Bathroom of the Week: Spa Look and More Storage in 95 Square Feet
A San Diego couple work with a design-build firm to create a cheery master bath with adjustable cabinetry
To turn her clients’ outdated master bathroom into the functional, calming space they wanted, without changing its tight 95-square-foot layout, Marie Cairns of San Diego design-build firm CairnsCraft and her team focused on thoughtful details.
They selected a new vanity and additional storage cabinets to accommodate styling tools, a beloved jewelry box and other items specific to the homeowners. A standard shower was enlarged to include a must-have bench. Mirrors, lighting and tile were reconfigured to maximize the bright, airy feel. “They wanted a more spa-like bathroom and we wanted them to have a cheerful experience when they walk into the bathroom,” Cairns says.
They selected a new vanity and additional storage cabinets to accommodate styling tools, a beloved jewelry box and other items specific to the homeowners. A standard shower was enlarged to include a must-have bench. Mirrors, lighting and tile were reconfigured to maximize the bright, airy feel. “They wanted a more spa-like bathroom and we wanted them to have a cheerful experience when they walk into the bathroom,” Cairns says.
Before: The existing bathroom, divided into the vanity space seen here and a shower and toilet space separated by a pocket door, was dark, short on storage and had outdated elements such as carpet.
After: A new double vanity in a wood-look finish, quartz countertops, bronze hardware and soothing blue tile make the space feel bigger and more modern. The top drawers have homeowner-requested outlets for styling and shaving tools.
The vanity area now has gray-brown wood-look luxury vinyl plank flooring. The shower and toilet area flooring is white marble-look porcelain tile.
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The vanity area now has gray-brown wood-look luxury vinyl plank flooring. The shower and toilet area flooring is white marble-look porcelain tile.
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Spa-like blue glass tile in a herringbone design above the vanity adds texture and the sense of serenity the homeowners were after. On either side of the mirrored double medicine cabinet, bronze sconces brighten things up further. “With the glass in combination with the tile, it looks like the tile is just glowing,” Cairns says.
Browse mosaic bathroom tile on Houzz
Browse mosaic bathroom tile on Houzz
Cairns and del Pozzo swapped out the existing double undermount sinks for a sleeker single rectangular vessel sink with two faucets to free up surrounding vanity space without sacrificing function.
The vanity mirror opens into a roomy double medicine cabinet, which the existing bathroom lacked. It includes built-in dimmable lighting. The feature presented a challenge, as Cairns didn’t want to interrupt the bold look of the tile with wiring. Working with an electrician, the team incorporated the necessary components by building a special power box in the attic and threading cords through the ceiling.
How to Get Your Vanity Lighting Right
How to Get Your Vanity Lighting Right
Before: A pocket door revealed a forgettable shower and toilet in a separate space beside the vanity area.
After: Cairns expanded the shower to fit in the bench the homeowners had requested. “By bringing the pony wall closer to the window, that brings more natural light” into the shower, she says. Along the wall, new floor-to-ceiling gray cabinetry and countertop space dramatically increase the bathroom’s storage.
Inside the shower, vertical columns of the same blue tile as the vanity area tie the spaces together and pop against more white marble-look porcelain. Built-in niches offer even more storage. On the shower floor, gray porcelain mosaic tile adds another layer of understated texture.
Your Guide to Shower Floor Materials
Your Guide to Shower Floor Materials
Before: The homeowner’s large jewelry box dominated this storage area opposite the vanity.
After: A tall linen closet with lower drawers and adjustable upper shelving behind cabinet doors keeps the jewelry box and clutter tucked away. The jewelry box now sits on a pullout shelf. Mirroring both sides of the cabinet doors serves dual purposes, Cairns says. “Once [the homeowner] opens the doors, she can use the mirror while she’s selecting the jewelry to use. And then, mirrors also bring light to the space and make the room look larger.”
The cleaner, updated bathroom checks all of the homeowners’ “must-have” boxes, Cairns says. “They said they would not change a thing,” she says, “and they were very appreciative of the attention paid to the details.”
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Shop for bathroom products
Who lives here: A couple
Location: La Jolla, California
Size: 95 square feet (about 9 square meters)
Designer-Builder: Marie Cairns of CairnsCraft Design & Remodel and designer Luz del Pozzo