An Awkward Master Bath Gets a Roomier Feel — Without Adding On
A designer replaces a glass-block shower, a chunky tub and a wasted dressing area with lighter, more spacious features
After. The new shower stall’s clear glass lets the light shine through. Losing that glass block gave them an additional 4 square feet inside, and the new shower stall measures 4 feet by 4 feet. “He’s really tall. We were able to right-size the shower and give them the bells and whistles they wanted,” Clement says. This included a rain shower head, body sprays and a handheld wand.
Tip: Consider how you will turn on the shower when you are planning your valve placement — and picture yourself fully clothed and the water being icy. “It’s one of those things that people don’t think about sometimes — how the door will swing and where you will reach to turn the shower on without getting wet,” Clement says.
Although the couple liked the look of marble and other natural stone, Clement steered them toward digitally printed porcelain tile because they wanted low-maintenance products. Porcelain is more durable and easier to clean than natural stone options and is usually the less expensive choice. The shower tiles are 12 by 24 inches. “This is a good-sized shower that can take this size. There are less grout lines with a large-format tile, and it shows off the pretty marblelike veining pattern,” she says. The shower floor is a coordinating 2-by-2-inch tile in a hexagonal pattern.
Tip: Consider how you will turn on the shower when you are planning your valve placement — and picture yourself fully clothed and the water being icy. “It’s one of those things that people don’t think about sometimes — how the door will swing and where you will reach to turn the shower on without getting wet,” Clement says.
Although the couple liked the look of marble and other natural stone, Clement steered them toward digitally printed porcelain tile because they wanted low-maintenance products. Porcelain is more durable and easier to clean than natural stone options and is usually the less expensive choice. The shower tiles are 12 by 24 inches. “This is a good-sized shower that can take this size. There are less grout lines with a large-format tile, and it shows off the pretty marblelike veining pattern,” she says. The shower floor is a coordinating 2-by-2-inch tile in a hexagonal pattern.
Grounding the Floor in Pattern
“I knew a herringbone pattern would work really well in here because of the long, open run. The pattern gives the room more depth,” Clement says. She carefully considered the size of the tiles to find the right scale — these are 6-by-24-inch planks. And again, durability was a big factor in the decision.
All tile: Florida Tile; wall paint: Aloof Gray, Sherwin-Williams
“I knew a herringbone pattern would work really well in here because of the long, open run. The pattern gives the room more depth,” Clement says. She carefully considered the size of the tiles to find the right scale — these are 6-by-24-inch planks. And again, durability was a big factor in the decision.
All tile: Florida Tile; wall paint: Aloof Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Right-Sizing the Bathtub
As mentioned previously, one of the homeowners is tall. And both homeowners enjoy a soak, so a bathtub was on their must-have list. But finding a bathtub that fit the space and fit him was a challenge. Clement offers a tip for online bathtub shopping: “A lot of times the outer shell of the tub looks ample, but you have to check out the inner bathing wall dimensions. Often the sides taper in significantly and it’s not as big as it looks,” she says.
The sculptural freestanding acrylic bathtub allowed her to extend the floor tile into this area, making the room feel airier. To get the right look for the surrounding tile, she considered the way the area works with the window and accommodated the full 12-inch length of the tiles rather than cutting them down. This created an easy transition from the shower stall to the tub area that feels cohesive.
Bathtub: Laxson, Signature Hardware
As mentioned previously, one of the homeowners is tall. And both homeowners enjoy a soak, so a bathtub was on their must-have list. But finding a bathtub that fit the space and fit him was a challenge. Clement offers a tip for online bathtub shopping: “A lot of times the outer shell of the tub looks ample, but you have to check out the inner bathing wall dimensions. Often the sides taper in significantly and it’s not as big as it looks,” she says.
The sculptural freestanding acrylic bathtub allowed her to extend the floor tile into this area, making the room feel airier. To get the right look for the surrounding tile, she considered the way the area works with the window and accommodated the full 12-inch length of the tiles rather than cutting them down. This created an easy transition from the shower stall to the tub area that feels cohesive.
Bathtub: Laxson, Signature Hardware
A wall-mounted tub faucet is a space saver. And the handheld wand makes cleaning the tub easy.
Wall-mounted tub faucet and hand shower: Telephone, Signature Hardware; see more wall-mounted tub faucets
Wall-mounted tub faucet and hand shower: Telephone, Signature Hardware; see more wall-mounted tub faucets
After. A large new mirror bounces almost as much light around but has a more polished look, thanks to its elegant frame. Its finish works well with the existing metals in the room and adds patina to the space.
For the color on the vanities, Clement went with a medium-dark gray with hints of blue. “This color added some warmth to the room,” she says. It also grounds them in a color that coordinates with all the tile. While the cabinetry is dark, the countertops and light gray walls lend a calm feeling that keeps the room looking light.
Find similar bathroom mirrors
For the color on the vanities, Clement went with a medium-dark gray with hints of blue. “This color added some warmth to the room,” she says. It also grounds them in a color that coordinates with all the tile. While the cabinetry is dark, the countertops and light gray walls lend a calm feeling that keeps the room looking light.
Find similar bathroom mirrors
After. Clement used that former dressing table corner to maximize storage. She considered the items they needed to store and planned accordingly. For example, she incorporated deep drawers that can accommodate items like upright lotion bottles. “This house has small closets, so giving them as much storage as possible in here was important. This included saving the existing linen closet,” she says, referring to the narrow door in the photo.
The countertop tower provides space for hair appliances and products, and it has an outlet inside.
Clement had three matching mirrors custom-made to fit the space. And don’t let the word “custom” intimidate you — it’s not so complicated with mirrors. Most framing shops can do this for you, and it’s about as simple as choosing a frame for artwork.
The larger door leads to the existing water closet, which they also kept as part of the layout.
The countertop tower provides space for hair appliances and products, and it has an outlet inside.
Clement had three matching mirrors custom-made to fit the space. And don’t let the word “custom” intimidate you — it’s not so complicated with mirrors. Most framing shops can do this for you, and it’s about as simple as choosing a frame for artwork.
The larger door leads to the existing water closet, which they also kept as part of the layout.
“My clients were not into bling, so we went with the matte finish of satin nickel for the fixtures and hardware,” Clement says. The silvery tone goes well with the grays in the room. And the classic silhouette adds a traditional touch to the mix of modern and traditional that constitutes transitional style.
Widespread faucet with cross handles: Shannon, Signature Hardware
Widespread faucet with cross handles: Shannon, Signature Hardware
For the countertops and backsplash, Clement found a beautiful quartz that looks like the marble pattern she used on the shower walls. The backsplash is 4 inches high.
“She wanted a little softness in here, so we went with an ogee edge for the counter,” the designer says. The silhouette suits the transitional space and is functional. “When surfaces get wet, other types of edges can let water drip down onto the cabinetry, which contributes to wear and tear. This edge makes it drip down to the floor instead,” she says.
The hardware has fluting details that add some traditional style to the room.
Counters: Teltos Statuario, Polarstone; hardware: Chareau Series, Top Knobs
“She wanted a little softness in here, so we went with an ogee edge for the counter,” the designer says. The silhouette suits the transitional space and is functional. “When surfaces get wet, other types of edges can let water drip down onto the cabinetry, which contributes to wear and tear. This edge makes it drip down to the floor instead,” she says.
The hardware has fluting details that add some traditional style to the room.
Counters: Teltos Statuario, Polarstone; hardware: Chareau Series, Top Knobs
Layers of Lighting
In addition to the wall-mounted sconces, there are two recessed lights in the ceiling and a beautiful bubble glass chandelier (you can catch a glimpse of it in the reflection of the mirror on the right). The chandelier is on a dimmer so that the owners can adjust the mood and keep it nightlight-low when they flick it on in the middle of the night.
Takeaways
More: Browse other bathroom makeovers
In addition to the wall-mounted sconces, there are two recessed lights in the ceiling and a beautiful bubble glass chandelier (you can catch a glimpse of it in the reflection of the mirror on the right). The chandelier is on a dimmer so that the owners can adjust the mood and keep it nightlight-low when they flick it on in the middle of the night.
Takeaways
- A herringbone pattern is a good choice for bathroom floors with a long, open run.
- How you are going to turn on the water is an important consideration when placing shower valves and doors.
- Digitally printed porcelain and quartz are smart options if you want the look of natural stone but need something low maintenance and durable.
- It’s nice to plan specific storage and electrical outlet placement for specific needs like hairstyling and shaving.
- Framing shops can make custom mirrors for just the right fit.
More: Browse other bathroom makeovers
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple of busy professionals who have two children
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 192 square feet (15 square meters); 16 by 12 feet
Designer: Lauren Clement of Lauren Nicole Designs
“My clients realized they shouldn’t be starting their busy days in a place that didn’t function well for them, so they saved up for a complete master bathroom renovation,” says interior designer Lauren Clement. “With two small kids at home, they needed a place for themselves.”
At 16 by 12 feet, their bathroom in Charlotte, North Carolina, was roomy enough, but it felt dated to them and didn’t function well. Although it received a nice amount of natural light from the windows and had a high vaulted ceiling, the elements felt awkward and the floor plan felt choppy because of the glass block shower stall, the cumbersome bathtub deck and a never-used dressing table area hogging the corner.
The owners didn’t have a clear vision of what the bathroom could be and put their trust in Clement. The direction they gave her was that they wanted it to look clean and that they liked gray and a transitional style.
A Cramped Shower and Bath Area Opens Up
Before. Glass block made this shower cramped, both aesthetically and literally — its 6-inch thickness ate up valuable shampooing elbow room. And here we also get a glimpse of the bathtub’s bulky decking.
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