The Good News

Sometimes remodel projects are the result of months or even years of dreaming. Sometimes they start with detailed plans and a specific vision.

And sometimes they’re the result of necessity.

Polk City residents Erik and Karin Howe knew when they bought their home that eventually they’d want to update the master bath. “It had a huge whirlpool tub that took up a lot of the space, and we didn’t really use it,” says Karin Howe. “But we didn’t have a specific plan in mind and hadn’t really talked about doing it yet.”

And then fate stepped in. “We noticed evidence of a leak on the lower-level ceiling,” Karin says. “We thought it must be coming from the shower in the master bath.”

For the Howes, that turned out to be both bad news and good news.

The bad news was that the shower was definitely leaking.

The good news was that they would be getting that new master bath a bit sooner than expected.

The Howes called their regular handyman provider, KC Handyman, and were told that their assessment was correct.

Devan Kaufman, owner of KC Handyman and Kaufman Construction, says, “A lot of the homeowners we talk to in this situation want to try to fix the leak. But our experience has taught us that most of these shower pans don’t hold up to repairs.”

Since the Howes had always been happy with the work and service provided by KC Handyman, they knew they couldn’t go wrong having Kaufman Construction handle the remodel project.

“The original bathroom had darker finishes that didn’t really seem to fit with the rest of the house,” Karin says. “We didn’t have a specific look in mind, but we knew we wanted something more consistent with the rest of the house. Jackie [KC designer Jaclyn Montour] was wonderful at coming up with a design that did that.”

In addition to lighter tile and fixtures, Karin Howe says they wanted a more spacious shower and a freestanding soaking tub that would take up less space and allow room for a larger vanity.

Kaufman says, “For the most part, the Howes wanted to keep the same layout. But they wanted to maximize the space and use it more efficiently.”

“After our initial meeting, we created a mood board so I could get a sense of what they liked and what they didn’t,” says designer Montour. “My first recommendation included brushed-nickel hardware, and Karin said she really wanted brass. That helped set the tone and finalize the design.”

Karin says, “We met a few times with Jackie to finalize choices. She would give me selections. I was just able to approve them because she understood our preferences right away.”

Adapting the concept to reflect the Howes’ preferences, Montour came up with a vision the homeowners hadn’t even begun to imagine—a classic design with simple lines, warm finishes, and the perfect custom touches, which was exactly what they needed.

Although the new custom vanity is stained to coordinate with the existing trim and doors, Karin says the room still feels lighter and more spacious than before. The previous darker tile and finishes, along with the oversized whirlpool tub, gave the room a close, cramped feel.

Now a sleek new soaking tub, warm cabinetry, and light tile throughout the shower and floors create a relaxing feel. Custom touches like the light fixture over the tub and the multipattern tile installation in the shower add elegance.

“We’ve recently added a member to our team who specializes in tile installation, which enabled us to use a tile system that we have wanted to use for quite some time,” says Kaufman. “This helps us expand our options with tile projects.”

One benefit of the new system is that it allows heated floor products to extend beyond the main floor and under the shower. “Not only do heated floors add comfort. But when you use a heating system under the shower, it dries everything more quickly and efficiently, which minimizes issues with mold and mildew,” Kaufman explains.

The project started in May and completed in July was much less stressful than the Howes expected. “We love the finished space. We actually use the bathtub now, and everything looks like it fits the style of the home,” Karin says.

That leaky shower may have seemed like bad news at the time. But in the end, the good news far outweighs the bad. •