OUR WORK
Modern Barn Primary Bath Remodel in Ann Arbor
A divided, dark bathroom became one bright, calm retreat under the old barn beams.
THE STORY
What the homeowners wanted, and what we found.
WHAT THEY WANTED
These homeowners live in a barn turned home and wanted a primary bath that felt calm and bright. They wanted window light to reach the whole room with privacy where it counts, creative storage and a toilet tucked into its own closet. The old bath was split into two dark rooms, with tile that was hard to keep clean.
WHAT WE FOUND
The bath was split into two separate rooms. It sat on a heated concrete slab, so new plumbing meant trenching carefully around the heating. The original tile was dark and hard to clean, with lots of grout lines.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We combined two dark rooms into one bright, open bath with a wet room and a separate toilet closet.
THE INSPIRATION
Their work is full of color and pattern, so home needed to be the quiet part. An earthy, neutral palette and a Japanese soaking tub, a favorite from their travels, set a calm tone.
THE PLAN
We opened two rooms into one bright space. A wet room and a Japanese soaking tub anchor the bath, and the toilet sits in its own private closet. We trenched into the heated slab to move plumbing while protecting the floor heat. A floor-length linear drain lets large tiles run with very few grout lines.
THE OUTCOME
How it turned out
The homeowners unwind with a long soak in a quiet, light-filled room. The tile is easy to keep clean, and storage keeps things out of sight. Overhead, the original barn beams add warmth to the calm, modern space.
FINAL PHOTOS
The finished space.
AT A GLANCE
A New Primary Bath for a Barn Turned Residence
A primary bath remodel in a barn turned home.
Ann Arbor.
Japanese soaking tub, wet room, private toilet closet, large-format tile with a linear drain, original barn beams.
THE FLOOR PLANS
What changed, and why.
We combined two dark rooms into one bright, open bath with a wet room and a separate toilet closet.
BEFORE
AFTER
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Three details that carry the design.
FEATURE 01
A Japanese-style soaking tub, a favorite from the homeowners' travels, is the focal point of the room. It's deep enough to soak up to your neck, and its soft composite material helps hold the water's heat.
FEATURE 02
Earthy materials get a modern twist, with large-format tiles, terracotta and black iron vanity legs. Hidden storage, steps for comfort and safety, better lighting and a drop-edge counter make the bath easy to use every day.
FEATURE 03
The original barn beams stay in view, tying the bath to the rest of the home. Building a wet room under exposed beams took care, and the warm wood keeps the modern space from feeling cold.
THE PROJECT
A New Primary Bath for a Barn Turned Residence
AT A GLANCE
A primary bath remodel in a barn turned home.
Ann Arbor.
Japanese soaking tub, wet room, private toilet closet, large-format tile with a linear drain, original barn beams.
THE STORY
These homeowners live in a barn turned home and wanted a primary bath that felt calm and bright. They wanted window light to reach the whole room with privacy where it counts, creative storage and a toilet tucked into its own closet. The old bath was split into two dark rooms, with tile that was hard to keep clean.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We opened two rooms into one bright space. A wet room and a Japanese soaking tub anchor the bath, and the toilet sits in its own private closet. We trenched into the heated slab to move plumbing while protecting the floor heat. A floor-length linear drain lets large tiles run with very few grout lines.
