Built for Two- and Four-Legged Family Members: A Custom Basement Shower
Some of our favorite remodeling features come from a simple question:
How could this space work better for the way you actually live?
For one family in Whitehouse, Ohio, the answer included creating a secondary custom basement shower that wasn’t just for the humans in the house…
It needed to work for the dog, too.
The result is one of the more unique custom showers we’ve had the opportunity to build – with a full-size shower for the homeowners alongside a dedicated dog-washing area.
And yes, we got the four-legged client’s approval.
First, We Had to Get What’s Behind the Shower Right
When KCS joined this project, portions of the basement had already been started.
Before we could move forward with the shower, some of the existing framing needed to be corrected and additional framing work needed to be completed.
Sometimes remodeling means taking a few steps backward before you can move forward.
It’s tempting to focus on the parts of a shower you can see — the tile, fixtures, niches and glass. But we’re just as concerned about what’s happening behind those finished surfaces.
Once the framing was where it needed to be, our team completed the waterproofing before moving on to tile.
Those aren’t the most exciting steps to photograph, but they’re some of the most important steps in building a shower that’s meant to last.
One Shower, Two Very Different Users
Because this is a secondary custom basement shower, the homeowners had an opportunity to make the space work a little harder.
One side functions as a full shower for the homeowners.
The other is a dedicated dog-washing area, complete with its own handheld sprayer, drain and built-in tiled steps to make getting in and out easier.
A glass divider separates the two areas without making the dog-washing station feel like an afterthought. The tile continues throughout the space, allowing both sides to feel like one cohesive shower.
It’s functional, but it also looks like it belongs there.
Custom Remodeling Doesn’t Have to Mean Following the Trends
There’s no shortage of inspiration available when you’re planning a bathroom remodel.
Freestanding tubs. Oversized showers. Statement tile. Floating vanities. The list of what’s “in” changes constantly.
But sometimes the best remodeling decision has very little to do with what’s trending.
For this family, having a dedicated place to wash their dog made sense. Rather than creating a completely separate dog-washing station somewhere else in the house, they incorporated it into a secondary shower they were already creating.
That’s the kind of customization we love.
Your home doesn’t have to be designed around what everyone else is doing. It should be designed around the people — and pets — who actually live there.
Your home doesn’t have to be designed around what everyone else is doing. It should be designed around the people — and pets — who actually live there.
The Finished Shower
After correcting and completing the necessary framing, our team handled the waterproofing and set the tile throughout the shower. We also completed drywall repairs and finish work around the space as part of the larger basement project.
The finished result gives the homeowners a beautiful secondary shower while solving a very practical problem at the same time.
And although we care quite a bit about craftsmanship, we’re pretty sure the opinion that matters most on this particular project belongs to the guy with four legs.
Based on the photos, we’d say it passed inspection. 🐾
Planning a Custom Bathroom Remodel in Northwest Ohio?
Whether the feature you’ve been dreaming about is a dog shower, better storage, a larger walk-in shower or something completely specific to your family, those details are worth thinking about before construction begins.
At Kleeberger Contracting Services, we remodel bathrooms throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan with an emphasis on thoughtful planning, craftsmanship and spaces that work for the people who actually use them.
Have an idea that’s a little outside the ordinary? We’d love to hear it.