Bathroom of the Week: New Style and Layout in 75 Square Feet
A designer updates a couple’s awkward shared family bathroom with better space planning and a fresh look
Jeannie Matteucci
January 11, 2022
Houzz Contributor. Home design writer and lifestyle reporter with a love for stylish spaces, smart lighting and a good decaf dry cappuccino.
Houzz Contributor. Home design writer and lifestyle reporter with a love for stylish... More
A bathroom shared between adults and kids is a difficult situation to navigate. Throw in an awkward layout and bland finishes and you’ve really got a problem. But this Oakland, California, couple knew that with the right space planning and stylish features, they could transform their frustrating bathroom into a welcoming family retreat.
To get the combination right, they hired designer Jen Montague Clark. She rejiggered the space by combining the shower and tub into one function, which freed up space for a double vanity. Then she added a water closet in place of what was a small shower stall, allowing for more than one person to use the bathroom at the same time and still feel a sense of privacy. Meanwhile, patterned floor tile in muted blues and greens, a light wood vanity and creamy zellige-style shower tiles punch up the style and create the inviting look the homeowners were after.
To get the combination right, they hired designer Jen Montague Clark. She rejiggered the space by combining the shower and tub into one function, which freed up space for a double vanity. Then she added a water closet in place of what was a small shower stall, allowing for more than one person to use the bathroom at the same time and still feel a sense of privacy. Meanwhile, patterned floor tile in muted blues and greens, a light wood vanity and creamy zellige-style shower tiles punch up the style and create the inviting look the homeowners were after.
“After” photos by Scott M. for Snappr
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their kids
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 75 square feet (7 square meters)
Design: Jen Montague Clark of The Home Co.
Before: The former bathroom in the 1950s home had a head-scratching layout. A toilet sat out in the open across from a basic single-sink vanity. A white cast-iron tub original to the home took up one corner. Behind the open door seen here stood a dark shower stall. “It was taking up space that desperately was needed to make this room functional,” Montague Clark says.
Meanwhile, light gray walls and linoleum tile flooring didn’t exactly perk things up.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their kids
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 75 square feet (7 square meters)
Design: Jen Montague Clark of The Home Co.
Before: The former bathroom in the 1950s home had a head-scratching layout. A toilet sat out in the open across from a basic single-sink vanity. A white cast-iron tub original to the home took up one corner. Behind the open door seen here stood a dark shower stall. “It was taking up space that desperately was needed to make this room functional,” Montague Clark says.
Meanwhile, light gray walls and linoleum tile flooring didn’t exactly perk things up.
After: Montague Clark stripped the space to the studs. She ditched the tub for a new shower-tub combo, which she placed at the end of the narrow room. This freed up space for a new acacia double vanity.
In the spot that held the shower stall, Montague Clark took space from a nearby bedroom closet to expand the area and create a water closet accessed through a space-saving pocket door. “My thought was how to create a space that multiple people could use at the same time,” she says. “With the door there, a person could be using the toilet and have privacy from someone at the vanity.”
Off-white walls, ceiling and trim (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore) and creamy shower tile in varying shades create a soothing backdrop for the patterned blue-and-green floor tile. “We used a lot of texture and warmth in this bathroom,” Montague Clark says. “I thought a softer, warmer white was more appropriate.
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In the spot that held the shower stall, Montague Clark took space from a nearby bedroom closet to expand the area and create a water closet accessed through a space-saving pocket door. “My thought was how to create a space that multiple people could use at the same time,” she says. “With the door there, a person could be using the toilet and have privacy from someone at the vanity.”
Off-white walls, ceiling and trim (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore) and creamy shower tile in varying shades create a soothing backdrop for the patterned blue-and-green floor tile. “We used a lot of texture and warmth in this bathroom,” Montague Clark says. “I thought a softer, warmer white was more appropriate.
Find a bathroom designer near you
Before: The former tub had dated plumbing and a tiled surround and soap dish that seemed like an afterthought. “It wasn’t being multifunctional and [was] eating too much space,” Montague Clark says.
After: By ditching the tub in favor of the shower-tub combo, Montague Clark was able to take advantage of the corner space, where she added a 72-inch-wide double vanity. “It also helps with the flow of the bathroom, since you can pop in, wash your hands, check your hair, and you’re done,” she says.
The freestanding vanity features a midcentury-industrial style with flat cabinet fronts and black metal legs and pulls. A white quartz countertop lightens the look.
Vanity: Lancy in rustic acacia, 72 inches, Lexora
Shop for a bathroom vanity
The freestanding vanity features a midcentury-industrial style with flat cabinet fronts and black metal legs and pulls. A white quartz countertop lightens the look.
Vanity: Lancy in rustic acacia, 72 inches, Lexora
Shop for a bathroom vanity
Three bohemian-style metal-and-rattan pendants cast a lovely glow over the vanity and add a textural element. “We also added recessed lighting in the bathroom ceiling for function,” Montague Clark says. “Because we added the proper recessed lighting, we could do something more decorative. I personally like to add a softer component with all the hard surfaces, to create a more spa-like atmosphere.”
An LED ceiling light over the tub (see previous photo) includes an exhaust fan for ventilation.
Before and After: 4 Stylish Bathrooms in 50 Square Feet or Less
An LED ceiling light over the tub (see previous photo) includes an exhaust fan for ventilation.
Before and After: 4 Stylish Bathrooms in 50 Square Feet or Less
Brass faucets and shower components add a warm metal touch. Black framed mirrors coordinate with the black metal vanity pulls and legs.
Faucets: Concord in brushed brass, Kingston Brass
Faucets: Concord in brushed brass, Kingston Brass
Porcelain encaustic floor tiles feature a modern take on a classic Moorish pattern in blue-green tones. Dark charcoal grout makes them blend together. “I picked that floor tile first and did the rest of the bathroom from there,” Montague Clark says. “I love that the tile gives visual interest to the bathroom. Even though there’s a lot of pattern to it, I still thought it was soothing to the eye. We picked up the black in the tile with the vanity legs and the door to the shower and tub.”
Floor tile: Patras Deco Iberia, Ivy Hill Tile
Floor tile: Patras Deco Iberia, Ivy Hill Tile
A hinged frameless glass panel can be opened to easily reach the shower controls.
Inside the shower, creamy white glazed ceramic 4-by-4-inch tiles vary in tone, creating a handcrafted look. “The floor tile is the superstar of the bathroom, and I didn’t want to pick a [shower] tile that would be too busy,” Montague Clark says. “But at the same time, I wanted it to have some visual interest.”
Shower tiles: Kingston in white, 4 by 4 inches, Ivy Hill Tile; tub and shower trim: Align collection in brushed gold, Moen
Inside the shower, creamy white glazed ceramic 4-by-4-inch tiles vary in tone, creating a handcrafted look. “The floor tile is the superstar of the bathroom, and I didn’t want to pick a [shower] tile that would be too busy,” Montague Clark says. “But at the same time, I wanted it to have some visual interest.”
Shower tiles: Kingston in white, 4 by 4 inches, Ivy Hill Tile; tub and shower trim: Align collection in brushed gold, Moen
A shower niche that features the same tile as the floor creates a cohesive look.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A pair of concrete planters mounted in the shower hold asparagus ferns. “I feel like bringing those outdoor elements inside is key to our mental health,” Montague Clark says.
This view toward the entrance to the bathroom provides a peek inside the water closet on the right.
Toilet: St. Tropez, Swiss Madison
Toilet: St. Tropez, Swiss Madison
The floor plan shows the updated bathroom layout with the expanded water closet (bottom left), double vanity (right) and shower-tub combo (top). “It’s lighter, brighter, very functional and aesthetically pleasing now,” Montague Clark says. “The beauty of this project is that the materials are fairly available to everyone and gives you that affordable luxury look.”
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@mayerking, I think it's a sliding shower door. But, yes, it might be a reach with the corner of the vanity right there.
Beautiful shower niche! The alignment demonstrates very skillful planning and execution of tile setting. Overall the job is beautiful. Thank you for posting the plan and the measurements!
Given the window is right in the shower enclosure, how was it treated to prevent water damage?