The best investment you can make right now is redesigning your home

By Patricia Nugent

If ever there was a juncture in time to put a little more retreat in your life, it would be now.

Though we could all use a little getaway to a five-star spa, that may not be in the cards. Why not create a relaxing oasis in your home that’ll make you say “ah” as soon as you walk in?

Over the past 45 years in the industry, Bob Gallese, owner of Acclaim Renovations & Design, and his team of ultra-creative designers have transformed countless bathrooms from outdated eyesores into sensational spa-worthy masterpieces.

“We’ve had many jobs come in over the past few months for bathroom and master bath renovations,” he says. “I think people have been spending more time at home and are taking a long and realistic view of what they want to improve.”

Take, for instance, the bathroom featured here. An older home in University Heights, the original bathroom had been renovated around 10 years ago, but the workmanship was sub-standard. Tile was falling and the shower was cracked and leaking.

Dialing up the Glam
“The couple wanted to fix the problems, as well as add some modern style and glamour to the space,” says Acclaim’s Kitchen and Bathroom Specialist Sarah Simpson, who designed the 6-by-12-foot room. “We took the color palette from boring browns and beiges to calming whites and grays. The clean, minimalist esthetic is punctuated by gleaming white subway tile, navy-hued shaker-style cabinetry, and a sleek slipper tub where the outdated one used to be. The elegant shower features double recessed niches, a decorative bench and pebbly mosaic tiles on the floor. The complementary flooring throughout the room is porcelain that looks like brushed limestone.”

Stealing the spotlight is the Tetris Blanco natural stone tile on an accent wall behind the tub and framed in stainless steel within the niches. Imported from Italy, the mosaic tile incorporates classic Carrara white marble into a captivating pattern.

The vanity abuts a half wall shared with the expanded shower, which is space that used to be a closet in an adjoining bedroom.

“Working with a glass craftsman, we created a special custom-cut mirror that hangs on the glass wall of the shower, which is a really artsy effect,” says Sarah.

A posh, pear-shaped, brushed silver chandelier adds a dash of drama over the tub.

Talking Tubs: What’s Hot, What’s Not
“In almost all of the renovations we are doing, sculptural soaking tubs and slipper tubs are a growing trend,” says Sarah. “Just like you’d find at a high-end spa or hotel, these striking freestanding pieces become the focal point in a design. They add a touch of minimalist elegance and glamour.”

Slipper tubs are replacing large, clunky Jacuzzi tubs with surrounds that take up a lot of real estate in any bathroom.

“Families just don’t use big tubs like they used to,” says Bob. “We’re seeing people either get rid of them altogether to make space for a larger shower or replace them with much smaller soaking tubs.”

A Dream Bath with Easy Financing
According to Bob, the average cost of a bathroom renovation is $90-$150 per square foot. But no worries about the sticker shock, as most people pay for the renovations over time.

“We take the fear out of financing by helping our clients explore the many options available now,” he says. Some lenders offer 18 months same as cash, and others offer five- and 10-year loans that break down to low monthly payments.

“There’s no reason for anyone to put off a renovation like this when it’s easily within their reach,” says Bob.

From beginning to end of any renovation, Acclaim has earned a reputation for taking anxiety out of equation, whether it’s pain-free financing, or putting constant and reliable communication in place with its 24/7 app.

“We are passionate about beautiful design,” says Bob. “Our designers let their creativity flow, finding out each client’s unique style and bringing it to life in the finished work.”

Acclaim Renovations & Design powered by One Man and a Hammer is located at 8550 East Avenue in Mentor. The company has been awarded Contractor of the Year by NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry). Call 440-974-8082 or visit AcclaimReno.com.