Master Makeover

Detailed planning was key in Shannon and Jay Baxter’s stunning master suite renovation. The couple enlisted Jo Rabaut of Rabaut Design Associates, a full-service design firm, to transform the cramped, outdated space into a warm and spacious retreat. “Every dimension was critical in this project,” says Rabaut. “Because the space was small, we had to be careful early on in the project that everything was laid out exactly where it needed to be so that we could maximize every square inch.”

Sloped ceilings throughout the space prompted Rabaut and her team to take advantage of the height by relocating often-used essentials, such as the new custom double-sink vanity and standing shower, to the center of the bathroom while tucking away laundry machines and storage in tighter corners. In the closet, they eliminated a center wall and used the room’s perimeter for clever hanging space and shoe storage, a move that made room for an island and additional lighting.

A reserved color palette was also crucial in making the suite feel larger than its small footprint. A rich gray-green hue in a variety of creative applications, from the glass tile and glazed millwork in the bathroom to the wainscoting and fretwork wallpaper on the bedroom’s feature wall, lends a calming and airy ambience. However, Rabaut was also mindful of incorporating the homeowners’ fun energy into the master retreat through splashes of turquoise and pink. A mix of materials and textures—brass, linen, marble, Lucite, glass and leather—also elevates visual intrigue.

“Aesthetically, the goal was to create something modern and crisp but with a touch of glam,” explains Rabaut. “The suite is the most private portion of their residence, and it’s come to feel like a hidden jewel.”

RESOURCES DESIGN Jo Rabaut, Rabaut Design Associates CONTRACTOR Keiffer Phillips, Patricia Brown Builders, Inc. BED Emerson et Cie ACCENT PILLOW Designers Guild NIGHTSTANDS Bernhardt Interiors LAMP AND MIRROR Arteriors CONSOLE Michael Vanderbyl for Bolier WALLCOVERING Summer Palace Fret by Schumacher RUG Patterson, Flynn & Martin DRAPERY Kravet OTTOMANS Hickory Chair, reupholstered in JAB Anstoetz OIL PAINTING Erin Gregory at Gregg Irby Fine Art WATERCOLORS Erin McIntosh at Gregg Irby Fine Art CABINETRY Designed by Jo Rabaut, fabricated by Evans Millwork Inc. TILE Ann Sacks MARBLE Renaissance Tile ROMAN SHADE Bethe by Braemore