Bathroom of the Week: Lighter, Brighter and Blue
A designer transforms a New Jersey master bathroom by relocating a linen closet to make room for a walk-in shower
Before remodeling their master bathroom, these New Jersey homeowners found taking showers in their old tub to be a hassle. “They complained that the shower curtain would always wrap around them and water would get all over the floor,” says designer Tracey Stephens, who devised a new floor plan that made room for a walk-in shower by relocating the linen closet to the hallway and that kept enough space for a freestanding tub.
Before: The former master bathroom included dark brown window blinds, a pedestal sink, yellow wall tiles and terra-cotta floor tiles. The freestanding tub also served as the shower for the homeowners.
After: Because Stephens had to relocate the linen closet to the adjacent hallway to make room for the new shower, she replaced the former pedestal sink with a vanity that includes cabinets and drawers for nearby storage.
Unlike the old tub, the new freestanding tub has a contemporary silhouette and is not burdened by a shower curtain. There’s a new recessed ceiling light above the tub and three new towel hooks mounted to a painted board on the wall. “By mounting the towel hooks on an anchored board, they’re more secure and less likely to be ripped out of the wall,” Stephens says.
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Unlike the old tub, the new freestanding tub has a contemporary silhouette and is not burdened by a shower curtain. There’s a new recessed ceiling light above the tub and three new towel hooks mounted to a painted board on the wall. “By mounting the towel hooks on an anchored board, they’re more secure and less likely to be ripped out of the wall,” Stephens says.
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Before: A linen closet in the corner of the former master bathroom provided plenty of storage but didn’t leave enough room for a walk-in shower.
After: Relocating the linen closet to the adjacent hallway left just enough room for a corner walk-in shower. “I wanted to make the shower as large as possible,” Stephens says. “The shower door just clears the tub.”
Stephens used the same blue penny tiles to cover the shower floor, walls and ceiling. “I always like to tile the ceiling above a shower. It holds up to moisture much better than a painted ceiling, which tends to peel over time,” she says.
Stephens used the same blue penny tiles to cover the shower floor, walls and ceiling. “I always like to tile the ceiling above a shower. It holds up to moisture much better than a painted ceiling, which tends to peel over time,” she says.
A custom shower niche with three shelves made out of white quartz provides convenient access to bathing products.
The stainless steel hand rail below the niche is a feature that Stephens likes to add to all her projects. “Even if the homeowners are young, it’s a smart idea to add universal design for other family members, aging in place and resale value,” the designer says.
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The stainless steel hand rail below the niche is a feature that Stephens likes to add to all her projects. “Even if the homeowners are young, it’s a smart idea to add universal design for other family members, aging in place and resale value,” the designer says.
12 Must-Haves for Aging in Place
Another feature that Stephens likes to add to showers is a custom shaving step. This one is made out of white quartz and provides a convenient perch for a foot while shaving one’s leg.
Before: A drawing of the former master bathroom shows the location of the old tub-shower combo next to the linen closet. The adjacent hallway used to include an armoire against the wall.
After: A drawing of the remodeled master bathroom shows the location of the new walk-in shower in place of the former linen closet. Stephens added a new linen closet along the wall of the adjacent hallway where the armoire used to be.
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More on Houzz
Before and After: 9 Small-Bathroom Makeovers That Wow
8 Narrow Bathrooms That Rock Tubs in the Shower
Look for a bathroom designer
Shop for bathroom vanities
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A young couple with a little boy
Location: Montclair, New Jersey
Size: About 80 square feet (7.4 square meters)
Designer: Tracey Stephens Interior Design
To make the master bathroom brighter and lighter, Stephens replaced the dark brown window blinds with top-down shades in a translucent fabric that filters natural light while maintaining privacy. To add a classic touch, the designer removed the square yellow tiles covering the lower part of the walls and put up crisp white subway tiles.
The upper part of the walls is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Ice, which complements the blue penny tiles that cover the floor and the new shower. “The homeowners love blue,” Stephens says. “The exterior of their house is blue, and just about every room inside is covered in a different shade of blue.”
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