Creating a Personal Sanctuary: Chelsie's Franklin Bathroom Transformation

Project Overview

Client: Chelsie Bath

Project Type: Complete Bathroom Remodel & Home Refresh Location: Franklin, Wisconsin

Timeline: Fall 2024

Project Focus: Master bathroom renovation, living room painting, bedroom refresh

Design Goal: Natural, relaxing, and functional personal sanctuary

The Vision

Sometimes the most meaningful projects aren't about impressing guests – they're about creating a space where you can truly be yourself. When Chelsie Bath reached out to BAB Design Build, she had found her perfect apartment gem in Franklin, but the master bathroom didn't reflect who she was or how she wanted to start and end each day.

The Challenge: Transform a functional but uninspiring bathroom into a personal sanctuary that felt like home, while also refreshing the living spaces to create a cohesive, warm atmosphere throughout her apartment.

What Made This Special: This project was about understanding that home is deeply personal. For Chelsie and her cat, this wasn't just about updating fixtures – it was about creating a space that truly felt like theirs.

Understanding Chelsie's Vision

At BAB Design Build, we believe the best projects start with truly understanding how our clients live. Living alone offers the freedom to create exactly the environment you want, and Chelsie had a clear vision for something that felt natural, calming, and authentically her.

Through our collaborative design process, we worked closely with Chelsie to understand:

• Daily routines that needed to be both beautiful and functional

• Personal style that embraced natural, organic elements

• Apartment living that required smart use of existing space

• Cohesive design that would flow seamlessly from bathroom throughout her living spaces

Our Design-Build Approach: Work within the existing bathroom footprint while completely transforming the feel, then extend that natural warmth throughout her home. This seamless process from concept to completion is what sets BAB Design Build apart.

Design Solutions for Daily Living

Bathroom Transformation:

• Existing footprint maximized with smart reconfiguration

• Floor-to-ceiling tile in vertical installation for dramatic visual impact

• Freestanding tub with beautiful tub filler for spa-like relaxation

• Frosted shower glass for privacy while maintaining open feel

• Custom makeup counter with stool space for daily routine ease

Storage Innovation:

• Arched closet opening replacing traditional door for elegant accessibility

• Hand-crafted shelving custom fabricated by our carpenters

• Perfect fit designed specifically for the existing space

• Functional beauty that serves storage needs while enhancing design

Lighting Mastery:

• Vanity-to-ceiling mirror creating the illusion of expanded space

• Creative sconce solution with precision-drilled mirror mounting

• Face-level illumination optimized for daily grooming routines

• Beautiful fixtures that enhance the natural, warm aesthetic

Luxury Details:

• Heated towel bar for comfort and function

• Premium tile floors that set the tone for the entire space

• Custom vanity designed for Chelsie's specific needs

• Quality materials chosen for both beauty and apartment living

Whole-Home Cohesion

Living Room Refresh:

• Paint transformation to eliminate overwhelming grey tones

• Warm color palette that makes the space feel inviting and homey

• Cohesive flow from bathroom design into living spaces

Master Bedroom Update:

• Fresh, natural perspective that complements the bathroom design

• Style consistency that reflects Chelsie's personal aesthetic

• Seamless transition between bedroom and bathroom spaces

Craftsmanship Highlights

Custom Carpentry: Our skilled carpenters hand-fabricated the closet shelving to perfectly fit the existing space, demonstrating the attention to detail that sets BAB Design Build apart.

Precision Installation: The vanity-to-ceiling mirror required creative problem-solving for lighting placement. Our team's solution – precision-drilled mounting holes for sconces – shows how we turn challenges into design opportunities.

Tile Artistry: The vertical tile installation creates dramatic visual impact while the floor tile selection ties the entire space together, showcasing our commitment to both function and beauty.

The Results

Chelsie's bathroom transformation exceeded expectations, creating a space that truly feels like a personal retreat. The natural, relaxing atmosphere achieved through thoughtful material selection and custom details makes every day feel a little more special.

Key Achievements:

• Personal sanctuary that reflects Chelsie's individual style

• Functional luxury with makeup counter and heated towel bar

• Visual drama through floor-to-ceiling vertical tile installation

• Custom storage with hand-crafted shelving and arched opening

• Whole-home cohesion connecting bathroom design to living spaces

• Apartment-appropriate solutions that work within existing constraints

Design Elements That Made the Difference:

• Freestanding tub as a focal point for relaxation

• Frosted shower glass balancing privacy with openness

• Natural material palette creating warmth and tranquility

• Custom lighting solution providing perfect illumination

• Heated towel bar adding daily luxury

Seamless tile work from floor to ceiling

Client Satisfaction

From the post-project survey:

Overall Satisfaction: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Satisfied Quality of Work: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Communication: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Professionalism: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good Problem Resolution: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yes - Issues addressed promptly Likelihood to Recommend: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Likely

What motivated Chelsie to choose BAB Design Build: "Initial quote and working with women."

About our trade partners: "They were all pretty easy to communicate with.”

Design support throughout the project: "Great! There was a specific tile that we had to change last minute (in the shower floor) and we had good communication getting the change approved and ordered!"

Problem resolution example: "The painter accidentally broke an entryway sconce and it was repaired and replaced in a timely manner!"

Final testimonial: "I really liked working with Bob Anderson Builders, the project manager kept up on frequent updates and communication. The team was very thorough throughout the entirety of the project. I appreciated their hard-work and plan to use them again for future projects!"

What Made This Project Special

Personal Understanding: At BAB Design Build, we understand that great design isn't one-size-fits-all. What Chelsie needed was completely different from a family bathroom or guest powder room, and our collaborative approach ensured every decision reflected her unique lifestyle.

Creative Problem-Solving: From the lighting challenge with the ceiling-height mirror to the custom shelving fabrication, every obstacle became an opportunity for innovation. This problem-solving approach has served our clients well since 1979.

Apartment Expertise: Working within existing apartment constraints while achieving luxury results demonstrates the versatility that comes with our design-build expertise and experienced team.

Whole-Home Vision: Extending the bathroom's natural warmth into the living room and bedroom created a cohesive environment that feels intentionally designed - exactly what you'd expect from our comprehensive approach.

Employee-Owned Quality: Hand-fabricated shelving and precision mirror work show the attention to detail that comes from personal investment in every project's success. As an employee-owned company, our craftsmen take pride in delivering exceptional results.

The BAB Design Build Difference

This project highlights several key advantages of working with BAB Design Build:

• Personal Design Approach: Understanding that every client's needs are unique

• Custom Fabrication: Hand-crafting solutions that fit perfectly

• Creative Problem-Solving: Turning constraints into design opportunities

• Whole-Home Vision: Creating cohesive design that flows throughout living spaces

• Quality Materials: Selecting finishes that work beautifully for apartment living

• Employee Ownership: Personal investment in creating spaces clients truly love

Creating Your Personal Sanctuary

Whether you're making an apartment feel like home, updating a master bathroom, or refreshing your living spaces, the key is understanding how you actually live and what makes you feel most at peace.

Chelsie's project proves that you don't need a mansion to have luxury – you just need thoughtful design-build expertise that reflects who you are and supports how you want to experience your daily routines.

The Result: A bathroom that feels like a spa retreat, connected living spaces that feel warm and welcoming, and a home that truly reflects its owner's personality.

At BAB Design Build, we believe every space has the potential to become a sanctuary. Our collaborative approach ensures that whether you're working with an apartment, updating a single room, or planning a whole-home refresh, the result will be uniquely yours.

Ready to Create Your Personal Retreat?

Every space has the potential to become a sanctuary. Whether you're working with an apartment, updating a single room, or planning a whole-home refresh, BAB Design Build can help you create spaces that feel authentically yours.

BAB Design Build is part of The Anderson Construction Group, an employee-owned company serving Wisconsin since 1979. From intimate apartment renovations to whole-home transformations, we're honored to help create spaces where you can truly be yourself.