Bathroom Ideas, Decor & Renos
Oh yes, and a multi-rain/massage shower and heated floors, of course!
Patterned tiles are as popular as ever, and this year’s entries are even more varied. Some are new takes on recent years’ designs, with floral and geometric patterns having a slight edge over the popular encaustic patterns. The bathroom wall here displays Daltile’s new Stagecraft picket tiles, shown in the Galaxy solid color alongside a variety of patterns. The collection includes 3-by-12-inch rectangular and picket tiles.
Bathroom Before and After in 50 Square Feet or Less Who lives here: A couple / Location: Toronto Size: 42½ square feet (3.9 square meters) Designer: Ketty Khuong of Ke Design Collective Before: The Toronto couple who live in this home wanted to give their blah 42½-square-foot bathroom a luxurious update. They hired interior designer Ketty Khuong of Ke Design Collective to transform the design. The largest part of the renovation was converting the tub-shower combo into a roomier shower stall. After: The homeowners shared inspiration photos that featured lots of elegant Carrara marble. This provided a strong jumping-off point. Khuong was able to get the look for less by sourcing digitally printed large-format porcelain tiles that looked like marble. She carefully matched up the veining patterns in the 36-by-36-inch tiles to give the shower surround the look of large continuous marble slabs. With the shower door placement dictated by the location of the toilet and a budget that didn’t have room for thermal controls outside of the stall, Khuong had to get creative. She chose a shower fixture with a handheld unit. The homeowners can divert the water flow to the handheld before getting...
Designer tip. “When choosing patterned tile, order four samples of each tile so you can see the pattern together,” designer Stephanie Lindsey says. “Most decorative tiles have multiple pattern options depending on how you lay the tiles out, so play around with the options. When selecting a bold pattern for a client, we typically show installation images from the manufacturer. If it’s a bold pattern, look at inspiration images online of how others have installed the tile you are considering, then see what emotions those install images evoke. “If it scares you, that’s OK. You don’t have to have something bold and dramatic. There are countless patterned tiles that are subtle in color, specifically muted colors. And if bold patterns scare you, stay away from high-contrast designs, meaning black on white or something similar. Look for patterns that have colors similar in tone.”
10 Bathroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend Use these cherished design elements and you’re almost guaranteed to end up with a bathroom you love
Modern Space With a Coastal View: A wall of shiny blue tile nods to the waters of Puget Sound in this spa-like bathroom near Seattle
BATHROOM FAUCET: When it comes to selecting a faucet for a bathroom sink, there’s more than meets the eye. You may be drawn to a certain look, but it’s important to also think about how the faucet works with your sink, the materials that lie beneath the beautiful finish, which handle type best meets your needs and more. The faucet with the best chance of giving you years of problem-free performance is made of corrosion-resistant solid brass or stainless steel and features virtually leak-proof ceramic disc cartridge valves. Besides the all-important choice of base material and valve type, there’s the practical matter of where to mount the faucet and how many holes it needs for installation.
Edwards selected a calming seascape by Brian Sostrum to place over the bathtub. It plays off the blue vanity beautifully and contributes to the relaxing vibe of the room. Then she selected a satin brass finish for the cabinet pulls. The countertops are durable quartz. Wall color: Simply White, Benjamin Moore Cabinets: Newburyport Blue, Benjamin Moore
SHOWER/TUB COMBO - PAINT: SHERWIN WILLIAMS GALE FORCE. The homeowners wished to update their current full bath, which was only accessible from the kitchen, into a master bath, designer Helly Duncan says. We decided to expand the bathroom footprint by shrinking a hallway closet, closing off the existing door and incorporating a pocket door into the master bedroom for a fully redesigned master bath. This is their only tub, so we had to keep it, Duncan says. I wanted to create a feature wall since the space is so small, hence the beautiful teardrop matte glass tiles on one wall. This feature wall helps detract from the tub and keeps your eye focused on the accent when you come into the bathroom. Other special features. Navy blue vanity with quartz countertop. Matte black faucet, shower fixtures, mirror frame and light fixture. Wood structural beam above the shower. Large-format tiles cover the side walls in the shower (in a stacked pattern) and the floor (in a brickset pattern).
There are many things to consider when planning a new bathroom, but how to keep it clean might not be top of mind when you’re looking at faucet finishes and tile colors. With a little forward thinking, though, you can get a bathroom that stays fresh and tidy with minimal effort.
The squeegee rule, a seemingly reasonable request to reduce hard-water stains, mineral buildup and mildew. First, the bad news. Hard water and soapy buildup allowed to accumulate on glass shower surfaces can cause etching and permanently damage the glass. If glass shower doors have a cloudy look, this may be the culprit. Cleaning will eliminate buildup, but it will not reverse etching, which is why the first and best defense is to prevent it from happening by wiping down the shower after each use with either a squeegee or a microfiber cloth.
A clear glass frameless shower enclosure makes the long narrow space feel larger and more open. “You can make very inexpensive tiles look expensive by playing with the pattern, like the herringbone pattern on the floor in here,” Pedersen says. She sourced reasonably priced 8-by-36-inch matte porcelain floor tiles with a wood grain finish for the floor. Using such a large-scale tile in a small space and arranging it in a herringbone pattern was an unexpected and impactful move. It works all the better because it can be seen continuing underneath the raised vanity.
Whether you have a simple powder room or a master en suite, functionality should be at the heart of your bathroom remodel. Read on to learn tricks for gaining storage, improving lighting and drainage, and more to ensure that your renovated bathroom stands the test of time. Plumbing: Residential plumbing typically uses 1½-inch pipes for drains. You’d be surprised how much gunk and hair goes down that drain. The larger the drain, the less likely it is to clog. The cost difference to upgrade to a 2-inch drain is practically negligible, and unless your framing doesn’t allow for it, you should consider increasing the drain in your shower to 2 inches. Also, If you live in a region where temperatures drop below freezing during the winter, it’s important that your water supply lines don’t get routed through an exterior wall. Lighting: Consider recessed light fixtures throughout your ceiling to brighten up the room. Include one (or two) in your shower with the proper shower trim. Install a dimmer switch so you can adjust the mood in your bathroom. You’ll want to consider how you’ll be using the mirror in your bathroom and whether you want aesthetic or functional lighting. Whether you’ll...
Wallpaper plays a prominent role in this powder room by Jamie Keskin Design in Boston. The almost kaleidoscopic pattern draws you into the space (and eliminates the need for additional wall decor), while the subtle colors — a mix of muted blues and teals — keep the pattern from feeling overwhelming. Simple brass fixtures and a single pedestal sink keep the emphasis of the room firmly on the wallpaper.
Spear infused the room with color and personality by adding a vintage armoire to the space. Functionally, the armoire makes up for the loss of the linen closet. Though it’s a 1970s piece, she gave it an era-appropriate look by replacing the top doors with these arched glass doors. She added color to the room by painting the armoire Benjamin Moore’s Bainbridge Blue.
Low Curb With Subway Tile: Graphic blue-and-white floor tile. Navy blue vanity. Brass fixtures and accents, including the fasteners for the frameless glass shower. Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters); 5 by 9 feet; Lital Ben of Baron Construction & Remodeling; Location: San Mateo, California. (Our main: 7 x 10 / 2nd: 6 x 8)
One of the homeowners wanted marble tile in the shower, but it was beyond the budget. Porcelain marble-look 12-by-24-inch tiles cost less than $6 per square foot and are placed on the walls and ceiling, elevating the bathroom’s style. Thin white grout lines blend in almost unseen. Designer Jaimie Nelson used Bianco Puro marble hex tiles on the floor. A floating vanity helps keep the room feeling open.
Different graphic patterned field tiles were installed randomly over the whole wall which created a subtle graphic pattern with high impact, Lugbill says of the blue tiles. In order to keep a light and airy feel, she selected a basic white wall tile for the rest of the shower surround, used clear glass on the enclosure and tucked the niche on the side wall. “This allowed the blue accent wall to take the stage and really make a huge impact,” she says.
Bathroom at a Glance Who uses it: A young couple Location: Nyack, New York Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters) Designer Nicole Viola of Ivory & Oak worked with a young New York couple to turn their cramped, out-of-place bathroom into a space that feels fresh and fits with their Victorian home. The homeowners ditched the tub, leaving more room for Viola to get creative with the room’s layout.
Of course the kitchen shouldn’t get all of the color fun. Check out the dazzling blue tile in this gorgeous bathroom. Blue is a smart color selection for a bathroom, because we tend to associate it with the sea and the sky. If you want to channel a resort vacation — or pretend you are perpetually on one — blue is your hue.
Choose Wall-Hung Features: “Use a wall-hung vanity unit and [toilet] to keep the floor as free as possible,” Rezende says. “It makes it so much easier to clean around the entire area, especially the floor.” “All [fixtures] should be easy to clean,” Byrne says. “Look at the toilet seat: Can you reach all the crevices with a cloth? Streamlined [fixtures] will be easiest to clean.”
Select Easy-Care Flooring: Practicality is key in a bathroom, and your choice of flooring can be crucial to the amount of time you need to spend cleaning it. “Don’t put textured porcelain tiles on the floor, especially if there’s a [toilet] in the bathroom, where people tend to walk with their shoes on,” Josephine Lecouflé-Vinet says Byrne says: “A joint-free floor will be the most hygienic and easiest to clean. For example, terrazzo or cushion-backed vinyl.”
Clean, Minimal Reno in San Fran: The bathtub that anchors the most-saved bathroom photo of the past three months was moved to its upstairs location from a downstairs bathroom in this historic San Francisco-area home. “Because we were reusing a tub from a downstairs bathroom that had been original to the home, simply sizing up was not an option,” designer Ana Mathys of HDR Remodeling says. To resolve the issue of mismatched space, the design team created a custom storage ledge at the edge of the tub. The result is a bright and welcoming bathroom that feels true to its 1926 historic architecture and fresh at the same time. With its black and white hexagonal ceramic tile and reclaimed-oak details, the bathroom strikes a balance that will work for both the homeowners’ teenage daughter and eventual future guests, Mathys says. “The hexagon tiles are fun and fresh — simultaneously modern and giving a wink to the historical,” she says. “The wood vanity provides warmth and completely transforms the space into somewhere you want to linger and enjoy a little time focusing on self-care.”
Very nice look but don't want white grout - we want MINIMAL grout to clean.
PORCELAIN WINS!
The other option is to combine the shower and the bath, which is cheaper and more practical. This layout may not feel as luxurious as a walk-in shower, but if you opt for a frameless glass screen, you will achieve a similar contemporary look that will maximize the sense of space and light.
Bold hexagonal floor tiles add pattern and a dash of color to this serene San Francisco bathroom. A slab of floating white quartz makes for a convenient bench in the walk-in shower.
Designer Lori Steeves (Vancouver) refaced the perimeter kitchen cabinets but kept the island as-is for a two-tone effect that created a brighter, timeless style. She also kept the existing granite countertops but replaced the backsplash with white moroccan-pattern tile that matches the new creamy cabinet color.
A framed photograph on the wall and a shower curtain with a subtle pattern add just enough flair to this minimalist Boston bathroom. (We can paint the ceiling in Blue Ground or Pale Powder).
Open and Accessible: Designer: Jenny Martin and Michelle Poitras of Jenny Martin Design, Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Size: 57 square feet (5.3 square meters); 5 feet, 6 inches by 10 feet, 5 inches Homeowners’ request. A welcoming, casual, easy-to-clean guest bathroom with minimal transitions, allowing accessibility for an aging couple. Space saver. An open shower with a single pane of glass rather than a door helps the space feel more open. Continuing the floor tile seamlessly into the shower also contributed to the illusion of more space.
A long shower niche in a blue accent tile outlined in orange adds a splash of color to the white shower surround. Extending it from the top of the tub to the ceiling made it even more dramatic (the top portion is flush with the surround). The shade of blue matches the blue baseboard tiles Causey used as a transition between the wallpapered walls and the floor.
Think About the Details: Even bathrooms with the most expensive fixtures can end up looking disjointed if the details aren’t carefully considered. One example, successfully avoided in this bathroom by Hart Builders, would be a glass shower screen that comes too close to the side of a vanity. This might look fine from one angle, but what do you see of the vanity through the glass? Will dirt get between them and be difficult to remove? Another pet peeve is tile that stops halfway up a wall, leaving a horizontal ridge that will collect dust. Either tile the whole wall or set the face of the tile flush with the wall above by adding an extra layer of plasterboard above the tile before the skim coat of plaster.
EXCELLENT ARTICLE: A MUST READ RE BATHROOM RENOS Poor Lighting: Roussos says inexperienced renovators often simply resort to downlights over the vanity, shower or toilet instead of putting in a proper layered lighting design. “As a result, the bathroom is often too bright and lacks ambiance, which makes it far from a relaxing space to spend time in,” she says. “Plus, the bright overhead lighting creates shadowing when you look in the vanity mirror —dreadful when you’re putting on makeup or shaving.”
Learn what these pros do and how they charge for their work Erin Carlyle April 9, 2019, Houzz Editorial Staff - writing about the costs of renovation work. If you’re planning a bathroom remodel, hiring a professional bathroom designer could be well worth the expense. These specialized professionals have creativity and technical knowledge that can make your new bathroom more beautiful, functional and safe. But how much does it cost to hire one?
Laundry Room: Recycle old, empty containers, and ditch any laundry products you don’t like, to make some space. Decanting laundry supplies into other containers is not necessary to create a lovely, organized space — just corral the assorted containers on a tray or in a bin. This serves the double purpose of looking nice and making it easier to move everything aside to clean.
Both Classic & Elegant with a touch of Whimsy: “We mixed metals by using chrome faucets. Metal is for shine, and we balanced polished and matte finishes.”
A successful bathroom lighting plan has multiple light sources, including both overhead and task, with good task lighting at the sink and mirror being key.
A palette of soft blues, such as Breath of Fresh Air, with white is currently popular in bathrooms for a reason. It imparts a clean look and a soothing, spa-like vibe. When I first pulled up Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year for 2014, Breath of Fresh Air, my husband looked over my shoulder and said, “That’s not a color.” Of course, I should mention that he is color blind. Still, I happened to agree with his assessment. Upon first viewing this color I found it a bit “thin” — too pastel and more than a little underwhelming. But in my work as a color consultant, I have taken a vow to embrace all colors, since I am asked to work with a variety of hues, regardless of my personal likes or dislikes. So I decided to challenge myself to dig deep and find some love for Breath of Fresh Air, and ultimately figure out how I could use this hue in a home’s interior. I decided that while it’s not a color I would rush to use in my own home, I can see it working well in certain applications, either as a background hue to other, bolder colors or teamed up with shades of white to create a soft, light, soothing palette.
Greige. A made-up color, but important enough to mention because I use it so much. A soft gray with beige undertones that is a perfect complement to most white marbles, such as Calacatta. It's a great solution for those who feel gray is too cold. This elegant bathroom is painted in my favorite greige, Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter HC-172.
Another nice touch, also seen here, is to extend the countertop in a shallower depth over the toilet tank. Since counter heights vary from 32 to 36 inches (81 to 91 centimeters), carefully consider whether your fixtures will fit comfortably under an extended countertop. Not only does the tank need to be low enough, but you must be able to remove the lid without obstruction. Tub length. The typical tub length is 5 feet, and your bathroom could be slightly wider than that. If this is the case, you can install a longer tub or create a niche to fill the extra space, as in this design.
This would be ideal for our second bathroom where we just want a tub, but the tub/shower combo can stay as long as it all looks clean and seamless. I think this would look great with blue and white tiles (moorish), the countertop white and the cabinets navy blue. The walls would be nice in robin's egg blue or a moody french blue, or just paint the ceiling (F&B).
TAKE NOTE OF TOILET SIZE FOR SMALL BATHROOM RENO: Another space-saving move was eschewing an elongated toilet seat for a round one. “It saved just a few inches, but a few more inches sticking past the vanity would have been more visually intrusive, and it makes a difference in a small space,”
Storage Niches/Notes: This photo is from one of my favorite projects I’ve designed. People tend to respond to its sleek storage niches. Not every project is lucky enough to have space in the wall cavities available to turn into a niche, but it is usually an option somewhere in the space if you’re willing to have the walls examined to check. This is usually easy during a major renovation when walls are being opened or built from scratch anyway.
Very cool and creative bathroom/shower!
Kalu Interiors - the Richards Residence. It flows with a nice clean look.
Kalu Interiors, Vancouver - again, the Richards Residence (must be 2nd bath). Like the clean transition for a tub/shower combo. This is the same as our config and would put two shelves above the toilet. Also like - NO INTESTINES on toilet!
Kleines Badezimmer of Conscious Design - Love this - the combination of materials, the flow and spaciousness
This is a good idea if you plan to keep a tub/shower combo.
Kalu Interiors, Vancouver, - The Wethersfield Residence Love the different patterning (and larger) tiles used in this shower!
(LIKE THE BLUE TILE WITH THE WHITE.) Contemporary. Clean lines dominate this look. And you won’t find architectural adornments like moldings or face frames on cabinets. The cleanliness of the design carries over into the lack of clutter as well. The focus is placed on sleek materials and simple lighting for a refined feel. The very latest materials, finishes and technology all have a place in this style.
After. A clean, streamlined design by Susan Ozipko of sO Interiors gives the couple function and storage in a small space. The new features, such as the floating toilet and vanity, sit against a wall of statuario marble tiles. The homeowners replaced the tub-shower combo with a glass-doored shower. Toilet: Starck 3, Duravit; wall tile: Ciot; faucet: Delta; counter: Caesarstone; pendants: Tech Lighting
Install a shower bench. A safe place to sit in the shower is vital for an age-proof bathroom design. Decreasing the amount of time you stand in the shower not only eases the strain on your body, it also reduces the chances of slipping and falling. Your bench can be a built-in and tiled or free-standing. You can even use waterproof seat cushions so you’re not sitting on a hard surface. Find a bench that is large enough for comfortably sitting and bathing.
Use a frameless glass shower surround. I found that the metal shower frame was one of the biggest grunge-collecting culprits in my bathroom. Stuff would collect between the frame and the glass and was almost impossible to extricate, and a piece of gummy sealant between the glass and the frame would peel off if I tried too hard. Get rid of the frame and all of that grunge is never even born.
Consider a wall-mounted toilet. Wall-mounted toilets leave the space underneath clear, making it easy to mop, vacuum or sweep the floor. This means no more getting on your hands and knees trying to reach those tricky spots behind the base.
Like the light tile and flooring & clean looking shower
Small trendy master white tile and ceramic tile alcove shower photo in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, a two-piece toilet, multicolored walls and an undermount sink
Example of a small minimalist white tile and porcelain tile porcelain floor bathroom design in Vancouver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, engineered quartz countertops, a two-piece toilet (NO INTESTINES!) and white walls
We worked with stock cabinetry and other "off the shelf" finishes and fixtures to create this crisp white bathroom that shines against the natural backdrop of giant cedar trees in the home's backyard. Wallpaper adds interest and depth to this otherwise simple space. Interior Design by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating.
Clean lines and a monochromatic color scheme keep this master bathroom feeling spacious. Its a peaceful space to get away from it all. Example of a small transitional master porcelain tile and beige tile porcelain floor alcove shower design in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and engineered quartz countertops
Teal wall. The blue tile wall brings in the bold accent color the couple wanted and initially draws everyone’s attention. The client’s favorite color is teal, and she loved the shape of these fish-scale tiles. Together, they create a playful accent wall behind the freestanding tub. They also decided to use four different tones of teal to give the wall an ocean look. “This takes a special person to be brave enough to do because you have to love the pattern and color,” Fitzgerald says. Beyond looking great, the ceramic tiles are also durable and easy to clean. Shower walls. The rest of the walls in the room, including the shower, are made up of two kinds of white tile: one with a wave texture and another that’s smooth. The wave detailing adds depth to the space while still keeping the neutral color palette. “Wave walls are a trend, and most people like a monochromatic mix of the textures and patterns so it’s not so boring,” Fitzgerald says. Shower. Functionally, the clients wanted a walk-in shower large enough for two shower spots. At the end of the shower, Fitzgerald included a marble bench. In total, the shower takes up 33 square feet. For added storage, Fitzgerald added two nich...
Bathroom at a Glance Who lives here: A young couple Location: North Reading, Massachusetts Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters) Designer: Katie Fitzgerald of Right Angle Kitchen and Design A young couple hired designer Katie Fitzgerald to help them remodel the top floor of their home. This bathroom was part of the remodel. The space hadn’t been updated in 30 years, and the couple wanted to make it their dream bathroom sanctuary. While planning, the couple decided to have a mostly neutral bathroom with one accent color. Fitzgerald then showed them material options and created digital mood boards and layouts until they had a design everyone liked. As part of the new design, the couple wanted a shower with two shower heads, more storage and a vanity countertop that wasn’t laminate. They also wanted the toilet in a separate, closed-off space, which is why it’s not shown here.
Designer tips. “White [paint and finishes] are great for small spaces, as they make the whole room feel so much bigger,”
Q