Two-Bath Transformation:

More Space, Better Flow, Brighter Mornings

Walnut Creek, California

Scope: When these folks asked us to remodel both their hall bath and primary bath, the goal was simple: make two hard-working bathrooms feel more open, more modern, and easier to use every day—without changing the home’s footprint. The result was a paired upgrade that improved circulation in the hall bath and dramatically expanded the primary shower by relocating the home’s furnace into the attic.

Two Bathrooms, One Smart Re-Think

The homeowners wanted both bathrooms to better reflect how they actually live in the home—starting each day in spaces that felt open, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed rather than cramped and dated. The hall bath needed improved flow and a more welcoming feel for family and guests, while the primary bath was ready for a meaningful upgrade that emphasized comfort and everyday luxury. By remodeling both bathrooms at the same time, they coordinated finishes, streamlined construction, and made smart, long-term improvements—ultimately turning two functional rooms into cohesive, light-filled spaces that feel custom, intentional, and distinctly theirs.

Before: Both bathrooms felt constrained by decisions made decades earlier. The hall bath was visually chopped up by a pocket-door wall that closed in the space, while the primary bath sacrificed shower size to accommodate a furnace tucked inside the room—an everyday compromise that limited comfort and design potential.

After: By rethinking how the space was used—not how much space there was—we transformed both baths. The hall bath was opened up by removing the pocket-door wall, instantly improving light, flow, and sightlines. In the primary bath, we relocated the furnace into the attic, unlocking the square footage needed for a larger, spa-like shower with slab finishes, frameless glass, and refined detailing. The result is two bathrooms that feel brighter, more open, and far more luxurious—without adding a single square foot to the home.

Design strategy:

Open up the hall bath

The hall bath originally felt segmented. By removing the pocket door wall that separated the wet area, we created a more open layout and cleaner sightlines the moment you walk in.

Make the primary shower the star

To gain meaningful square footage where it mattered most, we relocated the existing HVAC unit (furnace) to the attic, which freed up space for an enlarged primary shower and a more comfortable bathing zone.

Hall bathroom: fixture + finish highlights

Updated tub/shower zone with a new tub and a new valve/trim set.
Full-height statement wall tile at the shower back wall (to the ceiling).
Solid-surface shower surround accents (slab finish at shower walls).
New vanity + top + bowl (allowance-based selection to fit the final style direction).
New linen cabinet doors + refreshed built-ins to sharpen storage and simplify the look.

Primary bathroom: fixture + finish highlights

Mechanical relocation for more shower space: new attic platform/walkway and attic access improvements for the relocated furnace.
Custom shower composition: slab walls on left/right, plus slab finish wrapping the pony wall (cap/end and shower side) for a crisp, low-maintenance look.
Built-in niche for soap/shampoo, integrated into the tile field.
Frameless glass: a frameless pivot shower door with a fixed glass panel for a clean, high-end feel.
Recessed medicine cabinet mirror to add storage without visual clutter.
Pony wall with tempered glazed glass (light + privacy without closing the room in).
Tile continuity details: tile extended to the shower back wall (including the niche).

Behind-the-walls upgrades that matter

Because these were permitted, code-aware remodels, the scope included practical improvements like updated exhaust ventilation controls (humidity-sensing), updated plumbing connections, and mechanical coordination for the attic furnace relocation.

Primary Bath