Primary Bath Remodel · Granite Bay, CA · case study
Symmetrical primary bath · Granite Bay
Centered freestanding soaking tub on a fluted-tile feature wall, mirrored his-and-hers walnut vanities with quartzite counters and brushed-brass faucets, heated porcelain floor, and a layout that lines the tub up with a live-oak window view.
Days on site
28
Service
Primary Bath Remodel
Where
Granite Bay
Scope tier
Luxury scope
The brief
What the homeowner wanted
A 2000s primary bath with two undersized vanities, a corner tub no one used, and a layout that ignored the room's best feature — a tall west-facing window framed by a mature live oak. The homeowners wanted symmetry — equal walnut vanities facing each other — and a freestanding tub centered on the window so the view becomes the focal point of the room. We rebuilt the room around two clean axes: the tub axis (centered on the window) and the vanity axis (perfectly mirrored).
The scope
Exactly what we built
A scope checklist is how every Tanbark project starts. Below is the real list we worked from on this build — the same level of specificity goes into the itemized estimate you'll get after your in-home walk-through.
- Full demo back to studs in the wet zone
- Layout change: corner tub out, freestanding tub centered on the window
- Symmetric his-and-hers walnut vanities with custom drawer layouts
- Honed quartzite counters with mitered edge
- Fluted-tile feature wall behind the tub, floor-to-ceiling
- Heated porcelain floor with smart programmable thermostat
- Brushed-brass faucetry (unlacquered, designed to patina)
- Layered lighting with three dimmable circuits
- Plumbing + electrical permits with Placer County
Materials + finishes
What we specified
We publish the actual material specs because finishes are what make a build feel custom — and because the cheap version of every line below is the difference between a one-year project and a twenty-year project.
- Walnut his-and-hers vanities with custom drawer layouts
- Honed quartzite counter with full-thickness mitered edge
- Fluted ceramic feature-wall tile (vertical grain), warm cream
- Heated porcelain floor with smart programmable thermostat
- Unlacquered brushed-brass faucetry (designed to patina)
- Frameless 3/8" tempered shower glass
Day by day
How 28 working days actually go
Visitors love seeing the schedule honestly. Below is how this project actually broke down. Your timeline will look similar; the exact day count lives in your written estimate.
- 1
Demo + protection
Day 1-3Full demo back to studs, floor-to-finish-door floor protection laid for the whole project.
- 2
Rough-in
Day 4-9Plumbing re-routed for the freestanding tub, electrical for radiant heat + lighting.
- 3
Floor + heat
Day 10-14Heated mat laid, porcelain floor set, grouted, sealed.
- 4
Feature wall + tub
Day 15-19Fluted tile set floor-to-ceiling, tub placed and centered on the window.
- 5
Vanities + counters
Day 20-24Symmetric walnut vanities hung, quartzite counters templated and set with mitered edges.
- 6
Fixtures + lighting
Day 25-27Unlacquered brass fixtures across vanities + tub, three-circuit dimmable lighting wired.
- 7
Inspection + reveal
Day 28Placer County final inspection, deep clean, walk-through, warranty handover.
Why this build matters
The details that took it from good to great
- Symmetry is hard — it requires both vanities to be exactly the same width, the same drawer layout, and the same plumbing rough-in distance. Easy to draw, harder to execute.
- Centering the tub on the window is a free design move that completely changes how the room reads.
- Unlacquered brass is the right move for clients who want their home to *age*. Lacquered brass eventually flakes; unlacquered just patinas.
“Two vanities, perfect mirror image, tub centered on the live oak. They listened, then they actually delivered it.”
— Granite Bay homeowner
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Want the same scope-checklist for your project?
Grab the free 2026 Sacramento Remodel Planning Kit — the same scope worksheet, contractor question list, and material spec sheet we use on builds like this primary bath remodel in Granite Bay.
- Scope-Built Quote Worksheet — for apples-to-apples bids
- 10 questions every Sacramento contractor should answer
- Sacramento permit reality check by jurisdiction
- The 5 line items that blow most remodel budgets
- Material + finish cheat sheet (what to spec, what to skip)
About the number on a project like this:
We don't publish project totals because the same build can cost very differently depending on the home, the existing conditions, the finish level you actually want, and how much custom millwork or stone the design calls for. The right number for your project lives in your itemized written estimate, which we deliver within 48 hours of your in-home walk-through.
On the walk we bring the same scope-checklist approach you see above. By the end of the visit you'll know exactly which line items are fixed scope, which are selections, and where the real budget pressure lives.
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Next step
Want a build like this on your home?
Book a free in-home walk-through. A Tanbark Project Manager (not a salesperson) will measure, ask the right questions, and bring you an itemized scope-built estimate within 48 hours.
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