Bathroom
9. Consider Chrome When it comes to picking a finish for all of your plumbing fittings, there are so many options — nickel, bronze, brass and more. Chrome is usually the least expensive. And on the plus side, it’s the easiest to maintain and keep clean, and it looks great in both modern and traditional spaces.
This bathroom by Toronto Interior Design Group from 2012 is another good example. The clean-lined contemporary style and soft palette create a relaxing, spa-like environment — one you’d probably enjoy stepping into decades from now.
Smart ideas. Larger furniture-style pieces. “I made sure that we installed a vanity that had plenty of countertop space,” says designer John McClain, who used Houzz ideabooks to collaborate on design ideas with his clients. “The open space also makes a smaller space feel larger. Most people make the mistake of installing smaller items in a small room. I like larger items that make a statement, and these items also actually make the space feel larger. “To pay homage to the style of home, we used a claw-foot bathtub that the homeowner had from a previous home. It almost feels like a piece of furniture in the room, so you don’t have the closed-off feeling you would get with a regular tub and glass shower enclosure.” McClain says the height of the mirror also makes the space feel larger. “This is especially useful in rooms with low ceilings,” he says.
The shower surround is semiframeless. This was an aesthetic choice. “I felt in this space that the clips used for frameless glass would be obvious, while a streamlined channel for the glass would give a cleaner look,” Jackson says. The black channels pick up on the black handle, shower fixtures, tile edging strips and black hexagonal tiles on the shower floor.
A large piece of reclaimed wood makes for a rustic yet radiant double vanity in this Chicago bathroom by bba Architects. A pair of white vessel sinks atop the wood gives a contemporary vibe.
The niche also features quartz shelves that match the vanity countertop and black Schluter tile edging. “It’s a cost-effective way to create a decorative tile edge detail,” Schultz says. “I selected black to bring the black in from the vanity lights to the shower.”
Matte black hardware on the shower enclosure provides a graphic element. “I showed the builder an image off of Houzz with our desired look for the rolling hardware,” Schultz says. “We did the matte black finish to bring in the black finish on the lights above the vanity.” The rolling door also saves room compared with a swing door. “There’s not a lot of room for opening a shower door with the vanity there,” Kasey says. KSDesigns LLC The existing glass block window brings in light while offering privacy. The shower floor and backing tile in the niche are river rock.
Matte black hardware on the shower enclosure provides a graphic element. “I showed the builder an image off of Houzz with our desired look for the rolling hardware,” Schultz says. “We did the matte black finish to bring in the black finish on the lights above the vanity.” The rolling door also saves room compared with a swing door. “There’s not a lot of room for opening a shower door with the vanity there,” Kasey says. KSDesigns LLC The existing glass block window brings in light while offering privacy. The shower floor and backing tile in the niche are river rock.
We love it too!! This is a from Graham & Brown-Stone Rose If you need further help with your project please let us know. Signature Designs Kitchens & Baths Ph: 619-733-6540 www.signaturedesignskitchenbath.com
Rev-A-Shelf showed a vanity organizer cabinet pullout with canisters to hold hair dryers and outlets to plug them in. This product was shown last year but was not released until KBIS 2020. Photo
DXV featured its walnut and Carrera marble Belshire collection vanities, which have a clever drawer maximizing storage around the plumbing fixtures. Photo by Erin Carlyle
Bathroom Layout Ideas The cutaway plan shows dimensions for functions and fixtures in the layout. Consider whether you need to cross your bath to reach your closet, or if your space needs to accommodate one or two people. Give yourself some extra room where possible to help make the space feel generous. The tub surround in the plan has extra space for towels, candles and baskets on its platform. Sinks. Position sinks so that they are readily accessible upon entering the room and from closets. The most common configuration aligns two sinks within a cabinet, while more luxurious and larger spaces may be arranged with independent cabinets, giving each person a personal countertop. Tubs. Place beautiful tubs where they can be featured as focal points if possible. Whether they are used frequently or not, they remain desirable for and even essential to the design of a large bath. Leave as much open floor space as possible in front of tubs so that entering and exiting are not hindered. Showers. Showers must be positioned so that moisture and overspray are contained to water-resistant areas. Consider whether you want your shower to be more open to the space and mostly enclosed with g...
Recessed towel bars
Niche tile
Window
Play With Tile Patterns Tiled surfaces are practical in the wet environment of a bathroom. But sticking with one tile size, pattern and color can leave the room feeling cold and lacking visual interest. To turn up the energy, try playing with and mixing various tile shapes, finishes and styles. For this Los Angeles powder room, interior designer John McClain, who won a Best of Houzz Design award for this photo, laid handmade glossy green subway tile in a herringbone pattern to create a feature wall that competes for attention with a marble-and-brass vanity.
When in doubt about how to add drama, just think black. Adding black accents is a foolproof way to perk up a room design. That’s what Pennsylvania designer Lauren Levant did with this voluminous double shower. Matte black plumbing fixtures and hardware for the frameless glass shower enclosure stand out against walls clad in concrete-gray large-format tile. For extra drama, Levant used thin black grout and two black metal Schluter strips, one of which runs vertically down the center of the shower, and the other horizontally across the 6-inch-deep shower bench. This bathroom won Levant a Best of Houzz Design award.
Maybe for Craig’s office, colors
Chunky rattan baskets add an organic touch to this warm contemporary bathroom in Spain.
Thanks to attractive wire baskets, the rolls fit right into this beachy white California bathroom. One basket corrals the t.p. and the other corrals the extra towels underneath an open vanity. Keeping extra rolls in plain view is especially good in a bathroom that guests use — it keeps them from having to dig through cabinets and linen closets.
Baskets in Plain Sight The right basket can make that giant package of rolls from Costco look downright charming. Just be sure to place it in an area where it won’t be splashed — soggy t.p. rolls are the worst.
new streamlined tub is a much better fit for the space. Its thin edge leaves more room to move around in the shower than the thick sides of the existing tub did. Another small detail that made a big difference was using a curved shower curtain rod. “It really makes the shower feel bigger,” Carter says. To keep to the budget, she knew she needed to use inexpensive tile. She picked three different sizes of standard white tile at a big-box store. “We knew we needed to make the inexpensive tile look fancy so we got creative. We played around with them on the floor of the store and came up with this pattern,” she says. She alternated the three different tiles in horizontal stripes, using a running bond pattern and dark grout. The square tiles nod to midcentury modern design but the composition is fresh and unique. Carter lined up the large niches to correspond with the pattern. “I think everyone needs niches that can handle Costco-size bottles of shampoo,” she says. Her clients found the shower curtain online and Carter gave it a thumbs up. Like the macrame on the hanging plant, the fringe detail adds just a smidgen of bohemian style. More on Houzz Read more bathroom stories Find ...
Prayer room bathroom with trough sink and spot of color.
Guest Bathroom In the new 41-square-foot bathroom off the hallway, the idea was to keep things very clean and simple. McGuill embraced linear elements to achieve that and to make the room feel larger. The couple wanted a tub-shower combo to accommodate guests with young children. McGuill found a streamlined soaking tub that fit in well with the room’s strong linear elements. Classic 3-by-6-inch subway tiles surround the tub, while a slate-like porcelain tile on the floor adds contrast. McGuill placed the long tiles in a running bond pattern. “This made the space feel longer and wider,” she says.
Towel bar under shelves
Note tiny bathroom The vanity wall in this Austin, Texas, powder room by Cornerstone Architects looks like it’s made of bricks painted gold, but it’s actually clad in tiles with a shiny gold distressed finish. Brass wall-mounted faucets and a clear globe pendant light complete the scene.
Lovely Light Blues The wainscoting and walls in this Brooklyn, New York, powder room are painted the same dusty light blue shade. Designer Alison Jennison added encaustic cement floor tiles to work in some pattern and even more dashes of blue.
4. Go for the Green Willow & Co. covered the walls in this Phoenix powder room with shiplap painted a pale green. The custom vanity made from a vintage dresser features matte black hardware to give it a more contemporary look. Powder Room Palettes: 10 Gorgeous Greens
Color Suspended Mirrors If you have an unusual bathroom layout or an inconveniently placed window or obstacle, don’t forget that mirrors don’t absolutely have to hang flat on a wall. Suspending a mirror from the ceiling or a window frame, or mounting it on rails rising from the counter, can allow you to place a mirror in a new, functional spot. Keep an open mind, and you can really open up some beautiful views.
11. Round the Vanity Tight spaces can make sharp corners hip hazards. If the corners of a vanity would get in the way, opt for a rounded style. Yes, a round vanity can work in a square space. No more bruised hips!
7. Sensational Swirls Like the vanity style, not colors Designer Alexander James says he added wallpaper with a hypnotic abstract design to enhance the exquisite marble sink in this powder room in England. The dark brown marble floor is another standout feature.
6. Industrial Chic Walls covered in brown glass tiles with a pearl effect provide a luxurious look to this Los Angeles powder room by Andrea Michaelson Design. The bronze vessel sink atop an industrial pedestal helps to balance out the style.
Wow-Worthy Wood One of the best ways to bring brown tones into a powder room is through wood. The custom wood vanity that the team at LMK Interiors added to this San Francisco powder room steals the show.
Penny Perfect Brown penny tiles cover the vanity wall in this Dallas powder room by House of Amelia, creating a stunning visual backdrop. A vessel sink and oil-rubbed bronze wall-hung faucets brings in even more warm tones, as does the brown marble that wraps around the custom vanity.
. Trough sinks always seem gross to me because of the center drain that everyone has to wash their toothpaste toward. Reminds me of summer camp.
10. Maximum Storage With upper and lower cabinets, drawers and ample counter space, this double vanity from Homes by Tradition has more storage potential than some bedroom closets. If you have the square footage to spread out in, why not use it?
2. Bold Blue Vanity Designer: Paul Moon Design (architectural design) General contractor: David Elwell of DME Construction Location: Madison Park, Washington Size: 70 square feet (6.5 square meters) Homeowners’ request. Update the bathroom with new finishes. “The homeowners loved the patterns and unconventional finishes in their bedrooms, kids’ rooms and playroom, but they wanted to keep this bathroom a bit more simple,” general contractor David Elwell says. Main feature. Navy blue vanity. “With such a simple design and many light-colored finishes — tile, countertops, paint, fixtures — the cabinet color selection was a crucial design element,” Elwell says. Other special features. Dark grout lines make the simple white subway tile and white hex floor tile stand out. Designer tip. “The bright colors and finishes, along with bright lighting, contribute to making this space feel bigger than it actually is,” Elwell says.
Zero entry shower
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted to modernize the original 1950s bathroom yet still keep it functional for bathing small children,” designer Jane-Marie Bloomber says. “Due to the size limitations of the bathroom — distance of sink from door, space between toilet and tub — she felt limited in the ways to maximize storage yet still keep some of the original character of the space. This bathroom was the only one in the home with a tub, so it was important to keep that functionality. However, an unsightly shower rod fought with the sloped ceiling and made the room feel even smaller.” Main feature. “The tub-shower combo with the hinged glass door is the biggest change from what existed before,” Bloomber says. “By removing the shower rod and curtain and providing a full view of the tub and shower, we gained needed square footage of viewable space.” Other special features. Light gray 3-by-12-inch subway tile on walls. Mosaic floor tile. Wood cabinet enameled in Sabre Gray by Benjamin Moore. Recessed medicine cabinet. Embellishments Design Studio Designer tip. “A nice trick we used was to paint the walls and the ceiling in the same color (Horizon by Benjamin Moore), which furth...
Homeowners’ request. A powder bath that would incorporate modern farmhouse-style elements to fit with the rest of the new-build home. Main feature. Shiplap walls. “Architectural interest had to be added to an otherwise insignificant space,” designer Sharon Crudele says. “The shiplap instantly added dimension [and] charm, and immediately set the mood and tone for a modern farmhouse bath.” Other special features. “Unlacquered brass fixtures evoke a sense of permanence and time,” Crudele says. “The petite oval mirror softens the edges of a very boxy space. Simple linen fabric shades on the vanity sconces provide very subtle softness, break up the geometry and add a very tiny dose of femininity without going overboard. The fresh and lush bouquet of lilacs as the only main accent piece offers a natural element [and] suggested fragrance to the viewer, and provides dimension that only Mother Nature can do.” Designer tip. “Texture,” Crudele says. “Try to add texture from multiple sources. In this very small space, I infused woven natural baskets, marble, wood, mirror, metal, linen shades and florals.” “Uh-oh” moment. “An ‘uh-oh’ moment came when it became apparent that the plumbing...
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