Case Study

A Craftsman Master Bath Transformation in Golden Valley Built to Last and Built to Sell

How DreamMaker focused every dollar on the two things that mattered most - the tub and the shower - and delivered a bathroom that feels completely new without replacing everything in it.

Golden Valley, Minnesota

TIMELINE

Craftsman & Contemporary

Bathroom Remodeling

Project Overview

Smart Choices. Stunning Results.

These Golden Valley empty-nesters weren’t going anywhere just yet – but they were thinking ahead. They wanted a master bath that reflected their taste and worked better for their daily lives, without spending beyond what the home could support at resale. That meant keeping what was worth keeping and focusing the budget where it would make the biggest difference.

DreamMaker identified the tub and shower as the clear priorities, presented options for both, and built a remodel around the smartest set of decisions this bathroom could support. The result is a space that feels genuinely transformed – because the right things were changed.

Location: Minnesota

Neighborhood: Golden Valley

About The Neighborhood

Golden Valley is an established Twin Cities suburb with a strong tradition of well-maintained craftsman homes and homeowners who invest in their properties with care and intention. A master bath updated with silver travertine, in-floor heat, and a freestanding soaking tub fits naturally into a neighborhood where quality is expected and taste is evident.

The Challenge

What Wasn’t Working

Before the remodel, the space faced several challenges:

A dated jetted corner tub that was inconvenient to use and visually heavy in the space
A shower footprint limited by a knee wall that served no real purpose
Dark gold heavily textured Venetian plaster walls with a wax finish - impossible to simply paint over
Carpet in the master closet running up to the bathroom threshold
No in-floor heat and no hot water recirculating pump - meaning a cold start every morning
A budget that needed to stay within resale range - requiring creative prioritization rather than a full replacement

Every decision had to earn its place within a defined budget and a clear end goal.

BEFORE

“Every time I shower I gaze at the travertine stone panel and see something new. We both appreciate the aesthetics and the functionality of what DreamMaker did for us – it has genuinely changed how we experience our bathroom every single day.”

– Thomas & Susan K., Golden Valley, MN

5.0 | Google Review

The Solution

Built Around How They Actually Live

DreamMaker kept the existing layout, reused the tub and sink faucetry, mirror, and vanity light fixtures, and painted the existing vanity – directing every available dollar toward the tub, the shower, and the details that would make the biggest daily difference.

Key Improvements included:

Dated jetted corner tub replaced with an elegant freestanding soaking tub
Corner ledge added behind the tub to supplement a freestanding bath bench
Knee wall between tub and shower eliminated - enlarging the shower footprint while keeping the existing drain location
A silver travertine stone shower panel with matching niches and a solid-surface low-profile shower base installed at the shower.
Both rain head and handheld shower fixtures ordered to match existing tub and sink faucetry
New frameless clear glass shower door allowing the travertine panel to be the focal point
All fixtures converted to fresh white throughout - deep squared sinks, new tub, and new comfort height toilet with soft close lid
Beautiful quartz topping both the vanity and the new corner ledge
Venetian plaster walls sanded and smooth skimmed before painting in a soft honey tone
Large format 18x36 porcelain flooring with in-floor heat extended into the formerly carpeted closet
Recirculating pump added for instant hot water throughout