The Boulders · Scottsdale

A Master Bathroom with Room to Move

A larger shower, purposeful storage, and traditional cabinetry make better use of a generous existing space.

2018 NARI CotY Winner
Residential Master Bathroom Remodel
$75,001–$100,000

ProjectPrimary bathroom renovation

LocationThe Boulders · Scottsdale, Arizona

PrioritiesEasier shower access · Organized storage · Traditional detailing

This bathroom already had plenty of square footage. The homeowners needed that space to work better.

A large built-in tub and deck occupied the center of the room, while the shower and its adjoining changing compartment felt confined. Broad mirrors emphasized the bathroom’s size without providing the storage the homeowners wanted.

For this Scottsdale master bathroom remodel, the design began with access and daily use. The homeowners wanted a larger shower with a generous bench, cabinetry with a place for their belongings, and finishes that related to the traditional character of the rest of their home. An inspiration photograph helped establish that direction before the cabinetry and millwork took shape.

Before & after

Replacing the oversized tub deck

The old deck created a large surface around a tub that was impractical for the homeowners to use. Removing it returned floor area to the room. A freestanding tub remained in the plan to give the long vanity wall a central focal point and preserve its symmetry.

Behind the new tub, a paneled plumbing wall rises to counter height. Its top forms a shelf for bath supplies and decorative pieces. The surrounding cabinetry and fitted wall panels give the tub a defined setting while leaving room to move around it.

Original bathroom before remodeling with a large built-in tub deck, broad mirrors, and limited vanity storage; exposure corrected — **Before**The original tub and extensive deck occupied a large portion of the bathroom. The dark source photograph has been brightened for comparison.

Completed bathroom with freestanding tub, paneled walls, glazed cabinetry, and organized vanity storage — **After**The freestanding tub, glazed cabinetry, and paneled walls give each part of the room a clearer purpose.

Shower access

Combining two small compartments into one useful shower

The former snail shower included a small changing area, a high curb, and a limited corner seat. Those conditions did not support the homeowners’ access goals.

Removing the dividing wall allowed the team to use the two compartments together. Because this bathroom is on the second floor, the shower floor and entry required careful planning. The new floor begins its slope at the top of a low entry threshold, avoiding a second raised curb on the shower’s inside edge.

A large bench provides room to sit, with paired niches keeping supplies off the seat. A hand shower offers flexibility, and the controls sit within reach from inside or outside the entry. Grab bars, including a support bar designed to carry the hand shower, address the homeowners’ safety priorities. The entry retains a small step.

Expanded shower with porcelain wall tile, a large bench, decorative accent panel, hand shower, niches, and grab bars — **Completed shower**A broad bench, storage niches, hand shower, and grab bars replace the divided shower and changing area.

View from the remodeled shower toward the traditional bathroom, showing controls near the entry and a hand shower — **Completed shower entry**Controls near the opening allow the water to be turned on without reaching across the shower.

Storage by design

Cabinetry planned around the things used every day

The cabinet plan gave the homeowners more than additional doors and drawers. Shallow drawers organize makeup and brushes. Deeper compartments hold extra supplies, while adjustable shelves accommodate towels and grooming equipment.

A pullout hamper and a separate cabinet for hair tools keep those items close to the vanity. Countertop cabinets include outlets inside, allowing toothbrushes and razors to remain accessible behind closed doors.

The amount of cabinetry and decorative millwork required a budget decision during design. The homeowners chose to expand their cabinet allowance while selecting a less expensive door style. That combination preserved the storage plan and the details they valued.

Custom bathroom cabinetry with open hamper and grooming-tool pullouts beside the vanity — **Completed storage**The pullout hamper and grooming-tool storage fit within the traditional cabinet design.

Bathroom cabinet drawers open to show shallow compartments for organizing grooming items — **Completed drawer storage**Wide, shallow drawers divide everyday items into accessible compartments.

A more complete vanity wall

Giving the long room a consistent composition

Before remodeling, the mirrors and limited cabinetry left much of the room visually unanchored. The new vanities use tall cabinets and varied drawer sizes to establish a more deliberate rhythm around the freestanding tub.

The painted and glazed finish relates to the home’s traditional style. Decorative cabinet feet and paneling make the vanities read more like furniture, while the crown molding connects the cabinets across the tops of the mirrors.

Original bathroom vanity, wood cabinets, wall mirrors, and the large tub deck before remodeling — **Before**The earlier vanity, expansive mirror, and built-in tub deck offered fewer options for organized storage.

Finished bathroom with a freestanding tub beneath shutters, traditional millwork, and open floor area — **After**The freestanding tub, tall storage cabinets, and coordinated trim make better use of the existing room.

Millwork & materials

Traditional details carried through the room

A three-piece crown molding assembly bridges the upper cabinets and mirrors. Custom wainscot panels fit the ends of the room and the wall behind the tub. At the rounded drywall corners, the trim carpenter mitered the exposed ends and transitions to keep the profiles consistent.

The cabinetry and custom millwork received a factory-applied finish so the paint and glaze would read consistently across the different components. Porcelain floor and shower tile provide the main tiled surfaces, with tumbled travertine accents adding variation.

Oil-rubbed bronze fixtures complement the traditional detailing. Their living finish develops a patina with use. Porcelain initials on the cross handles, the tub’s chain-pull drain, and the iron chandelier’s exposed candelabra bulbs carry the historical references into smaller details.

Decorative cabinet foot and glazed panel detailing at the base of a finished bathroom vanity — **Completed millwork detail**A decorative cabinet foot and glazed panel finish continue the furniture character down to the floor.

Freestanding tub with oil-rubbed bronze fittings, cross handles, and a paneled shelf below the window — **Completed tub detail**Bronze fittings and cross handles sit above the tub, with a paneled shelf beneath the window.

The design before construction

Floor plans and illustrations made the changes visible

The before and after floor plans show how the bathroom could gain a larger shower and more cabinetry within its existing footprint. Cabinet and tile elevations communicated dimensions and finish details to the homeowners and trade partners.

The designer also used 20/20 perspective illustrations to help the homeowners understand the proposed room. These were planning tools, distinct from the completed-project photographs shown throughout this page.

Original floor plan showing the large tub deck and separate shower and dressing compartments — **Original floor plan**The built-in tub deck and separate shower and dressing compartments shaped the earlier layout.

Revised floor plan showing a freestanding tub, expanded shower with bench, and additional cabinetry — **Revised floor plan**The new plan combines the shower area and adds cabinetry around the freestanding tub.

View the computer design illustration

Computer design illustration showing the proposed freestanding tub and traditional cabinetry; not a completed-project photograph — **Computer design illustration · Not a photograph**The 20/20 perspective view helped communicate the proposed cabinet arrangement, tub location, and traditional finish direction.

Resolving the finish details

Temporary mirrors while the cabinet panels were corrected

Near completion, the designer found that the upper cabinet finish panels did not match the intended design. Because those panels affected the mirror trim, correcting them also affected the final installation sequence.

The team explained the issue to the homeowners and sent a clarifying drawing to the manufacturer. Temporary mirrors allowed the bathroom to remain usable while replacement panels and the related trim were resolved. The correction extended completion and required continued communication through the final details.

The completed bathroom

More useful space, with the traditional character the homeowners wanted

The remodel brings the room’s size into better balance with everyday use. The larger shower, dedicated storage, and freestanding tub each have a clear place in the layout, while the cabinetry and millwork connect the bathroom to the rest of the home.

This project received a 2018 NARI CotY award in the Residential Master Bathroom Remodel $75,001–$100,000 category. This historical award category is not a statement of current remodeling prices.

Planning a master bathroom remodel in Scottsdale?

A useful bathroom plan begins with how you move through the room and what you need within reach. Shower entry, seating, controls, lighting, and storage deserve attention alongside the finishes.

Explore our bathroom remodeling services and design-build remodeling process. The Path to Remodeling Clarity™ can help you prepare for the early decisions. If your plans extend into adjoining rooms, see our whole-home remodeling services.

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Tell us what works in your bathroom, what gets in the way, and what you want to make easier. We’ll begin with a conversation about your priorities and your home.

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