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  • Written by Lee Lewis Husk | Photos by Zee Wendell

Home Spotlight Craven Haven: Practical Meets Luxe

bathtub with view

With a knack for rejuvenating interior spaces, Instagram digital creator Mackenzie Craven of Craven Haven and her husband, Kenny, remodeled the primary bedroom of their 1990-built southeast Bend home with a thoughtful, unhurried approach. They purchased the property in 2022, complete with the original carpet still in place—even in the bathroom. “The carpet really grossed us out, so we didn’t actually use the bathroom at first,” she said, laughing. For a year and a half, they focused on updating other rooms in their home until they were ready to tackle the bathroom.

bathroom viewing of mirror and art

For her 103,000 Instagram followers, Craven shares her renovation journeys—including the primary bath, engaging them with wit and practical advice. She describes herself as a “fast-paced mom chasing slow living plus curated charm that’s part bougie, part budget and 100% real on a 5-acre ‘90s fixer.” She blogs about everything from design trends and shopping finds to cost-saving tips and mood boards.

A Thoughtful Remodel of a 1990s Primary Bath

In the bathroom, the couple focused first on layout and plumbing. “We looked at leveraging the existing footprint while still making it a nice, modern space,” she said. “If you can find a layout that works without moving plumbing, you avoid the expense of paying electricians, plumbers and HVAC specialists to relocate ducts, pipes and other elements.” They removed the old fixtures but kept the existing drainage systems for a new water closet, vanity sink and expanded shower.

Bathroom sink

They also took a DIY approach throughout the remodel. “I did a ton of the work myself to bring costs down,” she said. “People can always choose to paint or lay tile themselves, which limits how many experts they need to bring in and lets them reserve the budget for hiring specialists where they’re really needed.”

One specialist Craven needed was her friend and interior designer, Kate Hector of Kate Hector Interior Design in Seattle, who helped her rework the layout and maximize the footprint, along with architectural renderings. “Collaborating with Kate on this bathroom really helped me elevate it to something outside our norms,” Craven said. Craven offers what she calls “interior design light” consultations to take some of the stress out of picking elements, “without it being a sign-your-life-away sort of experience hiring a designer.”

closet

The layout involved removing a bulky tub, window and door along one wall—essential to creating a major focal point. Now, a gleaming white freestanding tub draws a person into the space and guides the eye toward the picture window which frames serene views of the family’s pastoral backyard.

In keeping with the home’s mountain modern farmhouse style, Craven strove for consistency with the rest of the home’s aesthetic. For example, a signature of Craven-owned homes is black and white—a design motif found in the children’s bathrooms and other home parts. In the bathroom, it appears on the striped tile floor, a pattern she created. A waterproof plaster known as Concretta lines the shower and walls, echoing the finish of the living room fireplace.

The Cravens also wanted to incorporate natural elements, choosing a wood-clad ceiling for the bathroom to complement the black-and-white tilework. “It’s our way of introducing a natural material we can use in other parts of the house,” she said of their ongoing renovations in other rooms.

bathroom with tub and mirror

Craven wanted the primary bathroom to feel a bit more luxe than the rest of the house, so she mixed materials and finishes, such as aged brass and polished nickel. “I love mixing metals,” she noted. She also upgraded the water closet with moody, floral wallpaper and a sleek black toilet. “These tones appear throughout my home, but this floral pattern feels more grown-up.”

The primary bath continues a process that started with the home’s purchase, merging Craven’s practical, cost-saving approach with a design that creates a harmonious retreat for the couple to enjoy for years to come. See more over at cravenhaven.com or @craven_haven.


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