Before and After: 7 Master Bathroom Transformations
Thinking about remodeling your main bathroom? Get inspired by looking at these before-and-after bathroom photos
Brenna Malmberg
June 26, 2019
A newly updated bathroom is always a treat to look at, but when you get to see what it looked like before, you can really get inspired. You start thinking about what you like — or don’t — about your own bathroom. You daydream about what it could be.
Let’s take a look at seven master bathroom makeovers. Maybe their before-and-after photos will inspire your own space’s transformation.
Let’s take a look at seven master bathroom makeovers. Maybe their before-and-after photos will inspire your own space’s transformation.
1. Checkered to Elegant
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Wheaton, Illinois
Size: 214 square feet (19.8 square meters)
Designers: Amy Storm and Lisa Abeln of Designstorms
Before. Busy checkered tile surrounds the built-in bathtub and covers the floor. The homeowners wanted to remodel their space with materials that would better reflect the home’s original Victorian charm.
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Wheaton, Illinois
Size: 214 square feet (19.8 square meters)
Designers: Amy Storm and Lisa Abeln of Designstorms
Before. Busy checkered tile surrounds the built-in bathtub and covers the floor. The homeowners wanted to remodel their space with materials that would better reflect the home’s original Victorian charm.
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz
After. Designers Amy Storm and Lisa Abeln removed the half wall at the foot of the old tub, opening up the space. A new classic-style pedestal tub floats on the right side of the room. The changes created room for a larger makeup vanity across from a matching double-sink vanity. The team selected a cement floor tile with a light pattern to replace the old checkerboard design.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Shop for freestanding tubs
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Shop for freestanding tubs
2. Ho-Hum to Inviting
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Upper West Side of Manhattan
Size: 140 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Nicholas Kaess of NYKB
Before. The clients thought their bathroom was spacious, especially for New York City, but they wanted it to have more personality and function.
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Upper West Side of Manhattan
Size: 140 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Nicholas Kaess of NYKB
Before. The clients thought their bathroom was spacious, especially for New York City, but they wanted it to have more personality and function.
After. By combining the shower and tub, designer Nicholas Kaess was able to add storage, a stackable washer and dryer, and a sitting area for applying makeup.
New style touches include antique brass finishes, Carrara marble countertops and a gold-tone grille over the radiator along the back wall.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
New style touches include antique brass finishes, Carrara marble countertops and a gold-tone grille over the radiator along the back wall.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
3. Closed-In to Spacious
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Size: 95 square feet (8.8 square meters)
Designer: Rachelle Gervais
Before. The owners thought the existing 1980s style didn’t do enough to complement the beautiful views outside the window. And they didn’t love the dark shower stall or the laminate countertop.
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Size: 95 square feet (8.8 square meters)
Designer: Rachelle Gervais
Before. The owners thought the existing 1980s style didn’t do enough to complement the beautiful views outside the window. And they didn’t love the dark shower stall or the laminate countertop.
After. The new custom floating vanity made from walnut instantly catches the eye. Designer Rachelle Gervais complemented the vanity with a walnut-framed mirror that reflects light from the window and skylight throughout the room. To the right, Gervais replaced the shower stall with a glass one, which keeps the room feeling open and lets the homeowners take in the grand view while they shower.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Browse floating vanities
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Browse floating vanities
4. Tight Fit to Open and Bright
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut
Size: 130 square feet (12.1 square meters)
Designer: Eileen Deschapelles Interior Design
Before. The bathroom’s pipes had sprung a leak, and the homeowners used the incident as an opportunity to remodel the space. While they were remodeling, they borrowed some square footage from an adjacent closet to make the bathroom bigger.
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut
Size: 130 square feet (12.1 square meters)
Designer: Eileen Deschapelles Interior Design
Before. The bathroom’s pipes had sprung a leak, and the homeowners used the incident as an opportunity to remodel the space. While they were remodeling, they borrowed some square footage from an adjacent closet to make the bathroom bigger.
After. Now an antique pocket door opens up to a bigger bathroom with a herringbone-tiled floor and a vaulted ceiling. Designer and homeowner Eileen Deschapelles kept the bathroom’s basic layout mostly the same, but by raising the ceiling, she could install a larger, glass-walled shower and a skylight, making the bathroom brighter and more welcoming.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Read more about this bathroom remodel
5. Tired to Fresh
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Atlanta
Size: 150 square feet (13.9 square meters)
Designers: Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole of Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs
Before. After years of living in their home, these homeowners were tired of their bathroom’s tan walls, built-in tub and gold-framed shower.
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Atlanta
Size: 150 square feet (13.9 square meters)
Designers: Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole of Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs
Before. After years of living in their home, these homeowners were tired of their bathroom’s tan walls, built-in tub and gold-framed shower.
After. White walls, a freestanding tub and a glass-walled shower provide the new look the homeowners wanted. Designers Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole made these updates without drastically changing the layout.
Read more about this remodel
Read more about this remodel
6. Grungy to Gleaming
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Atlanta
Size: About 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Contractor: Innovative Construction
Before. After taking pictures of her space, homeowner and Houzz contributor Becky Harris thought her bathroom looked cluttered and even grungy — especially the old shower stall.
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: Atlanta
Size: About 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Contractor: Innovative Construction
Before. After taking pictures of her space, homeowner and Houzz contributor Becky Harris thought her bathroom looked cluttered and even grungy — especially the old shower stall.
After. The patterned floor tile inspired the rest of the bathroom you see here. She updated the tub, shower, wall paint and vanity countertop, and splurged on a beaded chandelier.
Harris worked with her brother, who owns a construction company, to make her design vision a reality. She had her challenges during this bathroom project, but she also had fun, learned a lot and got the bathroom features she wanted.
Read more about this remodel
Harris worked with her brother, who owns a construction company, to make her design vision a reality. She had her challenges during this bathroom project, but she also had fun, learned a lot and got the bathroom features she wanted.
Read more about this remodel
7. Unused Space to Oasis
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: El Cajon, California
Size: 184 square feet (17 square meters)
Designers: Sol Quintana Wagoner, senior interior designer, and Marisela Contreras, design assistant, at Jackson Design and Remodeling
Before. The patio outside the master bathroom wasn’t being used, so the homeowners decided to turn it into an outdoor shower as part of their bathroom remodel.
Bathroom at a Glance
Location: El Cajon, California
Size: 184 square feet (17 square meters)
Designers: Sol Quintana Wagoner, senior interior designer, and Marisela Contreras, design assistant, at Jackson Design and Remodeling
Before. The patio outside the master bathroom wasn’t being used, so the homeowners decided to turn it into an outdoor shower as part of their bathroom remodel.
After. Frosted glass walls give the California homeowners privacy while they enjoy their new outdoor showering oasis. Designers Sol Quintana Wagoner and Marisela Contreras used weatherproof materials and hardware to keep this extended bathing space looking great and working well.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
More on Houzz
How to Remodel Your Bathroom
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for bathroom products
Read more about this bathroom remodel
More on Houzz
How to Remodel Your Bathroom
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for bathroom products
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I wish Houzz could get realistic about their concept of "small" bathrooms. I had to laugh at these examples. Even 95 sqft is huge compared to my 5.5'x8' minus a corner to the hallway outside, so 44sf-~6sf, so maybe 38 sq ft. Yes, that is how master baths in 1960s colonials were build in New England. Lots of them.
I challenge Houzz and all of its resources to come up with an efficient design for a real small bathroom!
@PM,
It is great you've found a tub which meets your needs. You have a 2-wall tub thus you won't feel "boxed-in" when using it. However, an alcove tub has the walls dropping down onto the top of the tub on all 3 walls....which gives a box-like feeling.
I don't see how a sponge on a stick won't suffice where a sponge will. You can buy a sponge on a stick online, just need to google those key words.
Below is another example of where/when to use a freestanding tub....no walls to build.
Some great transformations. :)