Falls Church homeowners Michelle Lease and Trevor Blankley had dreams of renovating their rambler to accommodate a more spacious primary bedroom, closet and bathroom suite. They assumed a pop-up second level was the way to go until Craig Durosko, founder of Clifton-based Sun Design, advised them that doing so would require “extensive and expensive work.”
The more affordable solution: A main-level bump-out that expanded their home’s footprint by 300 feet, with pretty window bays that bring light and sylvan views inside.
The star of the addition is a spa-like, nature-inspired bathroom. Unlike its predecessor—a cramped, 5×7-foot nook with one sink and a narrow shower stall—this one has space and style.
Responding to the couple’s wishes, lead designer Ericka Williams selected a double vanity (painted in Sherwin-Williams Tartan Green) with his-and-hers sinks and brushed bronze fixtures. Neutral elements include quartz countertops; a glass shower enclosure with a built-in bench; porcelain tile floors; and an elegant Streamline soaking tub with a floor-mounted tub filler.
The tub occupies a bay alcove with 12-foot ceilings (four feet higher than the rest of the room) framed by built-in display shelves and windows on two sides, with shades that can be pulled down for privacy.
Opulent wallcoverings complete the aesthetic. When Lease gravitated toward gold-specked wall tiles that would have blown their budget, Williams encouraged her to consider wallpaper instead. The metallic botanical print by Ferm Living is now a defining feature. It’s complemented by mirrors that Williams snapped up on Wayfair and light fixtures from West Elm.
For the owners, the luxury of a good soak has become a ritual. “There’s nothing better than having a bath after a long day,” Blankley says. Lease agrees: “I’m officially a bath person!”
