Bathroom of the Week: Fresh Update With Mediterranean Touches
A designer helps a newlywed Denver couple create more openness and a spa-like vibe in their master bathroom
Excited to start their new life together, this young newlywed couple purchased a small Tudor-style home in an established Denver neighborhood. But while they loved some of the old-world architectural details of the home, they knew there were rooms that needed major updating, especially the master bathroom.
The bathroom was part of a first-floor addition done by previous homeowners. A massive jetted tub with a tiled, angled surround ate up much of the floor space, and a tight water closet and walled-in shower stall created two dark and uninviting areas. Plus, dated beige tile and beige countertops did little to elevate the vibe. Designer Kate Bendewald helped the couple create a brighter and fresher bathroom with a large open shower, a spa-like feel and a few Mediterranean-inspired details that reflect the heritage of the homeowners.
The bathroom was part of a first-floor addition done by previous homeowners. A massive jetted tub with a tiled, angled surround ate up much of the floor space, and a tight water closet and walled-in shower stall created two dark and uninviting areas. Plus, dated beige tile and beige countertops did little to elevate the vibe. Designer Kate Bendewald helped the couple create a brighter and fresher bathroom with a large open shower, a spa-like feel and a few Mediterranean-inspired details that reflect the heritage of the homeowners.
After: Bendewald removed the jetted tub and replaced it with a white, oval freestanding acrylic tub. “The old tub felt boxy,” she says. “We liked this tub because it was dramatic. We spent lots of time playing with many options of how to do the bathroom layout, but we stayed with the location of the existing plumbing to keep costs down.”
To brighten the space, Bendewald had the walls painted a warm off-white (Wind’s Breath by Benjamin Moore). “We were trying to avoid anything that would feel too yellow but wanted something that would still feel warm,” she says. The homeowners “wanted the bathroom to have a luxurious and hotel-like feel — but approachable. The clients have some ties to the Mediterranean, so we also wanted to add some of that style to the room. We didn’t want it to scream Mediterranean, because it wouldn’t be appropriate to the house, but we added some nods to their background.”
That included arabesque-style mirror frames, watery blue-green tile in the shower and marble floor tile. “We liked the warmth of the honed marble and the veining,” Bendewald says. “It has the timeless, classic appeal we were going for.” It’s set in a herringbone pattern.
Bendewald removed the walls of the water closet to give the bathroom a more open feel.
Shop for freestanding bathtubs
To brighten the space, Bendewald had the walls painted a warm off-white (Wind’s Breath by Benjamin Moore). “We were trying to avoid anything that would feel too yellow but wanted something that would still feel warm,” she says. The homeowners “wanted the bathroom to have a luxurious and hotel-like feel — but approachable. The clients have some ties to the Mediterranean, so we also wanted to add some of that style to the room. We didn’t want it to scream Mediterranean, because it wouldn’t be appropriate to the house, but we added some nods to their background.”
That included arabesque-style mirror frames, watery blue-green tile in the shower and marble floor tile. “We liked the warmth of the honed marble and the veining,” Bendewald says. “It has the timeless, classic appeal we were going for.” It’s set in a herringbone pattern.
Bendewald removed the walls of the water closet to give the bathroom a more open feel.
Shop for freestanding bathtubs
Bendewald kept the frosted glass window the same, for privacy, but she added new trim to freshen it up.
After looking at dozens of options for a light fixture over the tub, Bendewald and the owners decided on this orb-like design with capiz shells and gold frame. “It reflects a really pretty light during the evening hours,” Bendewald says.
After looking at dozens of options for a light fixture over the tub, Bendewald and the owners decided on this orb-like design with capiz shells and gold frame. “It reflects a really pretty light during the evening hours,” Bendewald says.
The single-handle tub filler has a champagne bronze finish and elegant look. “Having the hand shower to do rinse-off is nice,” Bendewald says.
Tub filler: Trinsic contemporary floor-mount in champagne bronze, Delta Faucet
Tub filler: Trinsic contemporary floor-mount in champagne bronze, Delta Faucet
Two custom 48-inch-wide white oak vanities add warmth to the bathroom and feature honed marble countertops and backsplashes that coordinate with the floor tile.
Matte black hardware on the vanities coordinates with the black and aged brass sconces.
A vintage-look indoor-outdoor rug provides comfort, as does the heated floor.
Matte black hardware on the vanities coordinates with the black and aged brass sconces.
A vintage-look indoor-outdoor rug provides comfort, as does the heated floor.
Each vanity has wall-mounted faucets over square vessel sinks. The faucets, towel rings, outlet plates and other accessories feature coordinating bronze finishes.
Before: This view of the previous bathroom offers a look at the enclosed shower, in which the owners felt claustrophobic. “It had a $10 shower head that was not suitable,” Bendewald says.
The white paneled door to the right of the shower opened to a linen closet. The doorway at the rear of the photo leads to the master bedroom.
The white paneled door to the right of the shower opened to a linen closet. The doorway at the rear of the photo leads to the master bedroom.
After: Bendewald removed the enclosed shower and created a spacious low-curb shower with a tempered glass enclosure.
She also removed the linen closet to create a more open feel. The large wood cabinet now holds the linens. The vintage piece was found online for about $50. “It was a grungy yellow so we refinished it,” Bendewald says. “We added interior shelves, knocked out a solid panel door it had and added glass. We also fixed the dresser’s wonky drawers. I think adding a piece of furniture to a bathroom really warms it up, while also giving you the storage you need.”
She also removed the linen closet to create a more open feel. The large wood cabinet now holds the linens. The vintage piece was found online for about $50. “It was a grungy yellow so we refinished it,” Bendewald says. “We added interior shelves, knocked out a solid panel door it had and added glass. We also fixed the dresser’s wonky drawers. I think adding a piece of furniture to a bathroom really warms it up, while also giving you the storage you need.”
Glossy blue-green porcelain tiles (3 by 12 inches) punch up the shower and provide another subtle reference to the Mediterranean. Raw edges on the tile give each piece a little variation. “They’re sort of intended to look imperfect,” Bendewald says. “They also reflect the homeowners’ love for blue and green.”
Tumbled marble mosaic tiles cover the shower floor. “We liked the green in them, and they worked well with the wall tiles in the shower,” Bendewald says.
Tumbled marble mosaic tiles cover the shower floor. “We liked the green in them, and they worked well with the wall tiles in the shower,” Bendewald says.
The shower, which has room for two, features a shower head and handheld shower on each side wall. The champagne bronze finish coordinates with other finishes in the bathroom. “This finish warms things up and speaks to the warmth of the wood of the hutch and vanity,” Bendewald says. “Because my client has especially long, thick hair, we made sure to include a high-powered shower head to give her the proper water flow.”
Thassos marble, another nod to the Mediterranean, backs the shower niche, adding to the cumulation of thoughtful details that gave the owners the fresh, new space they wanted.
“We were able to create this special retreat for these newlyweds that was not only more practical for everyday use, but reflective of the home and the style the clients have for the rest of their house,” Bendewald says.
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Look for a bathroom designer near you
Shop for bathroom accessories
“We were able to create this special retreat for these newlyweds that was not only more practical for everyday use, but reflective of the home and the style the clients have for the rest of their house,” Bendewald says.
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Look for a bathroom designer near you
Shop for bathroom accessories
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Denver
Size: 390 square feet (36 square meters)
Designer: Kate Bendewald Interior Design
Before: The couple felt the previous bathroom had a lot of angles going on. Corners of the large tiled tub surround stuck into the layout, for example, and the narrow water closet, seen in the back left of the photo, and a walled-in shower enclosure had a similar effect. “From a layout perspective, it was not a great use of space,” Bendewald says. “We wanted to try and bring the bathroom up to date and create a space that felt fresh and clean.”
That meant ditching the earthy brown ceramic floor tile and other beige details and replacing the basic vanities and built-in tub.
Find a bathroom remodeler