After raising their daughter, a California couple shifted focus to caring for the wife’s elderly mother in their late-1970s home. To make the space safer and more functional, they prioritized updating their outdated primary bathroom, which had a cramped vanity and a hazardous step-up shower and tub.
They turned to Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, where lead designer Janna Parr reimagined the bathroom as a spacious wet room with a built-in tub and open shower featuring both a multifunction shower head and a hand shower. A new cherry double vanity adds warmth and storage, while a mix of calming, textured tiles brings style and serenity to this now safe, modern retreat.
Before Photo
An elegant semicustom cherry double vanity anchors the space. It offers a smart mix of shallow and deep soft-close drawers along with spacious cabinets for improved storage. A rich clove brown finish adds depth and warmth. “We wanted to make sure we had enough counter space and sink space,” Parr says. “We went with one long sink to achieve symmetry with the way we were planning to do the mirror and medicine cabinets above.”
The two frameless mirrored medicine cabinets flank a metal-framed mirror in an oil-rubbed bronze finish. Wall sconces with traditional torch-style silhouettes and brass accents sit on either side. “We fell in love with the detail on the top of the mirror,” Parr says. “It also bounces light around the bathroom, so it feels more open and airy.”
A soft, warm white now coats the walls and ceiling, while a bright white on the trim adds subtle contrast.
Paint colors: Shoji White (wall and ceiling) and Pure White (trim), Sherwin-Williams; sconces: Elton in Patina Brass, Troy Lighting; vanity hardware: Top Knobs; mirror: Colestin in oil-rubbed bronze, Rejuvenation
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Topping the vanity is a polished pure white quartz surface that’s resistant to scratches, stains, cracks and heat. “We had a lot of movement with the backsplash tile that was our feature and wanted something to complement but not compete,” Parr says. “It also ties into other white elements throughout the space.”
The backsplash consists of polished ivory onyx mosaic tiles in a scalloped design with tonal variation that adds texture and charm. “I think they add both luxury and whimsy,” Parr says. “They also add interest to an otherwise neutral palette. We also wanted to tie in some of the gold tones on this side of the bathroom with the gold tones seen around the tub.”
Sink: Native Trails; faucets: Litze in Brilliance Luxe Gold, Brizo; countertop: Pure White, Caesarstone; wall tile: Piano Onyx Ivory mosaic, Elysium
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To enhance the existing tray ceiling, faux architectural beams were added where fluorescent lights once sat, adding both character and warmth. “That was a last-minute decision from the homeowners,” Parr says. “That was a splurge, but we had dreamed of adding them into the design to give it an old-world feel.”
A towel bar and hook near the vanity complement the space’s other luxe gold accents.
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Before Photo
Before: Across from the vanity in the former bathroom, the hazardous step-up tub sat next to a dated stall shower with a low enclosure, which was also raised above the main floor level. “It was clumsy and slippery,” Parr says. “There was also a ‘fern trench’ from the 1970s there behind the tub and shower.” The trench area was meant to hold plants.
Before Photo
Before: Here’s a closer look at the old shower beside the tub. With no shower niche, bathing products cluttered the floor, and the step-up entry was a key feature the homeowners were eager to eliminate.
The operable window on the back wall was updated by the homeowners, while a textured microcement finish — an ancient European technique gaining popularity in the U.S. — was applied to the wall in thin layers for durability and waterproofing. “I just didn’t want it to feel busy, and wanted to eliminate more tile and more grout,” Parr says.
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A streamlined, wall-mounted tub filler in a gold finish with lever handles replaced the original fixture. “Keeping the plumbing in the same location allowed us to keep within our budget,” Parr says. The paneled door partially visible at left leads to the primary bedroom.
Tile surround: Origines Or glossy, 24 by 48 inches, Elysium; tub filler: Litze in Brilliance Luxe Gold, Brizo
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The upper portion of the shower wall is clad in 3-by-12-inch ivory ceramic tiles with subtle tonal variation, soft texture and a gentle glaze. “We did a staggered vertical pattern to kind of mirror the backsplash at the vanity,” Parr says.
Below, 24-by-48-inch matte sand-colored porcelain tiles add visual depth and contrast. A quartz-topped shower shelf, matching the vanity countertop, offers a clean, dry space for hair and body products, keeping clutter off the wet-room floor.
Shower fixtures: Litze in Brilliance Luxe Gold, Brizo; shower wall tile (top): Flash in ivory, 3-by-12-inch, Arizona Tile; shower wall tile (bottom): Waystone Sand, 24-by-48-inch, Elysium
The doors just outside the wet room lead to the water closet — located behind the shower fixtures — and a walk-in closet on the adjacent wall. “The thoughtful design and layout for functionality was a primary focus,” Parr says, “but the clients put full faith and trust in me to create a layered bathroom with multiple textures, sheens and touches of luxury.”
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and the wife’s elderly mother
Location: Laguna Niguel, California
Size: 185 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Janna Parr of Sea Pointe Design & Remodel
Before: The aging bathroom, with its peeling floral wallpaper, lacked both safety and style. A basic angled wood double vanity had large plain mirrors and a hard-to-clean tile countertop. The only drawer storage came from a small makeup station in the center, leaving hair and skincare products cluttering the surface. “We had a challenge with the angled wall and did not want to turn it into a structural project,” Parr says. “We couldn’t really move walls. There was also a peeling soffit above with a fluorescent light that we wanted to eliminate.”
Across from the vanity, the step-up tub and shower (visible here in the mirrors) raised safety concerns and felt outdated. The homeowners chose to keep the water closet as is. “We didn’t change anything in there,” Parr says.
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