom than any other part of the house, so our design staff helps owners find their personal style. It’s our combination of attractive purchase options and seasoned talent that gets each new project off to an inspired start.”
