Room of the Day: A Fresh White Bathroom With a Bold Surprise Underfoot
This master bath remodel adds a graphic new floor, a free-standing tub and more storage
It can be easier to get a project done when you have a deadline, as was the case for Phil and Stacia Samartan with their master bathroom remodel. “As soon-to-be new parents, they wanted to make sure their home was set up efficiently for their expanding family,” says designer Susie Herr. Although the couple had lived in their home in Long Beach, California, for 10 years, it was Stacia’s upcoming due date that spurred their bathroom’s needed upgrades, which included installing a bathtub and adding a lot more storage. “The baby’s arrival was definitely a driving factor for this remodel,” Herr says.
After laying out the floor plan, Herr chose fixtures and finishes. “The main factors in helping with our selections were budget and timeline,” she says.“Everything we selected needed to be in stock and ready to ship.”
An off-the-shelf floating vanity arrived quickly, adding storage and valuable counter space. An extra-wide recessed medicine cabinet also creates storage without protruding into the bathroom. “These two storage solutions made a world of difference for this bathroom,” Herr says.
After living with mosaic tiles for 10 years, the homeowners wanted to get away from so much grout. Cement tiles from Ann Sacks incorporated the fresh color and pattern the homeowners sought without the maintenance of a mosaic. “Bringing in that hit of color and pattern really made the space special,” Herr says. The continuous tile flooring, including under the floating vanity and into the shower, keeps the eye moving and helps the space feel larger.
Elsewhere, the designer maintained a mostly white palette, which kept the space from feeling too busy and the budget down. “Since the patterned floor tiles were a major design feature, we kept the rest of the space fresh and crisp with white walls, white wall tiles and white vanity,” she says.
Vanity: Home Depot; lighting: Modern Forms; mirrored medicine cabinet: Wayfair
An off-the-shelf floating vanity arrived quickly, adding storage and valuable counter space. An extra-wide recessed medicine cabinet also creates storage without protruding into the bathroom. “These two storage solutions made a world of difference for this bathroom,” Herr says.
After living with mosaic tiles for 10 years, the homeowners wanted to get away from so much grout. Cement tiles from Ann Sacks incorporated the fresh color and pattern the homeowners sought without the maintenance of a mosaic. “Bringing in that hit of color and pattern really made the space special,” Herr says. The continuous tile flooring, including under the floating vanity and into the shower, keeps the eye moving and helps the space feel larger.
Elsewhere, the designer maintained a mostly white palette, which kept the space from feeling too busy and the budget down. “Since the patterned floor tiles were a major design feature, we kept the rest of the space fresh and crisp with white walls, white wall tiles and white vanity,” she says.
Vanity: Home Depot; lighting: Modern Forms; mirrored medicine cabinet: Wayfair
Even the free-standing tub enhances the bathroom’s perceived size, allowing the eye to follow the tile all the way to the wall. “Although there is not much space around the tub, selecting a free-standing tub, versus a drop-in tub, creates a feeling of more space,” Herr says.
The bathroom’s one piece of art, a print by Amedeo Modigliani, adds depth and memorable personality to the bathroom while tying in with the limited color palette. “I wanted a piece that had more of a classic feeling to contrast with the modernity of the space,” Herr says. Operable windows and a new vent fan keep the bathroom well ventilated.
Overall, the bathroom balances simple finishes, off-the-shelf items and a few decorative splurges to create a livable and appealing space. “By installing a simple white brick tile on the shower and tub walls, along with ordering a ready-made vanity from the hardware store, we were able to save in those areas so that we could splurge a bit on the flooring and the bathtub,” Herr says.
Bathtub: Victoria + Albert
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The bathroom’s one piece of art, a print by Amedeo Modigliani, adds depth and memorable personality to the bathroom while tying in with the limited color palette. “I wanted a piece that had more of a classic feeling to contrast with the modernity of the space,” Herr says. Operable windows and a new vent fan keep the bathroom well ventilated.
Overall, the bathroom balances simple finishes, off-the-shelf items and a few decorative splurges to create a livable and appealing space. “By installing a simple white brick tile on the shower and tub walls, along with ordering a ready-made vanity from the hardware store, we were able to save in those areas so that we could splurge a bit on the flooring and the bathtub,” Herr says.
Bathtub: Victoria + Albert
More
How to Remodel Your Bathroom
Find design pros and browse their porfolios
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Phil and Stacia Samartan, and their newborn son
Location: Long Beach, California
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Year built: 1954; remodeled in 2015
Designer: Susie Herr of Mend
Herr’s first step was to rearrange the layout, including moving the entry to its current position opposite the sink. Since the homeowners had converted their home office into the master bedroom during the remodel, the bathroom needed to connect to a different room from before.
The sink moved to its current spot to make room for the bathtub, and the toilet now sits opposite its former location. The shower stayed in the same place, but Herr moved the plumbing to the opposite wall to keep it with the toilet and sink. “The biggest challenge of this space was space,” Herr says. “The bathroom had a small footprint, but I was tasked with adding as much storage as possible, along with a bathtub, something that was not in the original bathroom.”
Floor tile: Ann Sacks; white tile: Home Depot; fixtures: Kohler