A Dormer Makes the Difference

A better master bath is possible thanks to additional head room

From Finehomebuilding.com | Fall/Winterr 2016 edition

Details: Cabinets Caramelized bamboo plywood, Counter Caesarstone Blizzard, Tub Victoria & Albert Barcelona, Wall tile Porcelanosa Bamboo Blanco, Floor tile Gray slate, Sinks Duravit Architect, Plumbing fixtures Waterworks, Sconces Ginger Company, Builder Greg Palin, GPGC

Having sent their youngest child off to college, Joe and ­ Karen suite in their 1916 bungalow. While walking around their Portland, Ore., neighborhood, they saw my firm’s sign outside another project and gave us a call.

The Guths’ second-floor master suite had plenty of height along the ridgeline, but the steep roof pitch made for a long, narrow bath with little usable area. The existing bathroom was windowless and had been crammed into the eave so that only half the room was tall enough for standing. The Guths wanted to improve the layout of their master bath, they ­ wanted better storage, and they wanted us to respect the original character of the home.

Adding a shed dormer created a tall sloped ceiling and allowed us to add four windows to the bathroom. Bringing natural light into older bungalows and improving the connection to the outdoors are always priorities. The bathroom windows face north for clear, indirect sun.

The vanity is opposite the soaking tub and windows so that the mir-rors reflect the trees and sky. The new bathroom occupies the same footprint as the previous bath but now has enough space for a separate tub and shower. The freestanding tub is the bathroom’s feature ele-ment and is flanked by the shower and the water closet. We chose simple finishes and fixtures to make the room inviting and relaxing in the hopes that the Guths enjoy it for years to come.