An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

Upstairs loft bathroom featuring basalt hexagon flooring, a custom inset gray vanity with open storage below, quartz countertops and matte black fixtures.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, a vessel sink, engineered quartz benchtops, white floor, a shower curtain, white benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

This is an example of a contemporary master bathroom in Moscow with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, brown benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

This is an example of a small traditional master bathroom in DC Metro with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a one-piece toilet, white tile, white walls, ceramic floors, a drop-in sink, granite benchtops, multi-coloured floor, white benchtops, a niche, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Both the master bath and the guest bath were in dire need of a remodel. The guest bath was a much simpler project, basically replacing what was there in the same location with upgraded cabinets, tile, fittings fixtures and lighting. The most dramatic feature is the patterned floor tile and the navy blue painted ship lap wall behind the vanity. The master was another project. First, we enlarged the bathroom and an adjacent closet by straightening out the walls across the entire length of the bedroom. This gave us the space to create a lovely bathroom complete with a double bowl sink, medicine cabinet, wash let toilet and a beautiful shower.

Beach style bathroom in Boston with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, gray tile, white walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, white floor, a hinged shower door, grey benchtops, a single vanity, a built-in vanity and vaulted.

This beautiful secondary bathroom is a welcoming space that will spoil and comfort any guest. The 8x8 decorative Nola Orleans tile is the focal point of the room and creates movement in the design. The 3x12 cotton white subway tile and deep white Kohler tub provide a clean backdrop to allow the flooring to take center stage, while making the room appear spacious. A shaker style vanity in Harbor finish and shadow storm vanity top elevate the space and Kohler chrome fixtures throughout add a perfect touch of sparkle. We love the mirror that was chosen by our client which compliments the floor pattern and ties the design perfectly together in an elegant way. You don’t have to feel limited when it comes to the design of your secondary bathroom. We can design a space for you that every one of your guests will love and that you will be proud to showcase in your home.

Mid-sized beach style kids bathroom in Seattle with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern 3/4 bathroom in Austin with grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, gray tile, marble, grey walls, marble floors, marble benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door and grey benchtops.

In this bathroom, a Medallion Gold Providence Vanity with Classic Paint Irish Crème was installed with Zodiaq Portfolio London Sky Corian on the countertop and on top of the window seat. A regular rectangular undermount sink with Vesi widespread lavatory faucet in brushed nickel. A Cardinal shower with partition in clear glass with brushed nickel hardware. Mansfield Pro-fit Air Massage bath and Brizo Transitional Hydrati shower with h2Okinetic technology in brushed nickel. Kohler Cimarron comfort height toilet in white.

We love this bathroom remodel! While it looks simple at first glance, the design and functionality meld perfectly. The open bathtub/shower combo entice a spa-like setting. Color choices and tile patterns also create a calming effect.

Designed by: Jeff Oppermann
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary master bathroom in Milwaukee with grey cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a bidet, black and white tile, grey walls, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops and a hinged shower door.

Photo of a large modern 3/4 bathroom in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, gray tile, marble, white walls, marble floors, a vessel sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor and an open shower.

Photos by Darby Kate Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized country master bathroom in Dallas with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink and granite benchtops.

Photo of a large transitional 3/4 bathroom in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, black tile, porcelain tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, multi-coloured floor and a shower curtain.

Bathroom w Linen Cabinet has gray painted recessed cabinet panels. Norman Sizemore- Photographer
Mid-sized transitional bathroom in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, gray tile, engineered quartz benchtops, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, grey floor, white benchtops, a single vanity and a built-in vanity.

This is an example of a mid-sized country master bathroom in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, an alcove shower, a two-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, grey walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink and quartzite benchtops.

Serenity and space are evident in this condo bathroom. feature a clean, neutral palate of off-white and grey with a custom designed porcelain tile accent wall arranged in a bespoke pattern. White washed oak doors and lacquer surround the vanity with hues of neutral whites and grays, while an under mount porcelain sink with Caesarstone countertop and modern Hansgrohe plumbing fixtures finish the look. The recessed mirror completes the sophisticated bathroom design.