Before & After: Makeover for a master suite

The challenge: Empty nesters Tom and Mary Inglis loved their longtime neighborhood and their setting on Otter Lake in Hutchinson, Minn. But they'd never loved their bedroom, which felt dark and cramped. "Everything was worn-out and tired. It was dated when we bought it in 1990," Mary said.

The designers: Calie Pierce and Tracy Hains of Che Bella Interiors, Burnsville, 952-239-0961, www.chebella interiors.com.

Time for an upgrade: After raising their three children in the house, the couple decided to make some improvements. First priority: an inviting owners' bedroom and bath. "We wanted a suite. We didn't have it," said Mary. "We had always wanted to do something with it."

Boutique retreat: The Inglises, who enjoy traveling, like to stay in boutique hotels and were looking for the same relaxed yet luxurious feeling in their bedroom. "They wanted their own little oasis," Pierce said.

Reworking the space: To create a more spacious master suite with better flow, the Che Bella team removed a wall and borrowed space from another bedroom, which more than doubled the space in the master and allowed for a large walk-in closet.

Room with a view: New, larger windows let in more natural light — and make the most of the couple's lakeside setting.

A place for everything: The room was short on storage, so the designers added a wall of built-ins, made of dark, espresso-stained cherry wood, with space for a large-screen wall-mounted TV.

Looking ahead: The couple plan to stay in their home long-term, so the designers incorporated features to accommodate aging in place. The new, expanded shower was built to accommodate grab bars, and doorways were made "as wide as we could get," Pierce said.

Room to relax: The new suite includes a small coffee bar where the couple can start their day. "We read the paper in there in the morning," Mary said. One thing the suite does not include is a desk. "There was one, but we eliminated it," Pierce said, to ensure the space is a true retreat from daily cares — not a place to pay bills.

Luxe finishes: To dress up the bath, designers used basket-weave tile over the vanity and as an accent in the shower. Cabinets were stained dark espresso, to match the built-ins in the bedroom, and the Cambria vanity top is gray and cream. Porcelain floor files are large, 12-by-24 inches, "to lengthen that room," Pierce said.

A bit of bling: An accent wall in an alcove near the doorway to the room is papered with a wallcovering that incorporates tiny chips of mica. "It has a translucent quality and catches the light in a really fun way," Pierce said.

Let there be light: Designers added a soffit to support pendant lights over the bed, eliminating the need for lamps on nightstands that could get in the way. The ceiling light fixture is draped with metal beads, which "creates a cool starburst effect on the ceiling," Pierce said.

The result: The couple are delighted with their new suite. "I can't say enough about how happy I am," Mary said. "Before, neither of us wanted to go in there. Now we spend a lot more time in the room. It's a great little getaway."

Kim Palmer • 612-673-4784