This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Midtown Renovation

Build Now NYC

Design ideas for a small modern 3/4 bathroom in New York with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, green tile, glass tile, grey walls, ceramic floors, a drop-in sink, quartzite benchtops, black floor and an open shower.

Master En Suite - Rochester, MI

Lincorp / Borchert

This is an example of a transitional bathroom in Detroit with a drop-in tub, a curbless shower, white tile, grey walls, white floor and a hinged shower door.

Our Work

Showers & More

Large transitional master bathroom in Toronto with a drop-in tub, a corner shower, grey walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, porcelain floors and marble benchtops.

Presidential Estates Bathroom

Sarah Z Designs

Photographer: Paul Stoppi
Photo of a large transitional master bathroom in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a corner shower, gray tile, white walls, mosaic tile, porcelain floors, engineered quartz benchtops, an undermount sink, a drop-in tub and a hinged shower door.

Townhome in Roswell

Karen Parham - KMP Interiors

We used Caesarstone quartz for the countertops and faux-marble tile from Crossville Tile's Virtue collection to create a space that was functional and maintenance-free as well as beautiful. On either side of the sink cabinet, the cabinets pullout to provide storage for hairdryers, curling irons as well as toiletries. This way, everything is close at hand without cluttering the countertops. Photography by Melodie Hayes

Lenexa, KS Bathroom Remodel

Kitchen Studio: Kansas City

This Master Bathroom had a lot of angles and dated materials and lacked storage. The drawers under the vanity allow for maximum storage, the clean lines are a welcome change and the steam shower is large enough for two. Photos by Matt Kocourek

Luxe West Hollywood Residence

Philip Nimmo Design

Photo by Hans Fonk
Design ideas for a traditional bathroom in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, a drop-in tub, an alcove shower, white tile and black walls.

The Aurea

Alan Mascord Design Associates Inc

Just one of the many beautiful features of the Aurea, Plan 2453. The shelves are framed as part of the tub deck, and finished in the same gorgeous tile as the the tub deck and floor. Besides providing the ideal space for towels, they create a wonderful break between the tub and walk-in shower. Photo by Bob Greenspan

Menlo Park Residence

Martinkovic Milford Architects

Martinkovic Milford Architects services the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more about our specialties and past projects at: www.martinkovicmilford.com/houzz

Bathrooms

GDC Construction

The master bathroom has radiant heating throughout the floor including the shower.
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style master bathroom in San Diego with dark wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, blue tile, green tile, mosaic tile, beige walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, beige floor and recessed-panel cabinets.

Trevaylor Cottage

Lydia Allen Interiors

Photo of a small eclectic kids bathroom in Cornwall with white cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a wall-mount toilet, green tile, ceramic tile, green walls, ceramic floors, quartzite benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Onaga Gardens

Studio Collab

Modern bathroom with glazed brick tile shower and custom tiled tub front in stone mosaic. Features wall mounted vanity with custom mirror and sconce installation. Complete with roman clay plaster wall & ceiling paint for a subtle texture.

Belgravia Townhouse

Margot Tsim Interiors

Transitional master bathroom in London with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, a drop-in tub, a corner shower, beige tile, porcelain tile, beige walls, porcelain floors, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, beige floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, an enclosed toilet, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Wildwood II

Black Rock Design | Build

natural wood tones and rich earthy colored tiles make this master bathroom a daily pleasire.
Mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in Other with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, brown tile, wood-look tile, white walls, ceramic floors, a drop-in sink, solid surface benchtops, brown floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops, a shower seat, a double vanity and a floating vanity.

Contemporary Family Home

Sally Feeney Interior Design Pty Ltd

Terrazzo floor tiles and blue splashback tiles feature in this bathroom.
This is an example of a small contemporary bathroom in Melbourne with white cabinets, a drop-in tub, an alcove shower, blue tile, subway tile, porcelain floors, a wall-mount sink, grey floor, a hinged shower door, a niche and a single vanity.

Lopez Residence

Mastercraft Wood & Hardware

Modern Bathroom Renovation.
Large modern kids bathroom in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, beige tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, beige floor, an open shower, grey benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Ranch Revival

Courtney Thomas Design

We planned a thoughtful redesign of this beautiful home while retaining many of the existing features. We wanted this house to feel the immediacy of its environment. So we carried the exterior front entry style into the interiors, too, as a way to bring the beautiful outdoors in. In addition, we added patios to all the bedrooms to make them feel much bigger. Luckily for us, our temperate California climate makes it possible for the patios to be used consistently throughout the year. The original kitchen design did not have exposed beams, but we decided to replicate the motif of the 30" living room beams in the kitchen as well, making it one of our favorite details of the house. To make the kitchen more functional, we added a second island allowing us to separate kitchen tasks. The sink island works as a food prep area, and the bar island is for mail, crafts, and quick snacks. We designed the primary bedroom as a relaxation sanctuary – something we highly recommend to all parents. It features some of our favorite things: a cognac leather reading chair next to a fireplace, Scottish plaid fabrics, a vegetable dye rug, art from our favorite cities, and goofy portraits of the kids. --- Project designed by Courtney Thomas Design in La Cañada. Serving Pasadena, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Altadena. For more about Courtney Thomas Design, see here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/portfolio/functional-ranch-house-design/

Luxury Spa-Like Main Bathroom

BK Interior Designs LLC

This spa-like main bathroom features a seductive and dramatic marble-looking feature wall. The dark wall is softened by contrasting wood-looking plank floors and mosaic pebble tiled floor in the shower. The seven-foot shower has multiple shower heads, including rainfall. There is also a tiled bench and wall niches for convenience. The infinity glass walls feature brass accents that match the luxurious chandelier and plumbing fixtures. This bathroom is a homeowner's dream, designed with a sizeable drop-in jacuzzi for self-care spa nights. A separate toilet room is located just behind the shower, with an adjacent closet for storage. In addition, the double black bathroom vanity with statement hardware ties in the dark feature wall. The frameless mirrors above the vanity reflect light around the room.

Sandown Rd

Aesir Construction Limited

Mid-sized scandinavian kids bathroom in Kent with a drop-in tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a wall-mount toilet, pink tile, ceramic tile, concrete floors, a wall-mount sink, concrete benchtops, grey floor, green benchtops and a double vanity.

Bathroom Design Ideas with a Drop-in Tub

If you’re looking for bathroom ideas, look no further than Houzz. Our image gallery brings you a large range of photos with inspiration for your viewing pleasure, and not only that - you can also save your ideas in ideabooks and find the professional that has done the job. When planning your bathroom design or update, start by collecting images of designs you like and take it from there. Whether you are designing your bathroom from scratch, redesigning, updating or simply decorating, you’ll be sure to find ideas for every possible scenario. And once you're ready, you can find the architect and/or builder to get the job done. But let’s start with the bathroom design basics.

How to Plan Your Bathroom Design

A good bathroom design brings together beauty and functionality. It reflects your personality in its style, colours, fittings and fixtures, but serves your needs to a tee both when you’re getting ready for work in the morning and when you want to wind down in your bathtub after a long day.

1 Collect Bathroom Ideas to Decide on Your Layout

Firstly, consider your space. Is it rectangular or are you working with a long, narrow room? This will determine how many wet walls you can accommodate, and if a bathtub can fit. For example, in a narrow room a freestanding bathtub may not work, and a one-wall layout that lines up shower, toilet and vanity on the same wall will make sense in most cases. (It’s also the most budget-friendly option in terms of plumbing). Maybe separate rooms for toilet and shower make sense? Maybe you want to work with a window above a bathtub or in the shower. You may live in an old house where you can keep some of the original character of the home, or you may be working with a small apartment space. All these considerations are vital in deciding on which layout will work best for you. Have a look at some popular ideas to get started.

2 Consider How You Use Your Bathroom

Once you’ve gathered some inspiration, have a think about who is using the room, and how they will be using it. A single guy needs a lot less storage than a teenage girl, and a family bathroom may need to consider elderly family members. Making your bathroom wheelchair accessible could save you thousands down the line. You may also want to accommodate a washer and dryer in the bathroom, since it’s where clothes are taken off frequently. Also consider safety and cleaning. Ensure no-one will slip and hurt themselves, and consider that many little tiles will make for many little nooks for grime to accumulate, whereas big surfaces like a sink that is integrated with the vanity counter, or a big mirror will make wiping down the surface much easier than having sinks sitting on top or an intricately designed mirror.

3 Your Style Determines The Colours and Fixtures You Choose

When looking at bathroom photos on Houzz, you’ll probably lean towards a certain style pretty soon. Are you into rustic charm, modern beach house style or a mix of styles? This will determine if you opt for whites, greys and blues or if you go for dark cabinets, black floor tiles or bronze fixtures. Specifically, you want to consider:

Tiling

Are you going to tile floors and walls? There’s so many possibilities, from your choice of tile to how they are laid. If you’re budget conscious, you may want to consider a wallpaper or paint for certain areas. A simple grey tile can make room for other elements to shine, while mosaics or a subway tile can make a great feature wall.

Lighting

Lighting doesn’t only look pretty, but can impact your bathroom experience significantly. The mirror is a special area you want to light well, so that you don’t miss any hair when shaving or can apply that perfect line to your eye.

Furniture & Fixtures

Pay attention to how colours of cabinets and floor can impact a room. You may want to consider a wooden floor for something different and pair it with simple white vanity and cabinets, or you may want to go for the steampunk look with bronze tubes and black walls. Consider what type of shower, bathtub (if any), toilet, sink and vanity you want. Maybe you have space for a generous spa with walk-in shower, or maybe you want a freestanding bath to be the feature of the room.