New This Week: 5 Beautiful Bathrooms With a Shower-Tub Combo
See how designers used vibrant tile, decor and other details to create joyful style in less than 70 square feet
There are many benefits of having a shower-tub combo in a family or guest bathroom. Combining the functions saves space, of course, but it also ensures flexibility for small kids, teenagers, guests and even future homebuyers. Here, five small bathrooms with a shower-tub combo showcase a range of ideas for creating a stylish design.
2. Coastal Classic
Designer: Karen B. Wolf
Location: Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Size: 57 square feet (5.3 square meters); 5½ feet by 10⅓ feet
Homeowners’ request. Designer Karen B. Wolf built and designed this home to feel like part California cottage, part beach resort. “For resale value, all homes should have at least one tub,” Wolf says. “As this house was built for multiple generations and generations to come, a tub was a must-have for potential future kids.”
Special features. Custom vanity. Custom millwork paneling. Polished chrome hardware. Blue ceramic floor tile that looks like grasscloth. Glossy blue rectangular shower tile. Beaded chandelier. Split-reed rattan scalloped mirror frame.
Designer tip. “We almost always start our designs from the ground up,” Wolf says. “The denim blue textile-style floor tile was the beginning of the design process, and I loved the punch of livable blue paired with the blue subway tile.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The ceiling height is over 9 feet and I did not want to tile the shower ceiling and all the way up the walls,” Wolf says. “It was a hard call to decide where we should stop the tile and how to finish the top area. We ended up bringing the shiplap into the shower area for continuity. Hopefully, the fan works really well and the wood will not warp.”
Floor tile: Annie Selke Watercolor Lines in Indigo, The Tile Shop; sconce: Alberto in Plaster White, Visual Comfort; styling assistance: Debbie Bodner, Rachel Cozzo and Amanda Santora of Karen B. Wolf Interiors
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Designer: Karen B. Wolf
Location: Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Size: 57 square feet (5.3 square meters); 5½ feet by 10⅓ feet
Homeowners’ request. Designer Karen B. Wolf built and designed this home to feel like part California cottage, part beach resort. “For resale value, all homes should have at least one tub,” Wolf says. “As this house was built for multiple generations and generations to come, a tub was a must-have for potential future kids.”
Special features. Custom vanity. Custom millwork paneling. Polished chrome hardware. Blue ceramic floor tile that looks like grasscloth. Glossy blue rectangular shower tile. Beaded chandelier. Split-reed rattan scalloped mirror frame.
Designer tip. “We almost always start our designs from the ground up,” Wolf says. “The denim blue textile-style floor tile was the beginning of the design process, and I loved the punch of livable blue paired with the blue subway tile.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The ceiling height is over 9 feet and I did not want to tile the shower ceiling and all the way up the walls,” Wolf says. “It was a hard call to decide where we should stop the tile and how to finish the top area. We ended up bringing the shiplap into the shower area for continuity. Hopefully, the fan works really well and the wood will not warp.”
Floor tile: Annie Selke Watercolor Lines in Indigo, The Tile Shop; sconce: Alberto in Plaster White, Visual Comfort; styling assistance: Debbie Bodner, Rachel Cozzo and Amanda Santora of Karen B. Wolf Interiors
Shop for bathroom wall and floor tile
3. Creamy Neutrals
Designer: Leah Impey
Location: San Diego
Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters); 5 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. This renovation was for a rental property, and the owners wanted a fresh, modern style with neutral colors that would appeal to young families. “We considered that families with small children might live here and felt a tub-and-shower combo would appeal to most renters, so we kept the existing layout,” designer Leah Impey says.
Special features. Square ceramic glazed wall tile in varying cream tones. Patterned floor tile. Floating light wood vanity. Creamy white wall paint (Shoji White by Sherwin-Williams) on custom textured drywall finish that emulates Venetian plaster.
Designer tip. “We waited to demo until we had every single item so the project could move very quickly,” Impey says. “And we always use professional contractors for everything. The floating vanity allows you to see more of the patterned floor and creates the feeling of more space. We also used only original art, and added a few vintage touches like the farm stool and tiny lamp for a bit of ambiance.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We tried to salvage the existing floor tile since it was still in good condition and it flowed into the hallway,” Impey says. “When removing the old vanity, one of the tiles cracked. We looked for replacement tiles, but they were discontinued. We found these great budget tiles in stock and we were back in business.”
Project photographs: Loryelle De La Peña
Designer: Leah Impey
Location: San Diego
Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters); 5 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. This renovation was for a rental property, and the owners wanted a fresh, modern style with neutral colors that would appeal to young families. “We considered that families with small children might live here and felt a tub-and-shower combo would appeal to most renters, so we kept the existing layout,” designer Leah Impey says.
Special features. Square ceramic glazed wall tile in varying cream tones. Patterned floor tile. Floating light wood vanity. Creamy white wall paint (Shoji White by Sherwin-Williams) on custom textured drywall finish that emulates Venetian plaster.
Designer tip. “We waited to demo until we had every single item so the project could move very quickly,” Impey says. “And we always use professional contractors for everything. The floating vanity allows you to see more of the patterned floor and creates the feeling of more space. We also used only original art, and added a few vintage touches like the farm stool and tiny lamp for a bit of ambiance.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We tried to salvage the existing floor tile since it was still in good condition and it flowed into the hallway,” Impey says. “When removing the old vanity, one of the tiles cracked. We looked for replacement tiles, but they were discontinued. We found these great budget tiles in stock and we were back in business.”
Project photographs: Loryelle De La Peña
4. Vintage Vibe
Designer: Michael Howells of Howells Architecture + Design
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 69 square feet (6.4 square meters); 6 by 11½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is a kids’ bath remodel in a 1960s ranch home,” architect and interior designer Michael Howells says. “We had already updated the kitchen and great room, using a bright palette inspired by the home’s ’60s feel. The kids’ bath extends the bright, cheery, colorful palette of the home and also balances well with the master bath, which we renovated at the same time and is tiled in a complementary scheme using two blues. Previously, there was a tub only, no shower. But while young kids want to splash in the bath, a shower is obviously optimal for later on.”
Special features. Orange ceramic glazed subway tiles in a stacked pattern with white grout. White hexagonal floor tiles with dark grout. Custom mahogany floating vanity with large concrete sink top. The floating shelves are also mahogany.
Designer tip. “Take time to find the right grout color,” Howells says. “Dark grout at the floor means grout never looks dirty. Light grout at the walls keeps the feel clean and pops the color.”
Designer: Michael Howells of Howells Architecture + Design
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 69 square feet (6.4 square meters); 6 by 11½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is a kids’ bath remodel in a 1960s ranch home,” architect and interior designer Michael Howells says. “We had already updated the kitchen and great room, using a bright palette inspired by the home’s ’60s feel. The kids’ bath extends the bright, cheery, colorful palette of the home and also balances well with the master bath, which we renovated at the same time and is tiled in a complementary scheme using two blues. Previously, there was a tub only, no shower. But while young kids want to splash in the bath, a shower is obviously optimal for later on.”
Special features. Orange ceramic glazed subway tiles in a stacked pattern with white grout. White hexagonal floor tiles with dark grout. Custom mahogany floating vanity with large concrete sink top. The floating shelves are also mahogany.
Designer tip. “Take time to find the right grout color,” Howells says. “Dark grout at the floor means grout never looks dirty. Light grout at the walls keeps the feel clean and pops the color.”
5. Cool Contrast
Designers: Harry Hepburn and Lucas Greco of Briburn
Location: Crescent Lake, Raymond, Maine
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters); 6 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. A simple guest bathroom with a modern aesthetic. “The owner requested a shower-tub combo in this particular bathroom since it is primarily used by guests and grandchildren,” architect Harry Hepburn says.
Special features. Black-and-white color scheme with an M.C. Escher-esque geometric floor tile. “It creates a pop and visual interest, while the vanity, wall mirror and shelf and minimal wall sconce complement the clean, modern aesthetic,” Hepburn says. A bump-out shelf next to the 66-inch tub provides a spot for shower products or other items. Marble-look 12-by-24-inch porcelain tile in a matte finish covers the three walls, floor-to-ceiling, in the shower-tub combo area.
Designer tip. “The bathroom is located on an exterior wall, with a very simple, efficient layout,” Hepburn says. “In order to bring in natural light, we installed an almost full-width awning window, above chest height, which creates a fun view to the exterior while in the shower. The home has a strong relationship between interior and exterior spaces, and the window in the shower helps to reinforce that connection.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The bathroom was designed to fit a 6-foot-wide tub,” Hepburn says. “However, the homeowner selected a tub that was 5 feet, 6 inches wide. The additional 6 inches was used to build a shelf that can be used for soap and shampoo, without the need for a custom niche. The shelf was then tiled to match the wall finish.”
Wall paint: Big Chill, Sherwin-Williams
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Designers: Harry Hepburn and Lucas Greco of Briburn
Location: Crescent Lake, Raymond, Maine
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters); 6 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. A simple guest bathroom with a modern aesthetic. “The owner requested a shower-tub combo in this particular bathroom since it is primarily used by guests and grandchildren,” architect Harry Hepburn says.
Special features. Black-and-white color scheme with an M.C. Escher-esque geometric floor tile. “It creates a pop and visual interest, while the vanity, wall mirror and shelf and minimal wall sconce complement the clean, modern aesthetic,” Hepburn says. A bump-out shelf next to the 66-inch tub provides a spot for shower products or other items. Marble-look 12-by-24-inch porcelain tile in a matte finish covers the three walls, floor-to-ceiling, in the shower-tub combo area.
Designer tip. “The bathroom is located on an exterior wall, with a very simple, efficient layout,” Hepburn says. “In order to bring in natural light, we installed an almost full-width awning window, above chest height, which creates a fun view to the exterior while in the shower. The home has a strong relationship between interior and exterior spaces, and the window in the shower helps to reinforce that connection.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The bathroom was designed to fit a 6-foot-wide tub,” Hepburn says. “However, the homeowner selected a tub that was 5 feet, 6 inches wide. The additional 6 inches was used to build a shelf that can be used for soap and shampoo, without the need for a custom niche. The shelf was then tiled to match the wall finish.”
Wall paint: Big Chill, Sherwin-Williams
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse thousands of home design photos
Find a pro
Shop for your home
Designers: Rachel Hutchens and Jenette DiFazio of Maven Home Interiors
Location: Sandy, Utah
Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters); 5 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. A guest bathroom with a bright midcentury modern vibe. They wanted to keep the shower-tub arrangement to appeal to future homebuyers who might want a bathtub.
Special features. Custom walnut vanity. Fun patterned floor tile. Glazed ceramic baby blue shower tile in varying tones and a vertical straight-lay pattern. Matte black fixtures. Off-white walls (Calm by Benjamin Moore).
Designer tip. “Pick one bold pattern for a small room — less is more,” designer Rachel Hutchens says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “We realized that the sconce lights were specified in chrome instead of matte black — the wrong picture made it on the spec sheet — but luckily we were able to return and reorder,” Hutchens says. “Another ‘uh-oh’ moment was finding out from the countertop fabricator that the sink was not going to fit. The custom vanity was built 19 inches deep, not the standard 21 inches deep. Luckily the countertop fabricator had some sink options that we were able to choose from last-minute without delaying the project.”
Hutchens used Houzz Pro business software to coordinate approvals of materials and fixtures with her clients and to organize and track her time on the project.
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