Kitchen & Bath Business September/October 2023 - 58

B AL ANCED BUDGET
PRIMARY BATH SAVINGS
After the kitchen, Bauerle knew she needed to
be extra cost conscious in the primary bathroom,
and her fi rst save came from a decision to keep
the footprint. Th e new tub, toilet and shower are
in the same location as the previous fi xtures, and
the two-sided vanity is less bulky but otherwise
consistent with the previous one.
For the vanity, she chose stock cabinetry with
textured laminate panels that boast a wood-like
look. Here too, the per-square-foot quartz countertops
were less expensive than sourcing quartz
slabs. When choosing plumbing fi xtures, Bauerle
opted for a moderately priced line that still offered
the industrial fl air she wanted.
Th e original tub alcove had bump-outs on the
wall, and rather than spending money to remove
them, Bauerle added fl oor tile between them and
wrapped them in vinyl wallpaper, so the area
looks like an intentional design feature without
requiring structural changes. While the shower
kept its triangular shape, it got new tile and fi xtures,
including a matte-glass mosaic on the fl oor.
" Honestly, there weren't really any splurges
here, " said the designer. " If budget weren't at the
forefront, I would have explored some diff erent
selections, but I am very happy with the result. "
Perhaps the real splurge in this bathroom was
the designer's time. In the previous layout, there
was an unnecessary tile bench just outside the
shower. Bauerle removed it and wanted to add
a cabinet to hold her client's jewelry. When she
was unable to fi nd anything suitable, she selected
a cost-eff ective bar cabinet, found special hooks
online and installed them herself, creating an
ideal method for hanging necklaces.
Th is project had a tight budget considering the
scale of what was accomplished. And in this case,
Bauerle faced a professional challenge too - the
clients' prior negative experience with a designer
for a diff erent property they owned.
" Th ey had been burned in the past, so I was
really put on the spot to prove that designers can
be innovative and fi nancially responsible, " she
said.

RIGHT In the primary
bathroom, Bauerle maintained
the existing footprint, requiring
her to keep and update the
concept of a two-sided vanity.
The waterfall countertop adds
a cost-eff ective yet luxurious
feel. She sourced the open
shelving from the same local
vendor who made the custom
kitchen island hood.
SOURCES: DESIGNER: Gina D'Amore Bauerle, D'Amore Interiors; PHOTOGRAPHER: Timothy Gormley ● KITCHEN BACKSPLASH: Ann Sacks; CABINET HARDWARE: Buster + Punch;
CABINETS: Homestead Cabinet & Furniture; CHAIRS: Adriana Hoyos; COOKTOP, MICROWAVE & OVENS: Wolf; COUNTERTOP: Cambria; DISHWASHERS: Viking; FAUCETS: Brizo; FLOORING:
Apavisa; GLASS DOOR: Marvin; HOOD: Twenty1Five; LIGHTING: Tech Lighting; FREEZER & REFRIGERATOR & WINE COLUMNS: Sub-Zero; SINKS: Blanco & Native Trails MAIN BATH CABINET
HARDWARE: Amerock; COUNTERTOP: MSI; FAUCETS & FIXTURES: Phylrich; FLOORING: Apavisa; JEWELRY CABINET: BDI Furniture; LIGHTING: Currey & Co. & Troy Lighting; MIRRORS &
SHELVES: Twenty1Five; PAINT: Sherwin-Williams; SHOWER TILE: Lunada Bay; SINKS: Native Trails; TOILET: Kohler; TUB: Luxart; VANITY: Superior Cabinets
58
/ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023
RIGHT After removing a large
tub with a deck, Bauerle had
room in the alcove to include
a freestanding tub that was a
budget-friendly, private-label
product from a local plumbing
retailer. Rather than making
any pricey structural changes,
she dressed up the area with
tile, narrow glass shelves,
crisscross sconces and a blue
accent wall.

Kitchen & Bath Business September/October 2023

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