Renovation: The Master Suite Edition

After a long day—battling icy roads and traffic on I-25, perhaps?—sometimes you just want to snuggle up in bed and unwind. That desire for a space to decompress inspired Jennifer DesJardin, principal of Denver’s Motif Design Solutions, who transformed the master bedroom suite in this ’90s-era Castle Pines home into a soothing Zen sanctuary. DesJardin zeroed in on the misguided allocation of space—disproportionately sized his-and-hers closets and a dance-floor-like emptiness in the bathroom—and style faux pas like burgundy-accented countertops. “I can see potential in spaces that are not so attractive,” she says. “It’s kind of like a puzzle for me to solve.”

Beginning with a complete gutting of the 875-square-foot space, DesJardin reimagined the entire floor plan to include a newly designed sitting nook and entryway in addition to a closet and bathroom makeover. The result is a peaceful at-home retreat perfect for cozying up—and shutting the rest of the world out—on cold winter evenings.

_{At once comfortable and elegant, the well-edited fireside nook lets the homeowners decompress in a space that separates the goings-on of the house from the sanctuary of the bedroom. DesJardin added an entryway vestibule just beyond the sitting area. “I don’t like when you can walk off the hallway directly into the bedroom,” she says. “I like to have a sense of entry. It makes you stop and say, ‘I’ve arrived somewhere.’?”}

Design Tip: An upscale stacked-stone fireplace surround would have run $70 or $80 per square foot, so DesJardin chose Ceramiche Piemme porcelain tile (Newstone in Ledger Beige), which looks like stacked stone, for about $11 a square foot.

_{The updated bathroom shows off classic double sinks from Kohler, traditional cabinetry from Kitchen Showcase, and PentalQuartz countertops.}

_{The sleek MTI Baths vessel tub and contemporary porcelain flooring (made to look like hardwood) bring a modern sensibility to the space.?}

DESIGN TIP: Beautiful light fixtures—like the Robert Abbey Delany chandelier in this closet—were once reserved for entries or dining rooms, says DesJardin, but are now a mainstay in closets. “It’s like jewelry in an otherwise utilitarian space.”