Bathroom of the Week: Black, White, Wood and a High-Tech Shower
A design-build pro helps a Minnesota couple update their bathroom with dramatic farmhouse style and spa-like amenities
After remodeling other parts of their suburban St. Paul, Minnesota, home, this professional couple turned their attention to their aging primary bathroom to address features and finishes left over from the 1980s. A bulky built-in corner tub took up valuable space and resulted in harsh angles. The toilet floated out in the open. The shower stall was dark. And a basic honey oak vanity and heavy dose of beige tile throughout the room made for boring style.
Wanting a more modern space with improved amenities and a streamlined layout, the couple turned to design-build pro Philip Hide. Knotty alder trim work and a knotty alder double vanity add warmth to an otherwise black-and-white palette. The toilet now sits in a water closet. An elegant freestanding soaking tub helps create an airy layout. And a new shower with a steam function, speaker, mood lighting and a touch-screen control panel give the couple a high-tech, spa-like experience.
Wanting a more modern space with improved amenities and a streamlined layout, the couple turned to design-build pro Philip Hide. Knotty alder trim work and a knotty alder double vanity add warmth to an otherwise black-and-white palette. The toilet now sits in a water closet. An elegant freestanding soaking tub helps create an airy layout. And a new shower with a steam function, speaker, mood lighting and a touch-screen control panel give the couple a high-tech, spa-like experience.
After: Hide removed the vanity, corner tub, shower stall, toilet, linen closet and tile flooring.
An elegant white freestanding soaking tub with matte black deck-mounted tub filler now sits under a window that offer views of the wooded backyard. “The windows were recased and retrimmed, and we added a quartz windowsill,” Hide says. “That quartz sill ties in to the quartz we used in the vanity counter. They can put things on there if they want and wipe it clean easily.”
The wall behind the tub and the now-heated bathroom floor have large-format matte black porcelain tiles with rectified edges and medium gray grout. “What the black wall tile does there is add a sense of depth, and it really helps frame those windows,” Hide says.
White nickel gap wood paneling on the wall behind the new double vanity adds texture and visual interest.
Floor and wall tile: Colormatte black porcelain, The Tile Shop; white paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams, tub: Signature Hardware
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An elegant white freestanding soaking tub with matte black deck-mounted tub filler now sits under a window that offer views of the wooded backyard. “The windows were recased and retrimmed, and we added a quartz windowsill,” Hide says. “That quartz sill ties in to the quartz we used in the vanity counter. They can put things on there if they want and wipe it clean easily.”
The wall behind the tub and the now-heated bathroom floor have large-format matte black porcelain tiles with rectified edges and medium gray grout. “What the black wall tile does there is add a sense of depth, and it really helps frame those windows,” Hide says.
White nickel gap wood paneling on the wall behind the new double vanity adds texture and visual interest.
Floor and wall tile: Colormatte black porcelain, The Tile Shop; white paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams, tub: Signature Hardware
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The custom knotty alder double vanity has a rich stain and flat black square bar pulls. “They already remodeled a lot of their home, and the wood vanity, doors and trim here is a continuation of what they have already done,” Hide says.
A marble-look quartz countertop has a soft white background with dramatic gray veining. Two white rectangular undermount sinks have matte black widespread faucets with curved spouts and lever handles.
A matte black towel ring offers a spot to air-dry and store hand towels. Another towel ring hangs to the left (not shown). A coordinating matte black towel bar above the vanity does double duty as a plant holder. “We had the flanking sconces, and decided it was a nice idea to add a bit of color and greenery into the bathroom,” Hide says.
Vanity pulls: Square bar pull in flat black, Top Knobs; countertop: Calacatta Leon, MSI; sinks: Ladena, Kohler; faucets: Stryke in matte black, Delta Faucet
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A marble-look quartz countertop has a soft white background with dramatic gray veining. Two white rectangular undermount sinks have matte black widespread faucets with curved spouts and lever handles.
A matte black towel ring offers a spot to air-dry and store hand towels. Another towel ring hangs to the left (not shown). A coordinating matte black towel bar above the vanity does double duty as a plant holder. “We had the flanking sconces, and decided it was a nice idea to add a bit of color and greenery into the bathroom,” Hide says.
Vanity pulls: Square bar pull in flat black, Top Knobs; countertop: Calacatta Leon, MSI; sinks: Ladena, Kohler; faucets: Stryke in matte black, Delta Faucet
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A cabinet sits under each sink. Small top drawers hold skincare products and cosmetics. A deep bottom drawer stores larger bottles. A tall pullout at each sink has two shelves inside for taller items. “Because they pull out, it allows you to see and get to everything,” Hide says.
Two rectangular mirrors have matte black frames that coordinate with other black details in the room. The mirrors can pivot up or down.
Two rectangular mirrors have matte black frames that coordinate with other black details in the room. The mirrors can pivot up or down.
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After: Hide moved the toilet to the former linen closet, creating a water closet (see below), allowing him to open up the pathway to the new, larger shower.
A custom glass enclsoure lets in plenty of light, which is enhanced by marble-look quartz slabs on the walls, ceiling and threshold.
Black pebble tiles cover the shower floor and shower niche, in keeping with the black-and-white theme. “The pebble tile is a matte tile and provides a safer surface and additional friction for wet feet,” Hide says.
Wall paint: Spring Thaw, Glidden
A custom glass enclsoure lets in plenty of light, which is enhanced by marble-look quartz slabs on the walls, ceiling and threshold.
Black pebble tiles cover the shower floor and shower niche, in keeping with the black-and-white theme. “The pebble tile is a matte tile and provides a safer surface and additional friction for wet feet,” Hide says.
Wall paint: Spring Thaw, Glidden
The high-tech shower features a steam function, hand shower, body jets, wall-mounted square shower head and ceiling-mounted rain shower head. A touch-screen control panel manages the overhead smart shower and steam generation.
Ceiling and wall quartz: Statuary Classique, MSI; smart shower touch-screen control: ThermaTouch, ThermaSol
Ceiling and wall quartz: Statuary Classique, MSI; smart shower touch-screen control: ThermaTouch, ThermaSol
The smart shower head features a rainhead system, various mood lighting and a speaker. “We discussed options and looked into products, and as we started looking around we came across this system that we really loved,” Hide says.
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The new water closet has a space-saving pocket door. “They didn’t want conflict with the bathroom’s main door, and it also allows them to keep that door open if they want,” Hide says.
The existing walk-in closet, on the left, now also includes a pocket door. A wall-mounted matte black towel warmer provides an easy way to enjoy cozy towels after a bath or shower.
The existing walk-in closet, on the left, now also includes a pocket door. A wall-mounted matte black towel warmer provides an easy way to enjoy cozy towels after a bath or shower.
The water closet has a white toilet with elongated bowl, with two wood shelves above for storage.
The wall behind the toilet has the same white nickel gap wood paneling seen on the vanity wall.
Toilet: Drake, Toto
The wall behind the toilet has the same white nickel gap wood paneling seen on the vanity wall.
Toilet: Drake, Toto
Before: This rendering of the former bathroom layout shows how the large corner jetted tub (top left) took up lots of space and how the toilet (top middle) sat awkwardly between the tub and small shower stall (top right).
The large brown square (bottom right) is the existing walk-in closet. The slim linen closet (center bottom) was redundant.
The large brown square (bottom right) is the existing walk-in closet. The slim linen closet (center bottom) was redundant.
After: The improved layout features a freestanding tub (top left), a larger shower (top right) and a water closet (center bottom).
“It feels bigger, it’s brighter, has all the modern amenities and some fun elements that set it apart from other bathrooms,” Hide says.
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“It feels bigger, it’s brighter, has all the modern amenities and some fun elements that set it apart from other bathrooms,” Hide says.
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for your bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with two young children
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Size: 138 square feet (13 square meters)
Design-build: Philip Hide of Wise Design & Remodel
Before: The former bathroom had a basic honey oak vanity, beige ceramic tile floor and a corner jetted tub with tiled deck that took up valuable floor space and created awkward angles. “It wasn’t the best use of space,” Hide says.
The toilet stuck out into a narrow path to the dark shower stall. (See “before” photo and floor plan below.) A small linen closet stood behind the bathroom door on the right. “From the homeowners’ point of view, that wasn’t really necessary because they have a large walk-in closet and additional storage in their bedroom,” Hide says.