A Primary Suite Reconsidered
As part of an extensive whole-home remodel in Encinitas, the second floor was substantially reorganized to create a more functional primary suite, dressing room, bathroom, and adjoining living spaces.
A seating area beside the windows takes advantage of natural light and outdoor access. A privacy window adds architectural detail, while sconces integrated into the wood accent wall provide light for reading.
The adjoining dressing room is considerably more than a walk-in closet. Built-in storage lines the perimeter, leaving generous open space for dressing and furnishings. Matching privacy windows bring natural light into the room and carry a distinctive architectural detail from the bedroom into the dressing space.
Design That Had to Keep Moving
During construction, the homeowners decided to add a fireplace downstairs, requiring the new chimney to pass through the newly designed primary dressing room. We reworked the closet layout and cabinetry around the new chimney location so the change could be integrated without compromising the symmetry or function of the finished space.
A Primary Bath Designed for Two
The expansive bathroom gives two people room to use the space at the same time. Separate vanity areas provide individual counter space and storage, while the oversized zero-entry shower includes two shower stations. A broad window fills the shower with natural light and frames views of palms and treetops, while its placement protects privacy from exterior sightlines. Radiant floor heating adds warmth underfoot during cooler months.
The vanity continues the clean, open design with a broad countertop and streamlined fixtures. An illuminated mirror reflects light from the window across the room, extending the sense of brightness without adding visual clutter.
The shower pairs glossy, vertically installed white tile with a river-rock pebble border. Multiple shower fixtures make use of the unusually generous space.
The bathroom floor and shower were designed to read as one continuous surface. Because the shower pan required tile rated for wet-area use, we sourced compatible tile that could meet the different performance requirements without creating a visible transition.
What You Don’t See
Creating a shower without a curb or threshold wasn’t simply a finish decision. The original permit set didn’t account for the required structural changes, so we modified the second-story floor framing and coordinated the engineering needed to build the shower floor at the correct elevation. It’s a structural solution that’s almost invisible in the finished room.
The primary suite was one part of a much larger Encinitas whole-home remodel, with interconnected design and structural changes throughout both floors.
