Maple Grove homeowners Dave and Cindy Rotter have a history of keeping their house up to date with the decorating trends. “We’ve redone the whole house, in sessions,” Cindy says. After years of thinking about it, in the summer of 2015 they completed a multi-bathroom and master bedroom remodel with J Brothers Home Improvement. Some of Cindy’s ideas for color scheme, flooring and fixtures came from watching the Home Improvement Channel. “The old bathroom was dated,” she admits. “It was 26 years old. It needed some freshening up.”
“We did all three bathrooms in the Rotter home in one remodel,” says J Brothers Home Improvement co-owner Chuck Johnson, who adds that about 60 percent of their work is done in Maple Grove. The master bath remodel took about four weeks, including some work in the master bedroom. The master bedroom got a new stone fireplace, new floors, new lighting, a closet makeover, and was relieved of its wallpaper.
Johnson’s wife and business co-owner, Teri, either helps people make design choices or makes a plan for the execution of owners’ ideas. In a typical process, “Teri meets with potential clients for design and layout, and continues to meet and work together with customers throughout the remodel process,” Chuck explains. In the case of the Rotter master bathroom remodel, “we kept the same footprint,” he says. “We got rid of the whirlpool, and replaced it with a new, free-standing tub.” They also enlarged the shower and re-designed and redecorated a small (but lovely) make-up vanity/dressing table.
“Before” photos show a perfectly functional, if somewhat dated, bathroom complete with contiguous corner shower, whirlpool bath and double-sink vanity. There was also a sink at the make-up vanity. “One sink more than we needed!” Cindy says. “Before” lighting was ceiling-recessed or movie-star style strips bordering mirrors. Four round bulbs perched high above the make-up vanity.
“After” photos are of the bathroom-envy-inducing variety. Front and center is the new tub, freestanding and sleek, tall enough to soak in and flared at one end for an elegant headrest. It sits next to a window with louvered wooden shades for privacy. To one side of the tub is the tiled, fully glass-enclosed expanded shower. It features a mosaic-style tile floor and small built-in seat. To the other side is a granite-topped double vanity. Floors are covered in new 6-inch by 2-foot tile planks. The location of the toilet did not change but a slightly higher, “comfort” model was installed. Some recessed ceiling lights remain, but the stars of the lighting show are two chandeliers, one domed and sparkling over the main area and another tiered and bejeweled chandelier over the make-up vanity. This area now accommodates a boudoir-type chair, a wall mirror, make-up mirror and drawers, cabinets and shelves.
Asked if it is a dictatorial or democratic process of decision-making that results in such a lovely new master bath, Cindy laughs and says she thinks a job like this “works best with one person in control.” A lot of the finish and materials choices were hers, but Teri and Dave came up with the new floor plan.
What does Cindy Rotter like best about her new bathroom? “Everything!” she says. High on the list are the new tub, which she’s learned to fill only after she’s in it, to avoid slipping upon entry, and the chandeliers. And what did Chuck Johnson like best about the project? The Rotters. Johnson says they are lovely people to work with. “They even provided lunch for the workers.”
