Get these 5 gorgeous bathrooms on a budget
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Making a relaxing bathroom
Wouldn't we all love to pamper ourselves in a beautiful bathroom?
Having a walk-in shower or a jetted soaking tub right at home -- maybe with some marble flooring below and a crystal chandelier above -- sounds just about as good as a spa vacation.
If you're planning a master bath renovation, you know that such an indulgence doesn't come cheap.
In construction or renovation, "the bathroom, per square foot, is one of the most expensive things in your house," says Michael Hydeck, MCR, CKBR, founder and former owner of Hydeck Design Build near Philadelphia.
Be candid with the contractor
You can trim costs, but you have to be honest with your contractor.
Articulate exactly what you like in that dream bathroom. "And sometimes (homeowners) don't know," says Robert Criner, GMR, GMB, CAPS, owner of Criner Remodeling in Newport News, Virginia.
Equally important: Be honest about your budget.
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A smart contractor or designer can offer less-costly materials, designs and finishes. "But you have to have that conversation," Criner says.
Browsing to buy a home? Here are 5 beautiful master baths. And for those planning a bathroom renovation, contractors and designers share tips for saving a few dollars.
Realtor.com
Ojo Caliente, New Mexico
1-bedroom, 1-bath condominium built in 1997
Price: $248,500
Description: This master bath, like the condo, "was designed with the landscape in mind -- it's all about the setting," says David Fries, real estate broker for Sotheby's International Realty in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
It features "an extremely large walk-in shower" trimmed in glass and "ceramic tile that looks like Carrara marble," he says. A clerestory window provides light while preserving privacy.
Walls are "hand-applied plaster, which is prevalent in this area," Fries says.
The alder and red willow vanity has 2 raised, rectangular ceramic sinks, double mirrors and porcelain faux-marble countertops, he says.
The room has both wall-mounted and recessed lighting, plus a separate water closet. Floors are traditional Saltillo tile, he says.
Getting the look: This master bath has a "clean and crisp look," Criner says.
"Because remodeling is more expensive than building new," transplanting this room into your own house could cost up to $40,000, he says. And that's assuming your home has the space, plumbing and water pressure to support it, he adds.
On a budget: Have a professional tear out an existing tub or shower, install your new shower and tile the floor, and "you're probably under $15,000," Criner says.
Realtor.com
Irving, Texas
3-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath town house built in 2010
Price: $365,000
Description: "You feel like you're at a retreat," says Steve Kahn, Realtor with Century 21 Mike Bowman Inc. in Grapevine, Texas.
An archway flanked with columns frames a jetted tub under a large picture window -- with a view of the master bedroom fireplace, Kahn says.
The marble-tiled shower with a glass front features a rain head with multiple modes and built-in seating.
Granite tops the custom cabinets of the double vanity and floors are marble tile, he says. And, at the entrance to the master bath, there's a matching wet bar with a minifridge and a microwave.
Getting the look: Depending on where you live, replicating this master bath could cost up to $100,000, Hydeck says.
On a budget:
- Choose a flat (instead of a barrel vault) ceiling, Hydeck says. Trim the number of archways to one over the doorway, with perhaps a second over the shower, he says. Possible savings: $2,000 to $3,000.
- Select stock cabinets and a lesser grade of granite, he says. Possible savings: as much as $12,000 to $14,000.
- Opt for 2 columns -- one on each side of the tub -- instead of 8, Hydeck says. Possible savings: $3,000 to $4,000.
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Realtor.com
Washington Township, Ohio
4-bedroom house with 3 full baths and 2 half-baths, built in 1997
Price: $449,900
Description: This master bath "is very dramatic," says Cindy Buckreus, senior partner with Coldwell Banker Heritage in Dayton, Ohio.
Two columns frame the entrance beneath the cathedral ceiling. The jetted tub, set in green tile, sits under a high, arched window. The separate walk-in shower has multiple shower heads and built-in seating.
His-and-hers vanities, on either side of the entryway, have hardwood cabinetry and Corian countertops.
This room has hardwood floors, a water closet, a walk-in closet with an organizational system and an adjacent exercise room, Buckreus says.
Getting the look: This master bath has "a very high-end design," says Paul Sullivan, CGR, CGP, CAPS, immediate past chairman of the National Association of Home Builders Remodelers and president of The Sullivan Company in Boston.
Transplant the room to your house with a professional remodel and the price could easily run $45,000 to $50,000, he says.
On a budget:
- In the shower, opt for a unit with a single shower head rather than multiple heads, says Sullivan. Switch the conventional shower head for a rain head, he adds.
- Select stock or semi-custom cabinets rather than custom cabinets, along with a lesser grade of granite for vanities, Sullivan says. It gives you a luxe look for less.
Realtor.com
Summerville, South Carolina
3-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath house built in 2002
Price: $525,000
Description: This master bath was remodeled to create "a spa-like atmosphere," says Joanne Harwell, broker associate with Coldwell Banker United Realtors in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
The jetted tub, set in travertine tile, is flanked by arched windows and columns. The walk-in shower, lined in travertine tile, features multiple shower heads, built-in seating and a glass face, she says.
The custom cherry vanity has granite countertops, seating and double sinks, Harwell says. The room also has a water closet and travertine flooring.
Getting the look: Re-creating this room in your own professional remodel could run $60,000 to $80,000, depending on where you live, says Jason Landau, ASID, the owner and designer of Amazing Spaces LLC in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
On a budget:
- Opt for a soaking tub instead of a jetted tub, Landau says. That could save "several thousand dollars," he says.
- Instead of a custom vanity, pick out a free-standing, furniture-style vanity at one of the big-box home improvement stores, says Landau. You could cut the cost in half, saving as much as $3,000, he says.
- Travertine can be pricey, Landau says, but you can get porcelain or ceramic tiles with a similar look for less.
Realtor.com
Denver
5-bedroom, 5-bathroom house built in 1994
Price: $1.15 million
Description: "It's absolutely huge and spectacular," says Pamela Subry, broker associate with Re/Max Northwest in Westminster, Colorado. "The views are amazing."
Under the cathedral ceiling, the oversize jetted tub, set in marble, sits in front of a picture window. The marble-tiled, walk-in shower -- faced in glass brick -- features multiple shower heads, built-in seating and a heating lamp, she says.
The double vanity has custom maple cabinets, marble countertops and a wall-length mirror with mounted task lighting, Subry says. The room has a second picture window and built-in seating, marble floors, recessed lighting and a water closet.
Getting the look: People are treating master bathrooms "like a spa," says Cortney Novogratz, co-host of HGTV's "Home by Novogratz."
On a budget:
- Give your existing shower an upgrade with a rain-spray shower head and a teak bench, she says. The oversize shower head "spreads water better and is greener," while seating "gives it a more luxurious feel."
- Skip tiling an entire room with a budget-busting material. Instead, include a stripe or 2 of your favorite with a less expensive tile as background, says Novogratz.
- Opt for a smaller mirror over each sink instead of running it the length of one wall and up to the ceiling, she says.
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