After seven years in their home, Soh and Tim Bridgeford were ready to update their 1970s master bathroom. Their list of annoyances with the space was adding up, and it no longer felt functional for their lifestyle.

 “We had a huge Jacuzzi tub—it was almost like a mini swimming pool and my children would actually swim in it when they were younger,” says Soh Bridgeford. “The shower felt like a time capsule with a plastic door that reminded me of Star Trek. The whole bathroom was outdated, dull and had little storage.”

The Bridgefords set out to find a bathroom designer and remodeler, looking at various magazines and websites. Among the three companies they interviewed, Beco’s President Tim Pesce immediately put Bridgeford at ease. “I had looked at his work online and it looked professional and I liked that he was established with a good history and ratings,” she says. “When I met with him, he listened to my vision and was receptive, but also offered his own good ideas. I had an immediate sense he was someone I could work well with and trust.”

Beco—which was founded in Trenton, N.J., in 1956 and is now headquartered at the foot of the Trenton Makes Bridge in Morrisville, Pa., and continues to serve homeowners on both sides of the Delaware River—is an all-inclusive design-build firm specializing in kitchens and bathrooms. Pesce is the third generation to lead the company.

He says the Bridgefords’ issues with their bathroom are common. “Many homes built in a certain era included a space for a large tub. In this case it was huge—over 7-feet-by5-feet,” Pesce says. “And their shower was tiny—under 18 square feet. So it was a tiny shower and big tub—nowadays people want it the opposite way around.”

The Bridgefords had a few things on their wish list, including a very large shower, free- standing tub and enough storage for bathroom products, towels, etc., and for the colors to be white and gray marble—a much more modern space than the one they currently were living with.

Initially, the Bridgefords had some conflicting ideas for the space, but that didn’t surprise Pesce. “This is where our years of experience come in handy,” he says. “We listen to both husband and wife and we often give them two design options showing their individual visions and then a third that is a happy medium. By putting it on the computer, they begin to see that they can compromise on some things.”

One of the biggest decisions to make was the tile. Pesce says the flooring and shower tile would amount to the most visible item in the room. “It’s similar to picking out what you’re going to wear for a special occasion. You don’t pick out the earrings first and then match your outfit to them—you pick out the dress and then work back to the details,” he says. “It’s the same thing in the bathroom—in this case, the tiles were the dress.”

Bridgeford says the walls and tile give the space a sleek, art-deco feel. “There is a lot of white and gray, but it’s mixed up with different types of textures and patterns. On the floor we have marble tiles but also have a basket weave design in the center, so it adds some interest,” she says.

Pesce says with such a large space they were able to add a few focal points. “In Soh’s case, she liked the basket weave on the floor, but in the shower you also have a couple things going on with the niche for the shampoo bottles and on the floor tile,” he says. “No matter which direction you’re looking, there are focal points to add interest.”

The shower is among Soh’s favorite features. “We love how large it is and the rain shower faucets, and there is a lot of lighting. It’s very clean looking,” she says.

And of course, the vanity is a marvel in itself. “Most bathrooms don’t have an 11foot vanity,” says Pesce. Beco was able to install the shower where the original tub was, which opened up the wall for the vanity. “The space gives her an area to keep all of their things tucked away, but also a display area to show their personality with little trinkets or decorations. It looks pretty but it also functional.”

The project has been completed for just about a year now and Bridgeford can’t say enough about the positive experience. “Tim was so responsive with texts and I liked that. He was very professional and handled any bumps in the road very well and addressed issues quickly,” she says.

 “We look back on this project fondly,” says Pesce. “The space was transformative not only in how it looks but also in how it works with their life. It’s nice to come away with that feeling.”

Beco, Inc.
Morrisville, Pa. | (215) 295-7123
Beco-Designs.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 20, Issue 4 (October 2019). 
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