To say the master bathroom in Emily and Christian Moore’s home in Mt. Lebanon wasn’t functional is an understatement.

“The garden tub didn’t even really work; it leaked,” Emily says. “We had a cat’s litter box in it.”

The flooring was an outdated tile, the shower was tiny and the bulky tub also gave off a very 1990s vibe. Updating it was a priority, so Emily enlisted the help of Pittsburgh-based Studio S. Interior Design owner Laura Kostanich, whom she followed on Instagram and whose aesthetic resonated with her.

BEFORE THE RENOVATION.

“The main suite can be something that people think about last,” Kostanich says, “but [the Moores] knew it’s kind of like where they started and ended their day, so they wanted to focus on that and make their bathroom work for what they needed.”

Frampton Remodeling removed the tub and created an arched-entry double shower complemented by striking black tile; the former shower space also was converted into a closet. Adding a vintage touch is a creamy hutch piece with dentil crown detail that Kostanich salvaged from an old fireplace surround in Point Breeze.

Deciding on a metallic faucet, Emily also found a modern, European-style oak cabinet with pewter hardware for the vanity; Kostanich brought it all together with pewter mirrors, picture lights and brass fixtures.

“It’s a really great mixture of materials,” Kostanich says.

There’s also a custom cutout detail in the Carrara backsplash for brass push-button switches, which Emily requested after staying in a hotel in Madrid that had them.

Best of Design judges appreciated the combination of modernity and comfort, as well as the classic checkered tile flooring.

“I love how timeless it is,” says Katie Savakis, a project designer at Vocon in Cleveland. “It’s neutral colors, but the space has so much character and warmth to it. It’s not like walking into a stark white bathroom.”

Emily says Kostanich pulled off her vision perfectly.

“It feels like a spa or a hotel,” Emily says. “I love doing my makeup, doing my hair, and I feel like if we didn’t do it then we would have put it off.”

Read more Best of Design Winners 2024.

VENDORS

Interior Design: Studio S. Interior Design

General Contractor: Frampton Remodeling 

Fixtures: House of Rohl

Countertops: Primo Marble & Granite

Tile: Bedrosians Tile & Stone

Salvaged Furniture: FarmHowz

Vanity: Restoration Hardware