Bathroom of the Week: Bright and Open in a Light-Filled Addition
A design-build pro adds a bathroom suite with spa-like amenities, a clean, contemporary style and lots of breathing room
One small hallway bathroom wasn’t cutting it for this California couple. They wanted a private bathroom suite but realized that stealing space from other rooms in their 1960s single-story home wasn’t an option.
So they turned to design-build pro Daniel Hagman, who helped them look to their backyard for more space. That “aha” moment resulted in a 400-square-foot addition off the couple’s bedroom that includes a spacious new bathroom suite and walk-in closet. Skylights and a picture window flood the peaked-roof bathroom with natural light and leafy views. A large low-curb shower with a two-sided frameless glass enclosure joins a freestanding tub for a spa-like getaway. A black walnut double vanity and open shelving unit provide plenty of storage. Light blue walls and various stone-look porcelain tiles add easy-to-clean style with personality.
So they turned to design-build pro Daniel Hagman, who helped them look to their backyard for more space. That “aha” moment resulted in a 400-square-foot addition off the couple’s bedroom that includes a spacious new bathroom suite and walk-in closet. Skylights and a picture window flood the peaked-roof bathroom with natural light and leafy views. A large low-curb shower with a two-sided frameless glass enclosure joins a freestanding tub for a spa-like getaway. A black walnut double vanity and open shelving unit provide plenty of storage. Light blue walls and various stone-look porcelain tiles add easy-to-clean style with personality.
Hagman used a mix of stone-look porcelain tiles in various finishes to create easy-to-clean surfaces with style. “They wanted to bring elements of nature into this bathroom,” he says.
The 24-by-48-inch floor tiles have an anti-slip matte finish. The back wall and bathtub platform are carbon-colored 24-by-48-inch tiles, and the same tiles in a 2-by-2-inch size line the shower floor to create a nonslip surface. On the left, 12-by-24-inch Bianco Lasa marble-look glazed tiles span the shower wall to the bathtub area. “For that surface area, it’s easier to clean glazed tiles,” Hagman says.
Polished chrome wall-mounted faucets and shower and tub fixtures coordinate with other polished chrome details for a clean, contemporary look.
Floor tile: Unica in Stone, 24 by 48 inches, Arizona Tile
How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity
The 24-by-48-inch floor tiles have an anti-slip matte finish. The back wall and bathtub platform are carbon-colored 24-by-48-inch tiles, and the same tiles in a 2-by-2-inch size line the shower floor to create a nonslip surface. On the left, 12-by-24-inch Bianco Lasa marble-look glazed tiles span the shower wall to the bathtub area. “For that surface area, it’s easier to clean glazed tiles,” Hagman says.
Polished chrome wall-mounted faucets and shower and tub fixtures coordinate with other polished chrome details for a clean, contemporary look.
Floor tile: Unica in Stone, 24 by 48 inches, Arizona Tile
How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity
The 71-inch freestanding solid-surface white tub sits on an elevated area. The carbon-colored tile behind and below it was used on the shower curb for continuity. The white quartz windowsill matches the vanity countertop for more cohesiveness.
A teak bench nearby offers a portable spot for candles and bath supplies, and another teak bench in the shower provides a spot to sit or prop one’s foot for shaving legs.
The floor-mounted tub filler with hand shower features all-brass construction in a chrome finish that coordinates with the rest of the bathroom’s fixtures and vanity hardware. “They wanted to have all chrome,” Hagman says. “They really like that clean look.”
Tub filler: Floor-mounted with hand shower in chrome, Delta Faucet; tile behind and under tub: Unica in Carbon, 24 by 48 inches, Arizona Tile
A teak bench nearby offers a portable spot for candles and bath supplies, and another teak bench in the shower provides a spot to sit or prop one’s foot for shaving legs.
The floor-mounted tub filler with hand shower features all-brass construction in a chrome finish that coordinates with the rest of the bathroom’s fixtures and vanity hardware. “They wanted to have all chrome,” Hagman says. “They really like that clean look.”
Tub filler: Floor-mounted with hand shower in chrome, Delta Faucet; tile behind and under tub: Unica in Carbon, 24 by 48 inches, Arizona Tile
The proximity of the shower to the tub and the placement of the shower glass panels form somewhat of a wet-room approach, though slightly more separated.
This angle shows the 2-by-2-inch shower floor tile with abundant grout lines that create a nonslip surface. A lattice teak bath mat outside the tub also provides grip.
A chrome rain shower head pairs with a single-function hand shower. “They wanted both the fixed shower head as well as a hand shower so they could use it as they sit down on the bench,” Hagman says.
A pair of chrome hooks on the shower wall offer a convenient spot for towels. An iron-and-wood open storage unit to the left of the shower is a spa-like touch that stores towels and other bath essentials. Just visible behind it is the door to the couple’s new 120-square-foot walk-in closet.
“This bathroom gives them a place to escape to,” Hagman says. “They have a lot of natural light. It’s now one of the lightest areas of the house.”
Hooks: 90-degree single robe hook in chrome, Moen; wall tile: Themar in Bianco Lasa, 12 by 24 inches, Arizona Tile
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This angle shows the 2-by-2-inch shower floor tile with abundant grout lines that create a nonslip surface. A lattice teak bath mat outside the tub also provides grip.
A chrome rain shower head pairs with a single-function hand shower. “They wanted both the fixed shower head as well as a hand shower so they could use it as they sit down on the bench,” Hagman says.
A pair of chrome hooks on the shower wall offer a convenient spot for towels. An iron-and-wood open storage unit to the left of the shower is a spa-like touch that stores towels and other bath essentials. Just visible behind it is the door to the couple’s new 120-square-foot walk-in closet.
“This bathroom gives them a place to escape to,” Hagman says. “They have a lot of natural light. It’s now one of the lightest areas of the house.”
Hooks: 90-degree single robe hook in chrome, Moen; wall tile: Themar in Bianco Lasa, 12 by 24 inches, Arizona Tile
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: Orangevale, California
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters), including a walk-in closet
Designer-builder: Daniel Hagman of Catalyst Construction
The picture window in the spacious new addition frames a view of greenery in the backyard. A water closet near the bathtub also has a window that brings in light and views.
The frameless glass panels of the shower keep sightlines open, and the floating vanity allows more of the light gray stone-look porcelain flooring to be visible, further lightening up the space.
The light blue walls with purple undertones add a bit of cheerful personality. Integrated LED lights in the mirror allowed the homeowners to forgo sconces or other vanity lights, enhancing the clean look. The bathroom also has recessed LED ceiling lights. Wavy cabinet pulls add movement and help break up all the straight lines.
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