Fresh Classic Bathroom Reveal
As promised, today we are sharing a bathroom update from the same condo project as this kitchen. This ugly duckling bathroom was desperately in need of a makeover.
Our client needed to update this bathroom for a variety of reasons, but mostly because it was a train wreck of inefficiency, cheap finishes, and poor design choices from an unfortunate aesthetic era.
Again due to the building construction, the main plumbing would need to stay in the same basic locations, and the heating and vents couldn’t move either.
It is a small bath and an interior room with no windows. The basic layout was fine, which is a good thing since moving any major plumbing lines was off the table.
Existing conditions
(thank you to Devon, for snapping these ‘before’ pictures and doing all the measuring!)
A tub/shower combo with a sliding mirrored door…the worst of all possible worlds?! And trimmed in a brassy gold tone that my client hated
A low, small toilet
Pink-beige flowered shower tile
Matching (?!) gold toned towel bars and sink faucet
Anemic pink-beige speckled solid surface countertop
A very small vanity with just a single cabinet under the sink (no drawers)
A clunky surface mounted medicine cabinet topped with a gold bar vanity light
A weird and unnecessary gap between the closet wall and vanity
The worst possible linen closet - deeper than it was wide and with a metal bifold door that interfered with the entry door?!
Okay, well. There is clearly nowhere to go but up! The best we can say is it isn’t head to toe 70’s harvest gold tile and fixtures…
Wish List
An easy-to-access and safer shower (a tub is not needed in this bath)
A comfort height toilet
Better storage
Better light
Neutral, classic finishes (pretty much anything NOT pink and gold!)
Design Solutions
Our palette of choice was an elegant classic color scheme of white with soft gray and chrome finishes.
White marble-look quartz counter material for two bathrooms is the same that we used in the kitchen for economies of scale.
The tile selections are a classic white subway for the shower walls, and a simple pale gray and white mosaic that would work for both the bath and shower floors.
Vanity
We eliminated the problematic linen closet in favor of a larger vanity that extends all the way to the end wall with better storage.
The new vanity would have two banks of drawers in the base and two countertop cabinets flanking a center mirror.
Shallow countertop towers are my favorite bathroom storage whenever space allows (we recently used them in this primary bath). They make it easy to access grooming items while getting ready and keep those same items out of sight when not in use for a streamlined, uncluttered counter.
I also add outlets inside these for leaving electric toothbrushes, etc plugged in without having cords draped across the counter.
Details include pretty chrome drawer pulls, a grey marble-look quartz counter, and a plate wall mirror topped with trim that wraps the tower cabinets and supports a new light fixture.
The practical addition of an extendable magnifying mirror is attached to the side of one of the countertop cabinets.
Shower
We replaced the tub with a generous size shower tiled in classic white subway tile.
Because of the solid cement walls, the necessity of keeping the location of the wet wall, and the toilet placement, we couldn’t include shower niches or a built-in bench, but we did add grab bars at the entry and along the back wall for safety. And there is ample space for a freestanding shower bench to be added if desired.
The fixed shower head was replaced with a new classic chrome handheld unit on an adjustable bar for maximum flexibility.
The new gray and white mosaic floor tile extends into the shower, visually expanding the room, and a linear drain keeps the shower floor uncluttered.
Finishing touches
A towel bar and robe hook keep necessities at hand, and a train rack style shelf over the toilet hold additional towels.
Personal artwork from our clients collection adds some personality to the room, while blue glass vanity accessories add a bit of sparkle.
New recessed ceiling lights and pale gray painted walls pair with white millwork and cabinetry to brighten the space.
Our lovely client now refers to this fresh and elegant space as her “Neiman Marcus Bathroom” 😂. We love how it turned out!
Before and After Condo Bathroom Transformation
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How much does it REALLY cost to renovate a bathroom