Spa bath wins ‘Contractor of the Year’ for remodeler Michael Nash | Articles

A spacious master bath renovation in a circa 1970s center hall Colonial in Reston has won a “Contractor of the Year” (COTY) award for Michael Nash Design Build and Homes.

The recently-completed makeover was named the Washington-area's best residential bathroom in the $50,000 to $75,000 category by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry metro DC chapter.

The winning solution successfully converts a 270-square-foot production-house master bathroom into an open spa bath with many cutting-edge amenities. The remodel features a roll-in shower and freestanding pedestal tub, a custom-designed double sink vanity with flanking wardrobe closets and a separate commode – all smoothly integrated into a “transitional style” interior that balances textured surfaces, glass walls and a subtle interplay of colors and tones.

Acknowledging the prize, Michael Nash president and founder Sonny Nazemian, credited his high performance design and production team:

“The ‘COTY’ is a peer group award conferred by professionals who have determined which remodeling projects in a given year have delivered the most value to homeowners. Budget is always a key consideration, and achieving budget out-performance has always been our goal as a company. The award tells me we are doing our job well.”

For homeowners Stephen and Marguerite Ragone, who have occupied the four-bedroom Colonial for 37 years, the prize is also a gratifying acknowledgment of a whole series of design and budget decisions.

“Ironically, we had designed our previous master bath ourselves in the late ‘90s,” Marguerite says. “The main feature was a platform tub under two windows; unfortunately, it took up so much space we only had room for a small shower, which is what we mostly used for bathing. The platform was so outsized we couldn't even walk to the windows and look out. After seeing several spa baths in our travels, we decided we were ready for a change.”

The Ragones’ research process entailed years of clipping home improvement articles and studying interiors online. But it was a visit to the Michael Nash showroom on Lee Highway last year that started the ball rolling.

“Most of the relevant ideas I had gained from my research were already on display in the Michael Nash showroom,” Marguerite says. “The staff was really helpful when I asked for input, however...which made all the difference. I may have visited five or six times. The professional guidance kept [the] design process focused on what really worked.”

On this point, Sonny Nazemian says that there are more “decision points” in a bathroom than any other part of the house.

“We've built our company on the strengths of an interior design staff skilled at helping homeowners discover their personal style,” he says. “The collaboration between owners and designers is the critical juncture that makes everything possible. In the end, it’s our breadth of experience with both housing styles and diverse personal tastes that enables us to effectively meet such wide-ranging client requirements.”

The larger question for the Ragones, however, was: Can a dated floor plan be transformed into a free-flowing, postmodern design that precisely conforms to the bathroom's existing footprint?

“We wanted many interior design and personal-use improvements,” Marguerite recalls, “but we were especially keen on an Aging-in-Place solution that would allow us to comfortably continue living in our house. Among other improvements, we pictured a roll-in shower that wouldn't require a built-in curb to keep the water in, but weren't sure if this was even possible.”

To meet the new shower requirements, the Micheal Nash team removed the platform tub and introduced a subfloor that raised the floor about an inch.

The shower is now lower than before, and the sub floor bevels slightly toward a linear drain, so there's no need for a built-in lip around the shower.”

“This kind of change requires angles that are absolutely precise,” Nazemian says. “Water is always the judge of whether a shower design works well.”

Tucked behind two 3-foot glass walls, the new 5'-by-5' open shower occupies a corner opposite the entrance from the bedroom. There's a small bench at one end, the hand-held shower nozzle within easy reach. Overhead, the stainless steel “waterfalls” rain shower head features a range of water pressure options and sprays.

To improve access, the hallway leading into the suite has been widened been from 32 inches to 36 inches (ADA wheel-chair clearance requirements). The doorless shower is likewise ADA compliant.

For a more leisurely bathing experience, however, the classic claw foot tub – positioned catty-corner below two windows – presents a restful view of the tree tops.

The tub is also zoned for maximum privacy. It is steps from the vanity and towels and away from traffic to the shower and commode.

To accommodate the couple's personal bathing needs, the design team replaced a single sink vanity with a double vanity flanked by personal wardrobe closets that occupies 10 linear feet of wall space.

Constructed of Cherry wood and featuring Cambridge style cabinet facings and exotic granite surfaces, the vanities present a clean, linear elegance in a room that is now refreshingly simplified and spacious.

“All of our interior work including plumbing and electrical is executed by our employees,” says Sonny Nazemian. “This gave us [the] ability to deliver more for the money. Also, we don't charge for unknown contingencies, and avoid change orders.”

All in all: a very pretty, very restful personal space.

“This is really a kind of sanctuary now,” Marguerite says. “We look forward to our years ahead in this house with much greater confidence.”

For information call (703) 641-9800 or visit MichaelNashKitchens.com

John Byrd has been writing about home improvement for 30 years. He can be reached at (703) 715-8006, www.HomeFrontsNews.com or byrdmatx@gmail.com