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"   Photo: Gridley &amp;amp;amp; Graves VIEW MORE PHOTOS Before renovation, this 50-year-old ranch house near downtown Mobile, Alabama, had three bedrooms and two baths. After renovation, it still has three bedrooms and two baths. But oh, what a difference! An addition created a large master bedroom on the 1,900-square-foot house; a small existing bedroom and bath became a huge master bath and walk-in closet; and the second bathroom got bigger and better.    Photo: Gridley &amp;amp;amp; Graves Living large in a ranch house? This was a big job, and Danny Lipford was the perfect man for it. The host of the nationally syndicated home-improvement show Today&amp;#039;s Homeowner with Danny Lipford knows his ranch houses. &amp;quot;When these houses were built, contractors minimized the square footage to bring down the price.&amp;quot; Their rooms are sized so small, when you renovate, you really should be adding more space, he suggests. Which is exactly what he did. The new master doesn&amp;#039;t skimp on size, measuring a generous 20525 feet. &amp;quot;It was built with the idea of multiple uses,&amp;quot; says Lipford. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s part of that retreat-type feeling that people like now.&amp;quot; The most unusual feature? A breakfast bar with cherry-stained cabinets, a microwave, a mini-fridge and a state-of-the-art built-in coffeemaker\u2014perfect for midnight snacks and morning wake-up. The cabinets that match those in the kitchen look high-end, but were actually crafted from stock cabinets with some custom details like fluted pilasters and crown molding for an upscale look. The breakfast bar faces the backyard and is accented with an octagonal window that provides privacy for the early-morning coffee-drinker as well as an interesting accent from the outside, where it sits under a shingle-style gable.    Photo: Gridley &amp;amp;amp; Graves WHAT WAS DONE  Added 500-square-foot master bedroom with tray ceiling and private deck Turned an existing bedroom into a walk-in closet and 247-square-foot master bath Installed a breakfast bar with built-in mini-fridge, sink and coffeemaker Enlarged and improved a smaller hall bathroom   Living up to its multifunction potential, the master bedroom has space for breakfast, exercise or sitting (oh yes, and sleeping). &amp;quot;Plus it has good access to the outside and to the master bath,&amp;quot; Lipford adds. A pair of French doors lead to the new deck and retractable screens let the bedroom catch cool breezes in temperate months. On the inside, wood-stained molding adds warmth and interest to a cove ceiling. &amp;quot;Wood is warm and restful,&amp;quot; Lipford says. &amp;quot;But a full wood ceiling would be too dark. This gave it that splash of warmth.&amp;quot; Plus, when you bump up the ceiling you make the room feel much bigger. Speaking of bigger, the master bath now is a whopping 247 square feet. The shower alone is the size of the original bathroom. That one was 1950s pink; the new space has tiles in soothing beige and brown. Two sinks sit in a double vanity opposite the tub, which has plenty of features including a pillow that pulses water as you lie on it. &amp;quot;You have that, plus a scented candle and a glass of wine, and it&amp;#039;s all over,&amp;quot; Lipford says. Ranch-house living has never looked so luxurious. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/room-ideas/a1318/sweet-retreat-47069/>