It’s a good thing that designer Ebony Stephenson of Designs by Ebony, LLC loves challenges, because she had plenty during a recent bath remodel project. As a sought-after designer based in Virginia, Ebony Stephenson has specialized in kitchen and bath remodel projects throughout the 757 Peninsula for almost twenty years. “This project involved updating the primary bath located on the third floor of a beautiful town home where we had recently remodeled the kitchen,” said Stephenson. “The client wanted to make the bath more functional and relaxing but didn’t want to make major changes to plumbing and electrical, which they knew would add cost to the project.” In addition to the challenge of the bath being located two flights above the water shut off and electrical panel, it also had shared walls on both sides, and it overlooked an open concept second floor. That meant remodel construction would be disruptive to two floors of living space. Understanding the constraints, and sensitive to the inconvenience the project would cause, Stephenson set to work on a plan that would give their clients a spa-inspired retreat on reasonable timeline and on budget.
Since the plumbing and electrical locations would not be moved, Stephenson and her contactor, Double R Builders, focused their attention on opening up the space by removing a non-load bearing wall and a ceiling installed over the vanity. The removal of the wall and ceiling allowed the space to bathe in natural light from above thanks to the 16’ vaulted ceilings with clerestory windows. “It also allowed us to add a linen closet and several feet of vanity countertop space to the wife’s side of the room, giving her a new sit-down makeup area,” explained Stephenson. “However, to make that area functional, we realized that we would need to provide access to power, so we installed a 12” Slim Angle Power Strip from Task Lighting and Power under the countertop. It was a simple addition that was installed easily and maximized the functionality of the makeup area.”
Although tubs are often a feature in primary baths, Stephenson proposed replacing the existing large acrylic tub with a spa-like shower featuring an integrated 72” bench, a rain shower head, pebble style floor and hidden storage. These features were complemented with bamboo-inspired tiles that further elevated the spa feel. “To create dramatic contrast from the light-colored quartz countertops and coordinate with the plumbing fixtures, we choose matte black decorative hardware. The Richard Collection from Jeffrey Alexander offers multiple pull lengths and features a square base and clean lines that complement the space.”
When asked what was key to the success of this project, Stephenson had one word: Communication. “I have made it a practice to sit down with my contractors and/or trades to review everything before the job starts including the floor plans, elevations, renderings, electrical layouts, technical specs, and especially the schedule. Discussing project details and making sure everyone is on the same page helps to avoid problems later. My team appreciates this because it helps everyone get their parts done quicker with less headaches and avoids delays.” And what better way to make a client happy than delivering a project on time and on budget!
Learn more about this project and see more of Ebony’s work, see the links below.
Ebony Stephenson, CLIPP, CAPS
Designs by Ebony
Email Address: designsbyebonyva@gmail.com
Website: designsbyebony.com
Instagram: @designs_by_ebony
Image Credit: Michael Daughtry