Creating a Dream Primary Suite Without an Addition

When our Bethesda clients came to us, they were facing a common challenge: not enough space in the right places. Their primary bedroom was generously sized, but the attached bathroom and closet? Tiny. With a second child on the way, they were motivated to reimagine their home's layout to better support their growing family—and fast.

Initially, they assumed the only way to create the suite they envisioned was to build an addition. They wanted a true primary bathroom with a separate tub and shower, plus full-sized closets. It felt like a tall order within their home’s existing footprint.

But that’s where smart design comes in.

Instead of expanding outward, our team took a strategic look at the existing layout. With four bedrooms upstairs and ample square footage in the primary bedroom, we proposed a creative solution: repurposing one of the secondary bedrooms to create space for a spacious new primary bathroom and dual closets. Read on to see how it was accomplished. 

Project Details

Type: Residential primary bathroom remodel
Year the home was built: 1959

the project plan

Reimagining the Floorplan 

By repurposing Bedroom #4, an adjacent room located directly behind the primary suite, we created a brand-new five-piece primary bathroom and a spacious shared walk-in closet. The dividing wall between the two rooms was removed to create a seamless layout that met the homeowners’ needs. Importantly, we preserved the full dimensions of the existing primary bedroom, maintaining its generous footprint while significantly enhancing its functionality.

Image above: These two images show the wall between bedroom #4 (on the left) and the primary bedroom (on the right).  The wall separating these two spaces was removed, and bedroom #4 was converted into the new primary bathroom and closets. 

A Long-Term Vision for Expanding Living Space

Reducing a four-bedroom home to three can be seen as a risk—something most real estate professionals would caution against. We took that into account and designed a solution with future flexibility in mind. 

By reconfiguring the second-floor landing to include a hallway and a new staircase leading to the attic. This set the stage for a future two-bedroom, one-bath expansion when the family needs it, effectively turning a temporary three-bedroom layout into a potential five-bedroom home down the road. 

Images Above: Bedroom #2, which shared a wall with bedroom #1 and had the only access to the original attic stairs (image on right).

The Floorplan Before & After

Making room for Attic access & second-floor Laundry

To create better access to the attic, the original, undersized primary bath and primary bedroom closets were eliminated entirely, and that space was reallocated to accommodate the new attic staircase. This allowed us to build a new hallway and relocate the staircase, providing a much more functional and direct path to the attic.

To accommodate the new layout, we relocated a wall in Bedroom #2, creating space for a larger closet to replace the one lost to the hallway. This also allowed us to add a new laundry closet conveniently accessible from the upstairs landing. 

Overcoming Obstacles

Balancing Immediate Needs with Future Flexibility

While some might view reducing a four-bedroom home to three as a risk, the Gilday team saw it as an opportunity for smart, forward-thinking design. By reworking the second floor with creativity and long-term strategy, they transformed the layout to accommodate a spacious new primary suite without compromising future flexibility. A newly designed hallway and staircase to the attic created a clear path for future expansion, making it possible to add two more bedrooms and a bathroom when needed. This thoughtful solution gave the homeowners the comfort and functionality they needed now, while preserving the home’s long-term value and growth potential.

Designing for the Unexpected, Executing with Ease

Late in the design process, the homeowners requested an auxiliary laundry area—a challenge that could have easily disrupted the existing plan. But thanks to the flexibility and problem-solving mindset of our team, the solution was seamless.

By reallocating a small portion of space from the generously sized second bedroom, they were able to incorporate a stackable laundry unit into the upstairs hallway. At the same time, a larger, thoughtfully designed closet was added to the bedroom, ensuring no functionality was lost in the process.

The final result

The final result is a thoughtfully designed primary suite that balances beauty, function, and long-term flexibility. What was once a tiny layout is now a spacious, light-filled retreat featuring a luxurious five-piece bathroom, a generous walk-in closet, and upgraded finishes that reflect the homeowners' unique style.

Beyond the suite itself, the reimagined second-floor layout introduces a new hallway and staircase to the attic, laying the groundwork for future expansion of a 5-bedroom home as the family grows. With every detail, this renovation delivers comfort for today and a clear path for tomorrow.

Working with the right design-build firm gave these homeowners a fresh perspective on their existing layout, allowing them to achieve everything on their wish list without adding a single square foot. A skilled team knows how to reimagine a floor plan to maximize every inch, creating efficient, functional spaces that feel both intentional and expansive.