Bathroom of the Week: Old-World Style in Green, Marble and Brass
A design team creates an elegant primary bathroom with a built-in tub, a low-curb shower and stylish storage
These homeowners had DIY dreams. Before moving into their recently purchased 1955 house in Torrance, California, they tried making remodeling updates themselves, beginning with the primary bathroom. The beige tiles had to go, as well as an aging wet room that held a small tub.
But after removing the former tub and shower, the couple realized they were in over their heads. For help, they called in designers Linette Dai and Amber Sokolowski. The pair removed a linen closet and rotated the location of the toilet to free up space for a built-in undermount tub with marble surround that flows seamlessly into a spacious new low-curb shower. Meanwhile, a light green double vanity, brass details and brown-and-gray limestone tile flooring in a diamond checkerboard pattern create an elegant old-world look.
But after removing the former tub and shower, the couple realized they were in over their heads. For help, they called in designers Linette Dai and Amber Sokolowski. The pair removed a linen closet and rotated the location of the toilet to free up space for a built-in undermount tub with marble surround that flows seamlessly into a spacious new low-curb shower. Meanwhile, a light green double vanity, brass details and brown-and-gray limestone tile flooring in a diamond checkerboard pattern create an elegant old-world look.
After: The designers finished knocking the space back to the studs. They worked within the same basic footprint but ditched the former wet-room setup for a new spacious low-curb shower in what had been the shower location and a large built-in tub beneath the bank of windows. They relocated the toilet to a place behind the half wall in the foreground on the left of this photo.
Marble forms the tub deck and apron and continues around to the shower bench, shower curb and vanity countertops, creating design continuity in the space. “The wider ledge accentuates and showcases the beauty of the marble,” Dai says. “The wider ledge also allows for an easier entrance or exit from the tub, because you can sit on the ledge for support.”
Off-white penny round tiles cover the entire back wall. A frameless glass shower enclosure creates the appearance of more space. “The glass divider was placed strategically against an entire wall of mosaic tile to allow for the shower to appear expansive and spacious rather than tight and choppy,” Dai says.
The green on the vanity and millwork has gray undertones (Connected Gray by Sherwin-Williams) and coordinates with the brown-and-light-gray limestone tile flooring. The diamond checkerboard pattern of the floor gives the room a bit of the old-world look the owners were going for. “We added a bold pattern that would feel classic but be a statement at the same time,” Dai says.
Paint colors: Wimborne White (walls), All White, (ceiling) and Off-White (trim), Farrow & Ball
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Marble forms the tub deck and apron and continues around to the shower bench, shower curb and vanity countertops, creating design continuity in the space. “The wider ledge accentuates and showcases the beauty of the marble,” Dai says. “The wider ledge also allows for an easier entrance or exit from the tub, because you can sit on the ledge for support.”
Off-white penny round tiles cover the entire back wall. A frameless glass shower enclosure creates the appearance of more space. “The glass divider was placed strategically against an entire wall of mosaic tile to allow for the shower to appear expansive and spacious rather than tight and choppy,” Dai says.
The green on the vanity and millwork has gray undertones (Connected Gray by Sherwin-Williams) and coordinates with the brown-and-light-gray limestone tile flooring. The diamond checkerboard pattern of the floor gives the room a bit of the old-world look the owners were going for. “We added a bold pattern that would feel classic but be a statement at the same time,” Dai says.
Paint colors: Wimborne White (walls), All White, (ceiling) and Off-White (trim), Farrow & Ball
Find a bathroom designer near you
The double vanity has an integrated makeup counter and unlacquered brass hardware. Traditional-style faucets also have an unlacquered brass finish. Three custom mirrors feature thin black metal frames. “We designed the center mirror to run lower than the other two in order to allow for visibility while sitting at the makeup counter,” Dai says.
A vintage wood stool provides seating at the makeup counter and adds a touch of warmth. Two angular sconces with aged iron frames hang over the vanity.
Sconces: Keystone in aged iron, Generation Lighting
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A vintage wood stool provides seating at the makeup counter and adds a touch of warmth. Two angular sconces with aged iron frames hang over the vanity.
Sconces: Keystone in aged iron, Generation Lighting
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The penny round mosaic tiles add subtle pattern to the walls. The same tile was used for the shower flooring. “Mosaic tiles are also always ideal for shower pans, because the grout helps to break up the tile and allows for low slippage,” Dai says.
A floating wood shelf breaks up the tile and adds warmth, and it also provides a spot for a plant and vintage art from the homeowners’ collection.
A custom linen-blend relaxed Roman shade on the two upgraded windows softens the look of the tile and marble.
Pendant: Lorford Smoke bell pendant in aged iron and mercury glass, 20 inches, Visual Comfort
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A floating wood shelf breaks up the tile and adds warmth, and it also provides a spot for a plant and vintage art from the homeowners’ collection.
A custom linen-blend relaxed Roman shade on the two upgraded windows softens the look of the tile and marble.
Pendant: Lorford Smoke bell pendant in aged iron and mercury glass, 20 inches, Visual Comfort
10 Bathroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend
Before: This photo of the former bathroom shows the position of the toilet and the linen closet with mirrored doors that took up a lot of square footage. “The clients have a walk-in closet in their primary bedroom suite, so they didn’t need a full-depth closet here,” Dai says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: The design team removed the linen closet and dividing wall between it and the toilet. They rotated the toilet position and created a half wall between it and the built-in tub.
A new custom linen cabinet takes up less floor space and matches the vanity color.
A new custom linen cabinet takes up less floor space and matches the vanity color.
Wainscoting adds character to the walls surrounding the linen closet and toilet.
An unlacquered brass towel bar on the wall coordinates with the vanity hardware and other finishes in the room. The framed vintage art seen here is also from the homeowners’ collection.
The remodeled bathroom convinced the homeowners to hire the design team to help them update the rest of their home. “We were able to effectively execute a vision that combines both form and function for a space that they can enjoy for decades to come,” Dai says.
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An unlacquered brass towel bar on the wall coordinates with the vanity hardware and other finishes in the room. The framed vintage art seen here is also from the homeowners’ collection.
The remodeled bathroom convinced the homeowners to hire the design team to help them update the rest of their home. “We were able to effectively execute a vision that combines both form and function for a space that they can enjoy for decades to come,” Dai 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 couple
Location: Torrance, California
Size: 160 square feet (15 square meters)
Designers: Linette Dai and Amber Sokolowski of Soko Dai Design Studio
Before: An abundance of basic square beige tiles covered the floor and wet room, giving the space a bland appearance. Tiled steps in the wet room that led up to a small built-in tub created a slipping hazard. The toilet protruded into a small alcove on the left, beneath a bank of windows that the owners wanted to upgrade. They had gotten as far as removing the shower and tub before turning to professional help. “The bathroom was just very dated, and the style was not reflective of the clients’ taste for an elegant, old-world aesthetic and feel,” Dai says.