Bathroom

“After” photos by Ken Vaughan of Vaughan Creative Media

Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Keller, Texas
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Design-build pro: Chris Chumbley of USI Design & Remodeling

Before: The bathroom, with its tall cove ceiling, skylight, taupe walls and abundant light brown tile, felt dated and divided. Two separate single vanities with oval sinks — including the husband’s smaller one seen here — occupied opposite walls, while a corner shower beside the vanity felt squeezed in. “They wanted a walk-in shower with a wider entry,” Chumbley says. “They also didn’t want any glass in the shower, so we had to create a much larger footprint.”

An arched doorway by the shower led to the wife’s dressing room, home office and laundry area. Across from the shower, a tiled deck surrounded an oval tub, part of which is visible at right. The homeowners wanted to incorporate the water closet in the new design.

After: Chumbley removed the two single-sink vanities, floor tile, corner shower and decked tub to start fresh. In their place, he created a larger, curbless shower with no glass or doors — the feature that inspired the bathroom’s new open layout. “It all started with the shower,” Chumbley says. “We wanted to create a universal design. The wider opening is for that, and getting away from the glass was about less maintenance.”

Durable marble-look porcelain tiles wrap the shower walls and enclosure, setting a luxe tone. The shower includes both a fixed head and a hand shower in satin brass. A long niche with matching satin brass Schluter trim keeps hair and body products organized, while a built-in bench offers a relaxing spot. Beige matte porcelain floor tiles slope gently toward a linear drain in front of the bench to keep water contained.

A new white oak double linen cabinet now stands where one of the old vanities sat, coordinating with the updated double vanity (see below). “It’s a 24-inch-deep cabinet that’s nice and spacious,” Chumbley says. “We put organizational racks on the inside of the doors too. It’s very functional in terms of zones for storing what you need.”

Wall tile: Golden Reverie, 12 by 24 inches, Daltile; floor tile: Reside USA in beige, Arizona Tile

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This wider view showcases the bathroom’s open, airy layout. “It’s about style but also performance,” Chumbley says. “It’s a daily indulgence that effortlessly supports routines.” The existing arched doorway to the updated dressing room and home office received new trim. “They have grasscloth on the walls in the home office now, and I needed to terminate it in the doorway, so I had that trim made to create a stopping point,” Chumbley says.

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Before Photo

Before: The wife’s vanity on the opposite wall included a sit-down makeup area. “She told me she didn’t use it,” Chumbley says. “It’s one of the first things we find out in the interviews — what they use or not.”

The white vanities, with white-framed mirrors and dated lights,

had limited storage. A double linen cabinet appears here to the right of the wife’s vanity. “Because the other vanity was going away, we wanted a larger scale for the double vanity on this wall,” Chumbley says. A door partially visible at right leads to the husband’s closet.

After: Moving the double linen cabinet next to the new open shower made room for a custom 10-foot-wide white oak double vanity with a neutral finish and all-drawer storage “for ease of access,” Chumbley says.

A Cristallo quartzite countertop and backsplash deliver durability and drama. The rare natural stone features a white base with bold gold veining, orange and gray flecks and subtle translucency. A mitered edge enhances the countertop’s hefty look.

Wall, ceiling and trim paint: Modern Gray, Sherwin-Williams

What to Consider When Choosing a Bathroom Vanity

The double vanity features undermount rectangular porcelain sinks with solid brass widespread faucets with a satin brass finish and ADA-compliant handles. Above, a custom mirror integrates two recessed LED lighted medicine cabinets for a sleek, built-in look. A pair of three-light sconces in a brushed bronze finish, mounted directly on the mirror, provide bright task lighting and maintain symmetry with the sinks below.

Faucets: Skylar in satin brass, Newport Brass; sconces: Lanza in brushed bronze, Hinkley

The 10 Most Popular New Bathrooms Right Now

The recessed medicine cabinets feature soft-close doors, adjustable glass shelves and built-in electrical outlets. A defogger keeps the mirrors clear after showers. “It was about maximizing storage,” Chumbley says. “I think that’s important when a couple shares a vanity.”

Medicine cabinets: Krugg Reflections

See the Bathroom Features Homeowners Want Most in 2025

The double vanity’s drawers were customized to fit the homeowners’ storage needs, with built-in organizers and internal drawers. The top drawer shown here keeps hair appliances off the counter but within easy reach, thanks to a built-in outlet.

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Before Photo

Before: The oval jetted tub sat in a tiled deck with sharp corners. “They just didn’t like the deck design and wanted a freestanding tub,” Chumbley says. A shallow arched niche above the tub was painted green.

After: An elegant 31-by-67-inch white acrylic freestanding tub with soft curves takes up less floor space and enhances the bathroom’s open feel. A floor-mounted tub filler in a satin brass finish coordinates with the vanity faucets and shower fixtures.

Chumbley expanded and squared off the former niche to create an accent wall clad in 13-by-39-inch fluted ceramic tiles featuring a crisp white background with soft taupe and gray veining and touches of gold. “That particular tile is art to us,” Chumbley says. “We made the accent wall taller to separate it from the arched doorway next to it. Also, cutting those fluted tiles on a straight line is easier than a radius. It gives you a more successful and cleaner outcome.”

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Bathroom of the Week: Craftsman Style Meets Aging-in-Place Design

October 21, 2025 No Comments

After: Greenberg reconfigured the layout, taking over the sink and part of the bathtub area to create a new walk-in shower and moving the sink across the room. With no space for the dresser, she selected a vanity that offered generous storage. The updated plan allowed for a roomy shower stall with a wide opening that could accommodate a walker.

Everything about the new shower makes life easier. It’s zero-threshold, with no curb to step over, and the barn-style glass door glides smoothly on a track. “It also has a large handle that’s easy for arthritic hands to pull,” Greenberg says. A towel bar on the door keeps things within easy reach.

The wife selected a botanical wallpaper that ties into the nature-inspired motifs of the Craftsman era. The tile design also stays true to the period. “My clients wanted traditional 3-by-5-inch subway tile, but we had to look quite hard for just the right cap. This one isn’t too clunky and has a profile that they liked,” Greenberg says.

The floor features matte white hexagonal tiles for maximum traction. “All the original bathroom floors in the house are white hex with black accents and we continued that pattern here,” Greenberg says. A slim black pencil tile around the room ties it all together. The many grout lines add slip resistance — another thoughtful aging-in-place feature.

Keeping the bathroom warm through Massachusetts winters was a key priority. The team refinished the original radiator, giving it a fresh look while retaining its powerful heat output. “That radiator pumps out a lot of heat and they love it,” Greenberg says.

The bath also includes a ceiling-light-fan-heater combo, a feature the homeowners appreciated in the original room. To make the space more energy-efficient, Greenberg’s team padded out the exterior wall for extra insulation and replaced the old window with a historically appropriate reproduction.

Wallpaper: April Blossom, York Wallcoverings

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Bathroom of the Week: Midcentury Playfulness Meets Serenity

October 14, 2025 No Comments

LTB DESIGN + BUILDSave Photo

The couple wanted the tub and shower together in one open wet-room area. The signature water flow tile repeats behind the shower heads in a customized pattern that fits around the fixtures and niches. The third wall features large windows that look out to a private patio.

The enclosure is curbless and partially open, which makes it both modern and functional for aging in place, particularly if a walker is ever used. “The glass enclosure is long enough that not a drop of water ever escapes this area,” Allison says. “It all flows down to the linear drain beneath the shower controls.”

The shower includes two standard heads, a rain shower and a handheld wand. The control panel features a thermostatic dial for temperature and two large push buttons that direct water to the various heads.

The homeowners have to get into the shower to turn on the water, but thanks to a tankless hot water recirculation system, they never have to endure a cold shock. “It literally takes seconds for the water to get from a warm enough temperature up to the desired temperature,” Allison says.

Both the tub and shower niches are illuminated by LED light strips along the top, and more lighting runs beneath the floating vanity. These subtle lights provide a soft glow without needing to turn on bright overhead lights to navigate safely in the middle of the night.

Shower heads: Statement collection, Kohler; shower controls: Anthem collection, Kohler

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Bathroom of the Week: Calm and Stylish in 78 Square Feet

October 7, 2025 No Comments

With three kids and busy careers, this young Bedford, Massachusetts, couple needed a space to unwind. Their dated primary bathroom — cramped with a single vanity and an old shower-tub combo — wasn’t cutting it.

Enter design-build pro Jamaal Siddiqui, who uses Houzz Pro software. By borrowing 20 square feet from the bedroom, he carved out space for a spacious double vanity with a dark driftwood finish and a relaxing low-curb shower. Layers of honed marble tile in varying patterns bring subtle elegance, while a soothing neutral palette transforms the room into a calm retreat where the couple can finally exhale.

Before Photo

“After” photos by Squared Marketing

Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with three kids
Location: Bedford, Massachusetts
Size: 78 square feet (7.3 square meters)
Design-build pro: Jamaal Siddiqui of Yusra Design + Build

Before: Here’s a peek into the original 58-square-foot primary bathroom from the bedroom. A single-sink vanity hugged the wall behind the bedroom’s desk and makeup station. (See before-and-after floor plans below.) “This wasn’t just a primary bathroom renovation, this was a reconfiguration of the primary suite,” Siddiqui says. “The bathroom was a dark and small space, and one of the solutions was expanding into the bedroom to utilize underused square footage.”

Before Photo

Inside, the dark wood single-sink vanity with a black granite countertop offered cramped storage and minimal grooming space. Tan walls and a beige ceramic tile floor didn’t do much to lift the mood.

Across from the vanity, a shower-tub combo with a fabric curtain filled the space, while a toilet was tucked into a niche by the bathroom’s only window. “By keeping the toilet in the same location, we were not only able to save costs but keep the privacy for the toilet as you walk into the bathroom,” Siddiqui says.

Siddiqui uses Houzz Pro software to keep projects on track, from selections to scheduling. “We also create ideabooks for all our projects,” he says. “This allows our clients to upload their likes and dislikes. It’s a starting point.”

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After: Siddiqui removed the vanity, shower-tub combo, toilet and flooring. From this angle, you can see the outline of the sloped roof above the former toilet niche, now home to an upgraded white ADA-compliant, one-piece elongated toilet.Siddiqui pushed the bathroom footprint into the bedroom to gain 20 square feet. “By taking a bit of square footage from the bedroom and applying it to the bathroom, it gave more space for the luxurious shower and double vanity,” he says.

A neutral palette sets a soothing tone with greige walls (Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams), a crisp white ceiling and white trim with a satin finish. Marble mosaic tiles in a fan pattern, honed and with soft white grout, cover the floor. “The homeowner was inspired by a friend’s bathroom we had done in the past,” Siddiqui says. “Marble can sometimes come off as cold. Introducing softer geometry with the fan pattern helped to balance the feel of the space.” The floor is framed in 12-by-24-inch marble tiles, cut to size, for a polished finish.

The existing window keeps the space bright and airy, while a new low-profile, energy-efficient exhaust fan improves ventilation. Four-inch LED recessed lights in the ceiling provide clean, even illumination throughout.

Floor tile: Dolomite Iceberg Blended Fan marble mosaic, Maravilla, Floor & Decor

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Before Photo

Before: A blank wall once sat to the right of the bathroom door. “The reconfiguration of the bathroom was really determined by the rest of the suite as well,” Siddiqui says. “We wanted to have the bathroom door and closet door in the bedroom opposite each other. Relocating the sink from that wall allowed us to move the bathroom door.”

After: The shifted white-paneled bathroom door now sits at the left, while a ready-made 60-inch double vanity occupies the former blank wall. The driftwood-inspired aged light oak vanity features solid wood chamfered legs, framed doors and drawers, satin nickel hardware, undermount sinks and a light gray quartz countertop and backsplash. “The vanity brought warmth into the space,” Siddiqui says. “Since we used lots of marble in there, the natural wood adds the warmth.”

Above, a pair of 18-by-30-inch mirrors have handcrafted beveled frames with champagne-colored beading, adding visual interest and depth. A towel ring between the mirrors keeps hand towels off the counter. Two ceiling-mounted dome pendant lights with opal etched glass and a brushed nickel finish illuminate the vanity. “One of the things we really gave a lot of thought about was how much space would be on the wall itself,” Siddiqui says. “The size of the mirrors didn’t allow us for a lot of wall space. By changing it up and installing ceiling-mounted pendant lights, it made it unique and also gave the homeowners the artificial light they need at the vanity.”

Pendant lights: Maybery in brushed nickel and opal etched glass, Birch Lane

Before and After: 4 Brilliant Bathrooms Under 60 Square Feet

A pony wall that separates the vanity from the shower is topped with a custom tempered glass panel. “By putting in the custom glass shower enclosure, it allows the bathroom to feel light and open,” Siddiqui says. “It allows the light coming in from the existing window to be dispersed evenly.”

The shower itself is designed for luxury, with a 12-inch ceiling-mounted shower head, wall-mounted shower head, three body sprays and a pressure-balanced valve, all in brushed nickel.

The shower walls and niche back are covered in 3-by-12-inch honed marble tiles that coordinate with the fan-shaped marble mosaic on both the shower and main bathroom floors. “We strongly believe simplicity goes a long way,” Siddiqui says. “By keeping the same material and changing the shapes geometrically, it’s an equation for a very elegant solution.” A floating shower bench echoes the crisp white quartz used for the shower curb and the niche shelves.

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Before-and-after: These floor plans show the original layout on the left and the refreshed design on the right, with the bathroom in the top-left corner of each.

Originally, a single-sink vanity hugged the wall by the bathroom door, with a shower-tub combo across from it, next to the toilet.

In the updated plan, the bathroom footprint was pushed into the primary bedroom, making room for a low-curb shower and a spacious double vanity relocated to a new wall. “By reconfiguring the space, we were able to optimize storage,” Siddiqui says. “It doesn’t always have to be an addition or something extreme. Rethinking the space can allow you to come up with a solution.”

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See the Bathroom Features Homeowners Want Most in 2025

September 30, 2025 No Comments

6. Bathtubs

More than a third of homeowners (34%) upgrade their bathtub during a remodel. Among the rest, 9% keep the tub, 26% remove it, and 25% never had one to begin with.

When tubs come out, most homeowners make a splash with the extra space: 82% enlarge their shower and 20% relocate it. Others use the space to expand cabinetry (9%) or move their vanity or cabinets (6% each), while 5% enlarge their vanity or sink.

Styles. Freestanding flat-bottom tubs remain the most popular choice, selected by 45% of homeowners remodeling their bathrooms, with alcove tubs close behind at 40%. Deck-mounted tubs slipped from 10% to 6% this year, while freestanding claw-foot (4%), corner (2%) and other (3%) styles account for only a small share of upgrades.

Specialty features. More than half of homeowners (55%) add specialty features when upgrading their tubs, showing that comfort and safety are top priorities. Nonslip flooring (24%) and grab bars (23%) are the most popular, while space for two and whirlpool or jets each appeal to 12%. Built-in seating and lighting appear in 7% of tubs, with heated backrests (4%) and smart-fill tech (1%) rounding out the list.

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5 Big-Picture Bathroom Trends Shaping Remodels in 2025

September 23, 2025 No Comments

4. Homeowners Continue to Invest in Bathroom Projects

Homeowners are still putting serious money into bathroom remodels, especially bigger projects. The national median spend dipped slightly to $13,000 in 2024 (down from $15,000 in 2023), but major remodels — those for which at least the shower is upgraded — ticked up to $22,000 from $21,000 the year before. Large bathrooms of 100 square feet or more command the highest budgets, with spending holding steady at $25,000.

Keep in mind, economists like to reference the median, or midpoint, figure rather than the average for this kind of data because the average can be skewed, can be volatile year over year and can be misleadingly high or low because of a single project that costs far more or less than others.

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Step Inside a Light-Filled Bathroom With Modern Warmth

September 18, 2025 No Comments

An equine veterinarian who recently moved to northern Westchester County, New York, found a home with charming details but a dated primary bathroom. She brought in Curated Nest designers Erin Coren and Lina Galvão, who use Houzz Pro software, to reimagine the space. They layered warm textures, natural materials and thoughtful symmetry to create a striking transformation. A rattan light fixture, spacious white oak vanity, freestanding wood armoire with rattan doors and microcement walls add soft, organic texture, while a checkerboard marble floor brings a timeless touch. With a large soaking tub and a spacious low-curb shower, the result is a refreshed, highly functional retreat that feels elevated yet inviting.

Bathroom of the Week: Spa-Like Upgrade for Empty Nesters

September 16, 2025 No Comments

This empty-nest couple in Blacksburg, Virginia, plan to stay in their 1980s hillside home overlooking a golf course for years to come. With those long-term plans, they wanted a primary bathroom that could remain stylish and functional well into the future. But their existing space had a cramped layout with two small vanities on separate walls, cluttered open shelving, a massive step-up tub that ate up floor space and a dark stall shower. A large ceiling beam stretched across the room, further chopping up the space.

One saving grace was a picture window with a beautiful view of the lush landscape. Wanting to preserve that view while creating an airy retreat, the couple turned to Houzz for ideas. They then hired project lead designer Susan Davidson and production manager Logan Lawrence of Blue Ridge Design Build. A new perpendicular beam allowed for a vaulted ceiling that opened up one side of the room. Wood from a yellow birch tree on the family farm inspired the design of rustic details and dual maple vanities with tower storage. An elevated wet-room zone with an open shower and freestanding tub now adds a spa-like touch.

Before Photo

“After” photos by Ian Parrish of Parrish Real Estate Photography

Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Size: 137 square feet (13 square meters)
Design-build pros: Susan Davidson and Logan Lawrence of Blue Ridge Design Build

Before: In the former bathroom, a bulky step-up tub with a tiled deck monopolized the floor space. The tub sat beneath a large picture window framing a beautiful view, while the toilet with an upper cabinet occupied the corner to the left. “Everything was broken up,” Lawrence says.

After: The team stripped the bathroom to the studs and removed the existing beam — a pivotal change. “We found out it was structural and consulted with a structural engineer to come in and redesign the ceiling load, and we added a longer perpendicular beam that could be installed flush into the ceiling,” Lawrence says. “This allowed us to vault the ceiling in one half of the bathroom.”

A new wet room on a slightly elevated, curved platform combines an open shower with a freestanding tub. The elevated design helps support a slope in the floor needed to drain water toward the linear drain below the shower fixtures. “Anytime you do an elevated wet room like this, you have a nontraditional floor slope and have to make sure that the water flows back to the shower drain,” Lawrence says. “The small-format tile we used does that well.” The flooring is chocolate-colored hexagonal mosaics with a limestone look and matte finish.

A curve on the elevated section adds a stylish detail. “I was trying to create enough space for the shower and also incorporate the tub,” Davidson says. “I gave them a couple of choices and they chose this S-curve because they liked how it looked.”

Custom wood elements throughout — shelves, a towel and robe rack, a window ledge and the trim framing the updated picture window — were all crafted from a yellow birch tree from the homeowners’ family farm in Floyd, Virginia. “The vision for the whole bathroom was keeping with the natural tones of that wood,” Lawrence says.

Wet-room floor tile: Relic Umber, Vintage Hex collection, Daltile

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A pony wall topped with a tempered glass panel helps keep shower spray contained within the wet room. The large freestanding tub has a smooth, scratch-resistant acrylic surface. “The tub complements the window and size and complements the curve designed into the wet-room floor,” Lawrence says. A brushed nickel floor-mount tub filler ties in with the shower and sink fixture. An energy-efficient picture window preserves the view the homeowners love.

Outside the shower, a sleek one-piece white toilet includes a washlet bidet seat with five spray settings and a nightlight. Its control panel is mounted on the pony wall, next to switches for the shower lights and exhaust fan.

Before and After: 4 Inspiring Bathrooms in 120 to 170 Square Feet

Large 12-by-24-inch beige porcelain tiles with a marble look and matte finish line the wet-room shower walls and the wall behind the tub. “They were going for light and airy,” Davidson says.

The open shower features a 10-inch rain shower head, a handheld shower on a slide bar and a pressure-balanced valve, all in brushed nickel. A matching grab bar adds safety. “The slide bar is also a grab bar here,” Davidson says. “And when needed, they can incorporate a freestanding stool.”

Wall tile: Timeless line in 12×24 Essence Beige, Qualis Ceramica

7 Steps to a Stellar Shower Design

A wraparound corner shower niche is lined with elegant marble and limestone mosaics that blend seamlessly with the wall tile. “It’s not commonly done because it requires some unique framing in the wall,” Lawrence says. “They chose it because they wanted something unique but also something that was hidden out of sight when you walk into the bathroom.”

The pressure-balanced valve and shower diverter is partially visible here on the back of the pony wall. “They wanted to have access to them before they step into the shower,” Davidson says.

Niche tiles: Panaro Blend, Daltile

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Before Photo

Before: The former bathroom had beige tile floors, a combination of white painted and wallpapered walls and two small traditional-style wood vanities placed on different walls. A makeup station without a sink sat along the middle left wall. Open shelving beside one vanity added to the cluttered feel. “Storage was a huge issue for them,” Davidson says.

A stall shower with a curtain was located behind the wall with the open shelves, and a ceiling beam stretched across the width of the room. A mirrored door at the back led to the primary bedroom. A small window on the back left wall offered an opportunity to close it in and create more wall space for an extended vanity.

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After: Removing the small window, the shelving and shower stall allowed for dual maple vanities with tower storage to span the side walls, creating streamlined symmetry. “We were able to get all of their necessities behind closed doors,” Davidson says. The vanities have a wheat-colored finish, modified Shaker-style doors and flat drawer fronts. “They were really trying to match the wood from their family farm,” Davidson says. Each vanity includes a tower with rollouts for added storage. Matte porcelain floor tiles in gray and earth tones bring rich texture and variation.

To offset the removed window, a new skylight trimmed with wood from the farm brings in natural light. “They were really concerned about having enough light,” Davidson says. A space-saving paneled pocket door now connects to the primary bedroom.

Floor tile: Clean Slate in Gray Matte, B&F Ceramics Design Showroom; skylight: Velux; vanities: maple in Shakertown IV in Wheat finish, Great Northern Cabinetry; wall paint: Bone White, Benjamin Moore

The vanities feature faux drawer fronts that flip down to reveal storage trays for easy access to small grooming items and medications. Durable quartz counters and backsplash have an ivory background with warm veining. “We were able to give them a very functional two-person primary bathroom,” Lawrence says.

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Bathroom of the Week: Wet-Room Steam Shower Brings Spa Style

September 9, 2025 No Comments

A Cary, North Carolina, couple who love to travel wanted their en suite primary bathroom to feel like a luxury hotel with spa-style amenities. Their existing space — with a dark traditional double vanity, separate tub and enclosed shower — was generously sized but lacked the wellness retreat atmosphere they envisioned. To help elevate the design and add modern comforts, they turned to design-build pros Steve Minor and Raul Bautista Perez of Noble Renovation.

The team reworked the old layout and created a modern wet room that combines a state-of-the-art steam shower and an inviting soaking tub, streamlining the footprint and providing a go-to spot for rest and rejuvenation. A larger custom white oak double vanity with a seated makeup station boosts storage while adding warmth and clean lines. A marble accent wall, backlit mirrors and soothing color palette enhance the calm, contemporary feel, giving the couple the next-level retreat they were after.

Before Photo

“After” photos by Bob Fortner Photography

Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Size: 248 square feet (23 square meters)
Design-build team: Steve Minor and Raul Bautista Perez of Noble Renovation

Before: The former traditional-style bathroom, with its coffered ceiling and chandelier, felt heavy and disjointed. “There were high and uneven ceilings,” Minor says. “We wanted to create clean lines.”

One wall held a dark double vanity with a granite counter. Another had a drop-in tub with a bulky tiled deck that was difficult to use. To the right of the tub, an enclosed shower had a narrow entrance. A window over the tub covered with film attempted to bring light into the space. “That tub was really too tall for the wife to get in and out of and dominated the bathroom,” Minor says. “The wife wanted a tub that was easy to get in and out of and he wanted a steam shower, so that’s how the design developed.”

Across from the vanity, just out of view on the right, a water closet and a linen closet offered privacy and storage the homeowners wanted to keep but refresh.

After: This photo was taken from about the same angle as the previous one. The team knocked the bathroom back to the studs and updated the electrical and plumbing to accommodate the planned upgrades. It lowered the ceiling from 13 feet to about 11 feet, reducing visual clutter and unifying the space.

The modern wet room features a custom black-tinted tempered glass enclosure with matte black hardware. The lower section is clad in matte wood-look fluted porcelain tiles, creating a soothing atmosphere. Inside the wet room, a black oversize shower panel is mounted on the ceiling. Just outside the entrance, a ceiling-mounted, humidity-sensing exhaust fan helps keep the bathroom comfortable and dry.

The back wall on the left is covered in ivory-toned marble panels with a textured, split-faced surface and interlocking design. A large backlit mirror illuminates the wall, highlighting the texture. “We were trying to add a statement when you walk in,” Minor says. “It also makes the room feel bigger. They love it. It adds a lot of drama.”

The flooring is 12-by-24-inch matte white onyx-look porcelain tiles with Wi-Fi-enabled radiant heat. The paneled door at the back opens to the updated primary closet, packed with storage solutions. “We continued the floor tile in there and it has a heated floor and LED lights,” Minor says. “It has a big window and an island in there as well.”

Accent wall: Splitface collection in Impero Reale, Anatolia

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Slabs of Taj Mahal quartzite create the wet room’s bench top, low-curb entry and tub deck. The same stone is also used for the vanity countertop and backsplash.Wood-look tile: Kenridge Ribbon in Maple Brown, TileBar

8 Golden Rules of Bathroom Design

In addition to the rain shower panel, the wet room includes a wall-mounted shower head, handheld sprayer and steam function. The black square with orange circles is the digital touch pad for the steam shower, letting the homeowners set time and temperature. “Our clients didn’t want to have anything lacking as far as luxury goes,” Minor says. “The husband enjoys the rain experience. The wand is nice for bathing or cleaning the glass. This shower has all the push-button features so you can set the temperature and you’re ready to go.”

The ceiling and sides of the bench and tub deck feature the same wood-look fluted tile used on the exterior of the wet room. The flooring and backs of the niches are tumbled mosaic marble stones. “In this bathroom, even the wet-room floor is heated,” Minor says. “The bench area is heated as well.” The walls are clad in the same porcelain tile used for the main bathroom flooring. “We made sure to waterproof every inch of that shower,” Minor adds.

The oval white 6-foot drop-in bathtub has built-in back support and armrests for comfort. A sleek 8-inch matte black tub spout coordinates with a matte black multifunction hand shower with push-button rinsing (not shown). “This tub was dropped 5 inches from the height of the previous tub so it’s very comfortable getting in and out,” Minor says.

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Removing the tub and deck opened up wall space for a longer custom double vanity, finished in white oak veneer with a satin sheen and topped with Taj Mahal quartzite. European-style frameless boxes with thin Shaker drawer fronts have oversize flat black bar pulls in two sizes.

All drawers are fully functional — no false fronts here. The drawers beneath the sinks have U-shaped cutouts to accommodate plumbing, while two others include integrated power outlets for grooming tools. Twin white oval undermount sinks are paired with modern single-lever matte black faucets with graceful curved spouts.

A pair of custom backlit mirrors illuminates the wall and can shift between different colors. The lower-height makeup station offers two drawers, an open cubby and a round upholstered stool the couple already owned. A black iron-and-glass pendant light casts a warm, inviting glow over the space.

Mirrors: Grand Mirrors Eclipse, Evervue; faucets: Vivenis in matte black, Hansgrohe; vanity pulls: Princetonian in flat black, Top Knobs

5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid

Before Photo

Before: In the original bathroom, a dark double vanity with a granite countertop and traditional-style lighting dated the look and feel. A plain mirror that had previously hung above the vanity had already been removed when this photo was taken. The water closet is visible on the left, with the linen closet door partially seen behind the open door leading to the primary bedroom hallway.

After: Undercabinet LED lighting beneath the double vanity, controlled by a motion sensor, adds a contemporary touch while doubling as a convenient nightlight for late-night trips. A wall niche offers easy access to grooming products and everyday essentials.

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A matte black towel warmer with 20 classic straight horizontal bars hangs on the exterior wall of the updated water closet, across from the wet room. “We’re most proud that we really listened to the clients and helped them discover what their vision was,” Minor says. “They had a lot of ideas and blended both of their needs and wants into a high-end space.”

Towel warmer: Jeeves Model D in matte black, Amba Products

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In Home Improvement

Bathroom of the Week: Wet-Room Magic Transforms a Tired Bath

September 2, 2025 No Comments

These Austin, Texas, homeowners dreamed of a chic, contemporary en suite with natural warmth, but their existing bathroom was anything but. The dated traditional-style space felt cramped and awkward, with a dark vanity, bulky corner shower, decked tub and a confusing maze of doors leading to closets and the bedroom.

To untangle the dysfunction, they hired designer Samantha Bailey, who reimagined the bath as a bright, streamlined retreat. A new wet room with freestanding tub and open shower anchors the space, while a longer white oak double vanity with tower storage lightens the look. Brass and bronze accents, layered neutral tiles and a striking Calacatta Viola marble countertop add texture and richness. Smart reworking of the floor plan improved flow and connection, transforming the primary suite into a stylish, highly functional escape.

Before Photo

“After” photos by Square Foot Photography

Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two kids and another on the way
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Design: Samantha Bailey of Samantha Kate Design

Before: The bathroom leaned traditional, with cream-colored walls, beige tile floors and a dark brown double vanity topped in black granite. A bulky corner shower crowded the vanity, making the whole area feel tight and uninviting. “The shower was a funny shape,” Bailey says.

Across the room, a built-in tub with matching dark finishes sat under a window the homeowners hoped to keep. An awkward step-up led to the primary bedroom door. “When we got into construction, the general contractor said we could remove it,” Bailey says.

After: Bailey stripped the bathroom to the studs, removed the awkward step-up and shifted the bedroom door for better flow. (See before-and-after floor plans below.) The built-in tub gave way to a new wet room, where a 67-inch freestanding tub and open shower share a sleek glass enclosure with champagne bronze hardware. “Wet rooms are so space-efficient and give you that wow factor,” Bailey says. Creamy white ceramic tiles cover the walls and arched entry. “I loved their handmade look and the variety of color,” Bailey says.

The tub’s high-gloss acrylic design and wall-mounted bronze filler bring comfort and style. A Calacatta Viola marble shelf and low curb complement the vanity countertop and, paired with a limestone mosaic floor, add texture. The existing window brings in natural light from the wooded lot outside. When the bedroom door is open, more natural light spills into the room, enhancing the bright, airy feel of this rejuvenated retreat.

Wall tile: Cloe in Creme, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; tub: Zoey, Vintage Tub & Bath; tub filler: Broderick, Delta

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Removing the corner shower made room for a longer stained white oak double vanity to the right of the bedroom door, with a tower cabinet taking the shower’s former spot. “We wanted that whole vanity wall to be unique with lots of texture and pattern,” Bailey says. “We added a fluted detail to the toekick that adds another unexpected touch.”

Is a Wet Room Right for You?

This view looks toward the bedroom door from the updated closet entrance. The door on the left leads to the water closet. The wet room is on the left. The homeowners were initially concerned the bathroom would feel smaller because of how much the wet room would extend into the floor space. “But because the wet room has that entire glass wall, it didn’t turn out feeling as small as they were concerned it would,” Bailey says.

The floor now consists of sand-colored, large-format (24-by-48-inch) porcelain tiles with almond-colored grout, a matte finish and a limestone look. “We wanted the floor to be the supporting player in the space,” Bailey says.

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The vanity top and short backsplash are polished Calacatta Viola marble with bold burgundy veining. “I presented it early in the design, because it would be such a striking look here,” Bailey says. “It was almost like the price didn’t matter, because she had to have it.”

Wall-mounted champagne bronze faucets were also a client must-have, Bailey says. Brass cabinet pulls in two sizes add texture, while bronze and hand-rubbed antique brass sconces flank dark-framed mirrors. The wall behind the mirrors features the same creamy white ceramic tile used in the wet room. “There’s nothing basic about this bathroom,” Bailey says. “All of the details in here are organic-looking, and we wanted to keep the mirrors organic-looking too.”

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The wet room’s shower has two champagne bronze multifunction heads with pressure-balanced valves, plus a niche lined in matching ceramic tile for easy access to products.

A new pocket door opens to the expanded walk-in primary closet, while a slim paneled door behind the shower leads to the water closet. Rotating the toilet footprint 90 degrees made room for the larger closet. “We needed to keep the toilet in place for plumbing purposes but rotated it so we could keep a larger primary closet footprint as well,” Bailey says.

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Before Photo

Before: This floor plan shows the former bathroom layout at the top right. The built-in tub sat in the upper right corner, with the angled shower below it. The bedroom door swung out between the two, while the double vanity was positioned to the left of the shower. The water closet sat to the left of the tub, and two doors on the left opened to separate closets the homeowners wanted to consolidate.

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