Case Study

A Master Suite Transformation in Bloomington Built as a Blue Retreat

How DreamMaker took an 80s master suite - bedroom, closet, and bath - and turned it into a serene, award-winning retreat that finally matched the rest of the home.

Bloomington, Minnesota

TIMELINE

Traditional & Contemporary

Bathroom Remodeling

Project Overview

The Third Project. The Best One Yet.

This Bloomington couple had already trusted DreamMaker with their main level remodel – twice. When it came time to bring the master suite into the same conversation, they knew exactly who to call. The bedroom, closet, and bathroom had changed little since the home was built in the 1980s, and the gap between the suite and the rest of the home had become impossible to ignore.

DreamMaker picked up where they had left off – carrying the same blend of traditional and contemporary design upstairs and delivering a private retreat worthy of the home it lived in. The project went on to win first place for Residential Bath Over $60K at the MN NARI COTY awards and an Honorable Mention from MN NKBA for Large and Master Baths.

Location: Minnesota

Neighborhood: Bloomington

About The Neighborhood

Bloomington is one of the Twin Cities’ most established suburbs – a community with well-kept homes, design-savvy homeowners, and a strong tradition of investing in spaces that hold up over time. A master suite rebuilt with gray marble, etched glass, in-floor heat, and bioethanol fireplace fits naturally into a neighborhood where quality is the baseline expectation.

The Challenge

What Wasn’t Working

Before the remodel, the space faced several challenges:

A master suite largely unchanged since the home was built in the 1980s
A bedroom that felt disconnected from the updated main level below
A wood-burning fireplace requiring ongoing maintenance and producing uneven heat
A closet walkway positioned off-center from the large closet window - blocking light and making both spaces feel smaller and less connected
An enclosed tub nook and shower nook creating a closed-off bathroom layout
No private water closet
A single vanity wall with no make-up counter or meaningful storage
No in-floor heat and insufficient insulation on the exterior wall
An overall aesthetic that mixed nothing - dated materials throughout with no cohesive design direction

Every space in the suite – bedroom, closet, and bathroom – needed attention at the same time.

BEFORE

“DreamMaker exceeded our expectations once again. Having worked with them on our main level we knew what to expect – but they still managed to surprise us. The master suite is everything we hoped for and more. It feels completely connected to the rest of the home now and it has become the private retreat we always wanted it to be. The attention to detail, the materials, the lighting – every decision was made with real care. We could not recommend them more highly.”

– Robert & Susan M., Bloomington, MN

5.0 | Google Review

The Solution

Built Around How They Actually Live

DreamMaker approached all three spaces – bedroom, closet, and bathroom – as a single connected suite rather than three separate projects, ensuring that every decision reinforced the serene, traditional-meets-contemporary atmosphere the homeowners wanted throughout.

Key Improvements included:

Bedroom

New furnishings and finishes updated to match the rest of the home
Wood-burning fireplace replaced with an EcoSmart bioethanol insert – cleaner, more even heat with no maintenance
Fireplace refaced with gray marble slab, white wood moldings, and a gray antiqued mantle
Hearth eliminated for a cleaner contemporary profile

Closet

Walkway relocated three feet and centered on the large window – drawing natural light into both spaces
Storage cabinets and window seat added for function and comfort
New closet systems fitted to current needs
Etched glass double sliding doors eliminating door swings into the walkway

Bathroom

Guest room closet space borrowed to create a private water closet with etched glass sliding door
Enclosed tub and shower nooks opened up entirely
Freestanding tub positioned under the window for light and an airy feel
Gray marble and glass shower beside the tub – open, his and hers layout
Two vanities flanking a make-up counter with adjacent linen closet and open shelves
In-floor heat under tile and insulation added to the exterior wall
Toe-kick lighting for soft night use
Heritage-style cabinetry with hand-applied finish, decorative glass backsplash, recycled glass make-up counter, and a mix of blue crystal and brushed pewter button knobs

AFTER