whale shark a tale of a bathroom remodel

Posted on January 13, 2025February 1, 2025 by Kande

Whale Shark, a tale of a bathroom remodel

by kande.

An adventurous Colorado couple embarked on a remodel journey for their primary suite. They enlisted me, Kande, to help them update the layout, improve the function and bring in a new aesthetic.

I met this inspiring client at Warehome Studios, a local pottery studio where my admiration for her mad ceramics skills were on display. We spoke clay and glaze, and therefore tile! Behold the Whale Shark glazed red clay based tile. Locally made in a town just a few mountain peaks away.

Project Details

Single sink situation.

The main issue in this primary suite is finding space for a second sink.

Privacy, please.

Missing a door to the shower and toilet area, in addition to poor ventilation with only adequate insulation left that room ripe for a remodel.

New Path

The new tranisition from bedroom space to the bathroom will benefit from an alternate layout. Improved closet space if viable.

Laundry relocation.

In OPTION A the washer and dryer are relocated to the corner of the new vanity area to get it out of the bedroom and into the bathroom while adding improved closet space.

FLOOR PLAN REVIEW

Plans and Pivots

Option A

This layout was approved for moving ahead with a budget estimate to determine feasibility. While the design solved most of the issues it was estimated to cost considerably more than the homeowners were willing to invest in the area

Option B

Armed with knowledge associated with the cost of moving the washer dryer, added framing and flooring and overall scope, we pivoted to focusing on the 2nd sink and improved functions and aesthetics. We moved on from relocating the washer dryer and simply improved the efficiency of the appliances without moving utilities.

all designs and images by kande, @designedinteriorsllc

PROJECT MATERIALS

Naturally beautiful materials with a Scandinavian vibe guide our design story.

Materials for this project were sourced from:

Particular Tile. In Colorado. With swoon worthy glazes on regional earth was too much to pass up. It is the color of the glaze and the reactions that will draw everyone in. That is obviously speaks Whale Shark practically checks off a prominent bucket list item for sea creature lovers. 🤩, white wall tile from Fireclay Tile. the vanity is US made in WA by Strasser. , floor tile Arizona Tile’s Basalt,

Site Scenes

Remodeling is rarely a direct line from design to finish. Finding out the conditions after demolition will guide the final decisions for the layout and present areas to address. Here is a peak at the process that lead to results that we are all proud of!

Early phase of the demolition. What will we find?

Roughin’ it. Lot’s of room for improvement in the mechanicals, moisture barriers and insulation.

Sketch over rough in to locate wall elbow for hand held shower set.

Setting the pan, supporting the bench.

Jumbo shampoo niche that coordinates with the new floating stone bench.

Final lap. Finish line in sight!

Before & After

please note @designedinteriorsllc in any reproduction or borrowing of images and ideas found here. thank you.

Check back for updated ‘After’ photos as this project is very near completion.

preparing for your bathroom remodel

Posted on August 8, 2024January 17, 2025 by Kande

remodeling your bathroom is an exciting adventure.

These tips are for design clients that have:

Completed the design process;
Engaged with a contractor who is ready to begin work;
Ordered and received a majority of the materials;
Are ready to prepare their home for selective demolition of their space.

CONGRATULATIONS! Transforming a bathroom that’s ended its service life into a fresh space that better suits your current needs, lifestyle and wellness goals is a worthwhile investment in your home’s value and in your personal comfort.

1ST: CLEAN. Clear your household items completely from the area of work. This includes everything from the cabinets, closets, tub and shower area, wall art, pictures, rugs, and any nearby valuables that you want to remain safe.

If your closet is included in the scope, you will want to choose clothing to keep out during the remodel and store the rest in a safe location away from the dust and debris.

EVERYTHING MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE SPACE.

TO KEEP OR NOT TO KEEP? This is a great time for purging and getting rid of unwanted, unused items. This can be a silver lining during all of the mess and upheaval that a remodel can cause.

Be sure let your designer and contractor know ahead of demo day if you have a way to repurpose any part of your bathroom, such as cabinets, so that they can set them aside.

Some individuals wish to donate to organizations, friends, family and as long as your team is aware ahead of time, they can take extra care to prevent damage as much as possible.

RELOCATE. Since your bathroom will be out of commission for a period of time, it is important to set up the bathroom that you will use in the interim. Doing this a week ahead will allow yourself time to adjust your routine.

If your bedroom is being updated or within the work zone, sleeping in another room ahead of time may help in that transition.

Any remodel can cause upset and frustration, but planning ahead can ease some of that stress and help your family continue to function.

VACAY TIME? Your daily routine will be greatly impacted while one of the most used areas of your home is being remodeled. This can be a good time to take a vacation or stay with family and friends during the main construction phase to eliminate the headache of trying to work around the mess and noise.

While this is not an option for everyone, it is worth considering in order to alleviate some of the stress related to demolition and initial installations. It is advisable to stay out of the home during any painting and staining as chemicals and fumes may be strong and cause headaches. Although the contractor will be diligent in using fans and trying to increase airflow in the space, it is best to give a day or two for the area to cure before returning to the space.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. No matter how well planned out a remodel project is, unexpected things will happen. Maybe it is a structural issue that isn’t discovered until after demolition, or there is an item that you want to change along the way. Address the change as soon as it is detected. Understand the financial and timing cost associated with a change. Adjust accordingly. When a problem comes along…

NOW, HURRY UP AND WAIT!

Certain aspects of your project will take more time than others. It may be in product production and delivery, or in the installation process. Here are some notable timing considerations:

Cabinets can take 8 to 10 weeks to be fabricated from after the date of final approval. Most cabinets should be ordered AFTER the new structure/walls are complete so that measurements can be exact. Then add shipping time from the factory to your home.
Countertops can take 3 to 6 weeks to complete the entire process of templating, fabrication, delivery and installation. This work is scheduled after all of the the cabinets, or other sub structures are set in place.
Setting tile is a process that requires focused attention by the tile setter. There are layered steps and certain curing times to complete the whole process. This is not the place to make up time on the schedule!
Glass shower doors can me accurately measured only after the shower wall tile is set and then it will take a few weeks to be made and installed.

Please consider that some of the time frames are out of our control, and that we are equally anxious to see the completed project!