Park Lane

Primary bathroom renovation | Park ridge, il | digital design

Every bathroom renovation starts with an honest conversation about what's actually wrong with the room. In this case, the answer was clear from the moment you walked in. Deep purple tile — floor, walls, shower, vanity countertop — in a space that wasn't getting nearly enough light to carry it. The room felt heavy and closed off, which is exactly the opposite of what a primary bathroom should feel like at the start and end of your day.

The clients had been in their home long enough to know what was working and what wasn't. The existing cabinetry was one of the things that was working — they liked it, it functioned well, and they saw no reason to tear it out. That's the kind of clarity that makes for a good renovation. We're not here to change everything. We're here to fix what needs fixing and leave what doesn't alone.

The purple tile had to go — all of it. That meant pulling up the floor, stripping the shower walls and floor, and replacing the vanity countertop, which was a significant undertaking but one the end result more than justified. In its place, we brought in Carrara marble throughout: floor, shower walls, and vanity top. It's a classic choice for a reason — it reads quietly, ages beautifully, and has a warmth that harder, whiter stones don't quite manage.

The cabinetry was refinished in a subtle sage that sits comfortably between the warmth of the marble, the polished nickel plumbing fixtures and the soft white we used on the walls. Rather than competing with anything, it grounds the room without drawing attention to itself. We also expanded the shower glazing significantly, replacing the small existing door with a much more generous glass enclosure. The difference in light was immediate — suddenly the marble had something to catch, and the room felt twice the size.

The result is a bathroom that feels considered and calm. Not a gut renovation, a thoughtful one. The bones were always good. They just needed a little room to breathe.