Bathroom of the Week: Stylish Redo in Blue, White and Wood
Losing the bathtub makes room for a watery blue focal wall, a large shower stall and ample storage
This Chicago couple’s aging bathroom was cramped and lackluster. “They wanted an interesting yet relaxing master bathroom,” interior designer Erica Lugbill says. A major part of the renovation was taking out a large tub they didn’t use to make room for a luxurious shower stall and some much-needed additional storage. The result is an open and airy bathroom that combines white, wood and a beautiful focal wall covered in watery blue tiles.
Lugbill looked through inspiration photos and reviewed materials with her clients to come up with the palette. They landed on a watery blue, textured tile to create a focal point on the back wall. “This makes the space appear larger by creating a continuous sightline between the shower and the rest of the bathroom,” Lugbill says.
The floor tiles are large-format. “They have a linen texture to them that feels luxurious against your feet while adding a subtle grip for additional safety in a wet space,” the designer says. “We decided to use the same floor tile in the shower but in a smaller format. This again made the space feel larger with another continuous sightline.”
A space-saving luggage rack over the toilet holds towels.
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The floor tiles are large-format. “They have a linen texture to them that feels luxurious against your feet while adding a subtle grip for additional safety in a wet space,” the designer says. “We decided to use the same floor tile in the shower but in a smaller format. This again made the space feel larger with another continuous sightline.”
A space-saving luggage rack over the toilet holds towels.
Browse blue tile options in the Houzz Shop
Before: One element the couple wanted to keep was double sinks, which functioned well for them. But otherwise the old, low vanity wasn’t working for them. It was the formerly standard height of 32 inches, which has fallen out of favor.
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The new custom white oak vanity is a more comfortable 35 inches high. The countertop is quartz and the hardware and plumbing fixtures are oil-rubbed bronze. “We selected white oak for the beautiful grain and fresh appearance,” Lugbill says. The custom mirror frame is the same white oak. She chose quartz for its consistency in pattern and its durability. “We love the dark contrast of the oil-rubbed bronze against the light finishes, but they still have a softness to them,” she says.
With the bathtub gone, Lugbill was able to fit in a floor-to-ceiling linen cabinet with a laundry hamper pullout at the bottom. Look at the mirror’s reflection on the left to catch a glimpse of it. Also seen in the mirror is the second shower head and the shower door. There are shower heads at either end of the shower — this one and one situated over a bench.
Wall color: Big Chill, Sherwin-Williams; cabinets: Guided Design
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With the bathtub gone, Lugbill was able to fit in a floor-to-ceiling linen cabinet with a laundry hamper pullout at the bottom. Look at the mirror’s reflection on the left to catch a glimpse of it. Also seen in the mirror is the second shower head and the shower door. There are shower heads at either end of the shower — this one and one situated over a bench.
Wall color: Big Chill, Sherwin-Williams; cabinets: Guided Design
Shop for a natural wood vanity
“There are a handful of different graphic patterned field tiles that were installed randomly over the whole wall. This 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.
Placing the floating bench at the end of the shower made the most of the space inside. “A floating bench is a great way to add a functional seating space without looking too heavy,” Lugbill says.
Takeaways
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Placing the floating bench at the end of the shower made the most of the space inside. “A floating bench is a great way to add a functional seating space without looking too heavy,” Lugbill says.
Takeaways
- There isn’t a rule that says a bathroom or even a home has to have a bathtub. If you don’t use the tub, consider replacing it with a larger shower stall.
- Allow a tiled accent wall to have the most impact by keeping the rest of the tiles simple and complementary.
- For many adults, today’s 35-to-37-inch-high vanities are more comfortable than the old standard of 32 inches.
- Floating a shower bench will help keep things feeling light and airy.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A busy professional couple with one child
Location: Dearborn Park neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 62 square feet (5.8 square meters)
Designer: Erica Lugbill of Lugbill Designs
Before: “The bathroom was starting to age and show wear and tear. It had no style or personality and felt dated,” Lugbill says. The large tub (located in front of the small shower stall) was a waste of space for the couple. Getting rid of it opened up the 7½-by-8¼-foot room.
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