Project Summary
This primary bathroom remodel in Cicero, New York marked the beginning of a two-bathroom renovation for these homeowners. The project transformed an aging builder-grade bathroom into a spacious, low-maintenance retreat featuring a custom walk-in shower from The Onyx Collection, Fabuwood cabinetry, a custom cultured stone vanity top, luxury vinyl tile flooring, and updated plumbing fixtures throughout. By completing the primary bathroom first, the homeowners ensured they would always have a fully functioning bathroom available while work continued on the guest bathroom—a decision that proved especially valuable when an unexpected material issue delayed the second phase of the renovation.
Looking for the guest bathroom remodel that followed? Read how one of the final Sterling shower installations ever produced by The Onyx Collection nearly took an unexpected turn in our companion project: Guest Bathroom Tub-to-Shower Conversion in Cicero, NY →
Remodeling Two Bathrooms Without Losing Both
When homeowners decide to renovate two bathrooms at the same time, one of the first questions we ask isn’t about tile, vanities, or shower fixtures—it’s whether they’re comfortable living without a bathroom if something unexpected happens. Our answer is almost always the same: don’t.
Whenever possible, we avoid remodeling two bathrooms simultaneously. It might seem like the faster approach, but experience has taught us that bathroom remodeling is full of unknowns hiding behind finished walls and beneath finished floors. Plumbing may need to be rerouted, framing can require correction, subfloors occasionally need far more repair than anyone anticipated, and materials can arrive damaged or become unavailable without warning. None of those situations happen often, but when they do, they can extend a project by days—or sometimes weeks.
We’ve learned that lesson the hard way over the years. Leaving homeowners without a functioning shower or toilet simply isn’t worth the risk. Instead, we prefer to complete one bathroom, return it to full service, and then begin work on the next. That’s exactly how this Cicero project was planned. The primary bathroom would be completely finished before work began in the guest bathroom, ensuring the homeowners would always have a fully functional space available regardless of what happened during construction.
As it turned out, that decision became far more important than anyone expected.
A Primary Bathroom Designed Around Timeless Materials
The homeowners weren’t trying to create a bathroom that would chase the latest design trends. They wanted something clean, understated, and durable—materials that would look just as appropriate ten or fifteen years from now as they did on installation day.
The centerpiece of the renovation became a custom walk-in shower built with The Onyx Collection. Rather than selecting a traditional tile shower floor, they chose a mid-height Blue Pearl cultured stone shower pan paired with Coastal wall panels.
The subtle movement within Coastal provides enough visual texture to keep the walls interesting without overwhelming the room, while the deeper Blue Pearl pan anchors the shower and creates a natural contrast between the walls and floor. Matching Blue Pearl accessories—including a recessed Liberty Tower caddy, foot shelf, and ceiling trim—completed the installation, giving the shower a cohesive appearance from top to bottom rather than making each accessory feel like a separate addition.
The homeowners paired the shower with American Standard Aspirations fixtures in brushed nickel and upgraded to the Spectra Duo shower system. The clean lines of the Aspirations collection fit the overall design of the room perfectly, while the Spectra Duo combines a fixed showerhead with a detachable handheld spray, offering flexibility without adding visual clutter.
Outside the wet space, the original floor was removed and replaced with Tarkett ProGen luxury vinyl tile flooring in Travertino Horizon. Luxury vinyl tile has become one of our favorite flooring choices for bathrooms because it provides the appearance of natural stone while remaining warmer underfoot, quieter than ceramic tile, and exceptionally resistant to moisture. The flooring tied together the shower, vanity, and cabinetry without competing with any of them for attention.
Lastly, the toilet shut off valve and supply line were replaced before installing a new American Standard Cadet 3 FloWise commercial variant skirted toilet.
The Vanity Was Every Bit as Custom as the Shower
One of the nicest details in the room wasn’t the shower at all—it was the vanity.
The homeowners selected a semi-custom Fabuwood Galaxy Collection vanity finished in Indigo, accompanied by a matching floor-to-ceiling linen cabinet that provided substantial additional storage. While cabinet finishes often receive the most attention, it’s what sits behind those doors and drawers that ultimately determines how well a vanity holds up over years of daily use.
The Galaxy Collection is constructed from hardwood maple using ½-inch plywood construction with dovetail drawer boxes and soft-close hardware throughout. Those aren’t features most homeowners think about during the design process, but they’re the kinds of details that become noticeable after years of opening and closing drawers every day.
To finish the vanity, the homeowners selected a custom 1½-inch Onyx Collection cultured stone countertop in Coastal, fabricated with two Malibu rectangular undermount sinks and matching side and rear backsplashes. American Standard Rumson faucets completed the installation and tied the vanity into the brushed nickel finishes used throughout the rest of the bathroom.
This project also prompted one small change in how we guide homeowners today. While the dual rectangular undermount sinks looked excellent, fitting two separate bowls into a 48-inch vanity requires significant custom fabrication and leaves relatively little uninterrupted countertop space. Since this remodel, we’ve generally recommended integral oval sinks on vanities of this size. They provide a cleaner layout, maximize usable countertop space, and produce a finished product that we believe functions better over the long term.
With the primary bathroom complete, the homeowners had a beautiful new space to use while we turned our attention to the guest bathroom. Looking for more bathroom remodeling inspiration? Browse our complete portfolio of bathroom remodeling projects to see walk-in showers, tub-to-shower conversions, accessible bathrooms, custom vanities, and full bathroom renovations completed throughout Syracuse and Central New York.
Looking Back
Some bathroom remodels are remembered for dramatic before-and-after photographs. Others are remembered because every material works together to create a room that still feels intentional years later. This primary bathroom accomplished both.
From the custom Blue Pearl and Coastal shower to the Fabuwood cabinetry, luxury vinyl tile flooring, and cultured stone vanity top, every product was selected with durability and long-term maintenance in mind. Rather than following short-lived design trends, the homeowners invested in timeless materials that should continue looking just as appropriate years from now as they do today.
This project also reinforced an important lesson for our own design process. While the dual rectangular undermount sinks looked beautiful, living through the fabrication process confirmed that 48-inch vanities simply function better with integral sinks. Those small lessons, learned on real projects, continue shaping the recommendations we make to future homeowners.
Although the primary bathroom was completed without incident, the decision to finish it before beginning the guest bathroom turned out to be one of the smartest choices made during the entire renovation. Sometimes the most valuable parts of a remodeling project aren’t the ones homeowners see every day—they’re the planning decisions that quietly prevent problems before they become inconveniences.
Explore More Bathroom Remodels Near Cicero
Whether you’re planning a walk-in shower, a complete bathroom renovation, or simply looking for inspiration, here are a few additional projects we’ve completed throughout the Syracuse area.
- Colonial Platinum — DeWitt, NY · A timeless primary bathroom featuring a custom Platinum Onyx shower and elegant finishes.
- Morning Light — Manlius, NY · A bright, welcoming bathroom designed around comfort and natural light.
- Boutique Spa — Cazenovia, NY · A luxury-inspired bathroom with premium materials and a spa-like atmosphere.
- Warm & Cozy — Manlius, NY· A warm, inviting bathroom balancing comfort with everyday practicality.
- The Fishy Bath — Camillus, NY· A complete bathroom remodel with a memorable design story.
FAQ
What products were used in this primary bathroom remodel?
The remodel featured a custom walk-in shower from The Onyx Collection, a Fabuwood Galaxy vanity and linen cabinet, a custom Onyx cultured stone vanity top, American Standard plumbing fixtures, Tarkett ProGen luxury vinyl tile flooring, and an American Standard Cadet 3 FloWise toilet.
Why did the homeowners choose cultured stone instead of tile?
Cultured stone provides the appearance of natural stone without grout joints, making it easier to clean and maintain while offering a custom appearance with coordinated accessories.
Why did Bath Pros recommend remodeling the bathrooms separately?
Whenever possible, we complete one bathroom before beginning another. Unexpected plumbing repairs, material delays, or structural issues can occasionally extend a project, and remodeling in phases ensures homeowners always have a functioning bathroom available.
What is luxury vinyl tile (LVT)?
Luxury vinyl tile is a waterproof flooring product that replicates the appearance of natural stone while remaining warmer underfoot, quieter than ceramic tile, and exceptionally durable for bathroom environments.
Why do you now recommend integral sinks on most 48-inch vanities?
Projects like this demonstrated that while double undermount sinks can look beautiful, integral sinks generally provide more usable countertop space and a cleaner overall layout on smaller vanities.