Our Portfolio

This Philadelphia family purchased their grand Federal style home in West Philadelphia with the intention of remodeling. When they initially contacted us, their plan was to focus on the first floor, but after discussing their goals in greater depth, it became clear to the client that in addition to a full first-floor remodel, they also wanted to add in the renovations for the kids’ bathroom as well as their primary suite.

Our architectural design team began the project with an exciting new concept for the kid’s bathroom. The ultimate goal was to expand and update the existing layout to create a larger bathroom for their family's daily use. Our clients had emphasized the need for finishes and selections that the family could grow and age with. We used this stated need as a guide for the options that the Bellweather team presented…

Reconfiguring a Small Bathroom Layout to Maximize Space 

Our design and development department at Bellweather Design-Build was initially asked by the clients to develop a few concepts that could expand and upgrade the layout and function for their young kids. They were focused on improving the layout while maintaining the existing window locations, hall door location and toilet location. Since this project was part of a larger renovation for this home, the option to retain these elements in their existing locations provided some paths to keep costs down for this bathroom remodel and the project overall.

Our new proposed layouts included expanding the bathroom footprint into an oversized bedroom closet which was behind the bathroom. This allowed us to create more depth in the space. With more room, we were able to remove the awkward and small shower for a more family-friendly tub/shower combo. Our clients mentioned that the kids truly enjoy bath time now as compared to before!

One of our favorite (and low cost) design changes in this bathroom was moving the vanity to the opposite side of the bathroom. Originally this bathroom was small, and dark and the vanity and the mirror were on the same wall as the window. Moving the vanity and the mirror to the opposite wall of the window allows for the sun to shine in and reflect off the mirror. For the majority of the day, the natural sunlight brightens the spaces and makes it feel larger than it is. This minor update has made a huge difference in this smaller bathroom.

How We Creatively Designed A Kid Friendly Bathroom

One of our client’s design goals was to create a bathroom that would comfortably age with their kids. We worked with our clients to focus on age-flexible materials and finishes, many of which were custom elements that helped develop the character of the room. The resulting design solutions harmonized a custom vanity, two-toned hex tile on the floors, custom vanity marble backsplash and hand-crafted vanity hardware for a creative yet practical Transitional vibe. 

Stephanie Hoffmeier, a Bellweather designer, noted, "I've worked with many parents who decide to pursue simple, neutral finishes in kid's bathrooms. Age-flexible design choices for the permanent fixtures allows variable accessories such as shower curtains, towels and bath mats to provide the pop of color or pattern that provides the real character -- allowing the space to change and adapt through the years with children’s change in preferences and personalities."

A simple, yet creative feature in this kids’ bathroom is the lowered towel hooks to be more reachable to their children. We thought this would be a simple and thoughtful design element that would be appreciated for years to come.

Working with Bellweather Design-Build

At Bellweather, we specialize in remodeling older and historic homes in Philadelphia and it's suburbs. Whether you’re looking for the bathroom remodeler near you or a whole home, kitchen, and bath remodeling company, we’re positive we can help you accomplish your remodeling goals on time and on budget.

Interested in the benefits of using a design-build firm for your next renovation? Start by reviewing whether your remodeling project is a good fit for design-build, then schedule your initial consultation!