New This Week: 9 Bathrooms With Stylish Walk-In Showers
Pros use tile and color to create a cohesive feeling in rooms with curbless and low-barrier showers
Walk-in showers do a lot more than just provide space in which to get clean. These showers, which have no curb or a low curb and often are enclosed in glass, give the appearance of a much roomier design overall. Plus, because showers are tall elements, they provide an opportunity to create a striking focal point through the use of tile and other details. But especially with a prominent feature like this, the design must work with other elements in the bathroom, such as the vanity, tile and paint colors. The following nine bathrooms with walk-in showers show several ways to design with this spa-like feature in mind.
2. Fabric-Like Wall Tile and Blond Oak Vanity
Designer: Stephanie Fryer of The Bespoke Interior
Location: Newport Beach, California
Size: 50 square feet (4.6 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The overall design aesthetic was midcentury modern,” designer Stephanie Fryer says. “The client liked the look of matte finishes and blending in natural oak. The home overall was 1,500 square feet, so the goal was to design using concepts that would open up the space, like floating vanities, walk-in showers and floor-to-ceiling tile in a vertical lay.”
Special features. Curbless shower. Custom blond oak floating vanity. Wall-mounted faucet. Floor-to-ceiling gray porcelain wall tile with a twill-like texture. Fryer installed the wall tile vertically to create the illusion of more space. There’s also a linear tiled-in shower drain for a clean look.
Designer tip. “I definitely recommend a floating vanity for a smaller bath,” Fryer says. “It opens the room up to feel more airy and spacious. It also lends itself perfectly to a more contemporary feel. In this case it blended with the midcentury modern vibe of the rest of the house.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Linear drains are tricky depending on who is installing them and what material you are using,” Fryer says. “I prefer to use tile-in drains, where tile is also installed inside the drain insert to create as seamless a shower floor as possible. There was a moment on this project where we weren’t sure we could get everything to line up properly, because it starts with the rough-in of the drain. You have to be very precise or the whole thing is off. Fortunately, in the end, it all worked out, but for a space that is clean and minimalistic, it could have been detrimental to the design.”
Vanity: Omega Cabinetry
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Designer: Stephanie Fryer of The Bespoke Interior
Location: Newport Beach, California
Size: 50 square feet (4.6 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The overall design aesthetic was midcentury modern,” designer Stephanie Fryer says. “The client liked the look of matte finishes and blending in natural oak. The home overall was 1,500 square feet, so the goal was to design using concepts that would open up the space, like floating vanities, walk-in showers and floor-to-ceiling tile in a vertical lay.”
Special features. Curbless shower. Custom blond oak floating vanity. Wall-mounted faucet. Floor-to-ceiling gray porcelain wall tile with a twill-like texture. Fryer installed the wall tile vertically to create the illusion of more space. There’s also a linear tiled-in shower drain for a clean look.
Designer tip. “I definitely recommend a floating vanity for a smaller bath,” Fryer says. “It opens the room up to feel more airy and spacious. It also lends itself perfectly to a more contemporary feel. In this case it blended with the midcentury modern vibe of the rest of the house.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Linear drains are tricky depending on who is installing them and what material you are using,” Fryer says. “I prefer to use tile-in drains, where tile is also installed inside the drain insert to create as seamless a shower floor as possible. There was a moment on this project where we weren’t sure we could get everything to line up properly, because it starts with the rough-in of the drain. You have to be very precise or the whole thing is off. Fortunately, in the end, it all worked out, but for a space that is clean and minimalistic, it could have been detrimental to the design.”
Vanity: Omega Cabinetry
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3. Graphic Floor Tile and Warm Greige Vanity
Designer: Christina Singca of PentaVia Custom Homes
Location: Southlake, Texas
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters); 10 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. Add a shower to a former powder room to create a full bathroom for guests. They wanted the style to be contemporary bohemian. “They were set on a funky floor tile to really make the room stand out,” designer Christina Singca says.
Special features. “The most significant design detail would have to be the floor tile,” Singca says. “There are many gorgeous details throughout the bathroom, but the floor is what you see first and what makes it so unique.” Other special features include a vanity in a warm greige color (Shiitake by Sherwin-Williams), a curbless shower, a vessel sink (Morro by Native Trails) and a faucet mounted into the mirror and wall to save countertop space.
Designer tip. “What made this room a success was the blending of the warm cabinets with the bright black-and-white floor tile,” Singca says. “If the cabinets were white, the room would have looked completely different, but opting for a warmer color really makes this bathroom more inviting.”
Pendant light: Noir, Quorum International; wall paint: Drift of Mist, Sherwin-Williams
Designer: Christina Singca of PentaVia Custom Homes
Location: Southlake, Texas
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters); 10 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. Add a shower to a former powder room to create a full bathroom for guests. They wanted the style to be contemporary bohemian. “They were set on a funky floor tile to really make the room stand out,” designer Christina Singca says.
Special features. “The most significant design detail would have to be the floor tile,” Singca says. “There are many gorgeous details throughout the bathroom, but the floor is what you see first and what makes it so unique.” Other special features include a vanity in a warm greige color (Shiitake by Sherwin-Williams), a curbless shower, a vessel sink (Morro by Native Trails) and a faucet mounted into the mirror and wall to save countertop space.
Designer tip. “What made this room a success was the blending of the warm cabinets with the bright black-and-white floor tile,” Singca says. “If the cabinets were white, the room would have looked completely different, but opting for a warmer color really makes this bathroom more inviting.”
Pendant light: Noir, Quorum International; wall paint: Drift of Mist, Sherwin-Williams
4. Black and White Tile and Vibrant Blue Vanity
Designer: Shawn Ewbank Design Collaborative
General contractor: Dion Lamb of CRX Construction
Location: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters); 5 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. A contemporary interpretation of a classic bathroom.
Special features. White subway tile walls with dark grout. Black marble pencil molding at the ceiling. Black hexagonal floor tile. Bright blue vanity. Mirror with integrated light.
Designer tip. “For bathrooms where I know there will be multiple users, I save wall space by using double robe hooks instead of towel bars,” designer Shawn Ewbank says.
Designer: Shawn Ewbank Design Collaborative
General contractor: Dion Lamb of CRX Construction
Location: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters); 5 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. A contemporary interpretation of a classic bathroom.
Special features. White subway tile walls with dark grout. Black marble pencil molding at the ceiling. Black hexagonal floor tile. Bright blue vanity. Mirror with integrated light.
Designer tip. “For bathrooms where I know there will be multiple users, I save wall space by using double robe hooks instead of towel bars,” designer Shawn Ewbank says.
5. Blue and Green Tile and Black Sink and Toilet
Designer: Mary Petron of Petron Design
Builder: Dreamstar Custom Homes
Location: North Palm Beach, Florida
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters); 9 feet, 8 inches by 5 feet, 8 inches
Homeowners’ request. For this cabana bathroom that’s also attached to an exercise room, the homeowners wanted a spa-like feel with some visual interest.
Special features. Blue and green glass tiles in varied sizes. Pebble tiles on the shower floor. Dark basalt tile floor and countertop. Louvered vanity. Black sink and toilet. Custom mirror. Light blue wall paint (Tradewind by Sherwin-Williams).
Designer: Mary Petron of Petron Design
Builder: Dreamstar Custom Homes
Location: North Palm Beach, Florida
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters); 9 feet, 8 inches by 5 feet, 8 inches
Homeowners’ request. For this cabana bathroom that’s also attached to an exercise room, the homeowners wanted a spa-like feel with some visual interest.
Special features. Blue and green glass tiles in varied sizes. Pebble tiles on the shower floor. Dark basalt tile floor and countertop. Louvered vanity. Black sink and toilet. Custom mirror. Light blue wall paint (Tradewind by Sherwin-Williams).
6. Black and Tan Tile and High-Gloss Black Vanity
Designer: Andrew Dahlstedt of 41 West
Location: Naples, Florida
Homeowners’ request. A complete makeover of a guest bathroom to make it more current and functional.
Special features. Black and tan mosaic tile in the shower. Frameless glass enclosure. Integrated shower bench. Glossy black vanity. Marble-look quartz countertop and shower bench top.
Designer tip. “The seat in the shower tucked under the main shower head was incorporated for accessibility and ease of use, while providing function where previously there wouldn’t have been any, as shower seats are not usually placed beneath the main shower head,” designer Andrew Dahlstedt says.
Designer: Andrew Dahlstedt of 41 West
Location: Naples, Florida
Homeowners’ request. A complete makeover of a guest bathroom to make it more current and functional.
Special features. Black and tan mosaic tile in the shower. Frameless glass enclosure. Integrated shower bench. Glossy black vanity. Marble-look quartz countertop and shower bench top.
Designer tip. “The seat in the shower tucked under the main shower head was incorporated for accessibility and ease of use, while providing function where previously there wouldn’t have been any, as shower seats are not usually placed beneath the main shower head,” designer Andrew Dahlstedt says.
7. Vertical White Tile and High-Gloss Floating Vanity
Designer: Joe Chiavaroli of Core Remodel
Location: Chicago
Size: 48 square feet (4.5 square meters); 6 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. Remove a cast iron tub and build a new walk-in shower for this often used guest bathroom in a hundred-year-old house.
Special features. Matte white wall tile stacked vertically to accentuate the 10-foot ceiling. Medium-size black hexagonal shower floor tile and large black hexagonal main floor tile, both with white grout for contrast. Matte black plumbing fixtures. Eighteen-inch deep floating vanity in a high-gloss finish.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The house was over 100 years old and had finishes that were dated and never updated,” designer Joe Chiavaroli says. “Once you start demolition and open up walls that have timber framing and layers of plaster and flooring, you just have to be prepared for the unknown. We had to completely reconstruct two of the four walls, reconstruct the ceiling so that we could correctly vent the exhaust fan, and completely replace a window that had wood rot. All of these little obstacles can be easily repaired and corrected; it just takes more time than originally expected. The owner was made aware of these potential issues and delays prior to construction starting, so it was not a huge surprise. The job was a great success because the owner’s and contractor’s expectations were both realistic.”
Designer: Joe Chiavaroli of Core Remodel
Location: Chicago
Size: 48 square feet (4.5 square meters); 6 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. Remove a cast iron tub and build a new walk-in shower for this often used guest bathroom in a hundred-year-old house.
Special features. Matte white wall tile stacked vertically to accentuate the 10-foot ceiling. Medium-size black hexagonal shower floor tile and large black hexagonal main floor tile, both with white grout for contrast. Matte black plumbing fixtures. Eighteen-inch deep floating vanity in a high-gloss finish.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The house was over 100 years old and had finishes that were dated and never updated,” designer Joe Chiavaroli says. “Once you start demolition and open up walls that have timber framing and layers of plaster and flooring, you just have to be prepared for the unknown. We had to completely reconstruct two of the four walls, reconstruct the ceiling so that we could correctly vent the exhaust fan, and completely replace a window that had wood rot. All of these little obstacles can be easily repaired and corrected; it just takes more time than originally expected. The owner was made aware of these potential issues and delays prior to construction starting, so it was not a huge surprise. The job was a great success because the owner’s and contractor’s expectations were both realistic.”
8. Porcelain Tile and Access to Courtyard
Designer: Tuan Vu of Nick Mira of Propel Studio Architecture
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. A spacious bathroom with direct access to the outdoor courtyard from the shower.
Special features. Large-format porcelain wall tile. Pebble shower floor tile. Floating vanity with dark wood veneer. Frameless glass partition. Wall-hung toilet. Concrete floor. Access to the outdoor courtyard from the shower through a sliding glass door.
Designer tip: “Keep the ceiling height at a minimum of 8 feet, 6 inches to make any bathroom feel bigger,” designer Tuan Vu says.
Designer: Tuan Vu of Nick Mira of Propel Studio Architecture
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. A spacious bathroom with direct access to the outdoor courtyard from the shower.
Special features. Large-format porcelain wall tile. Pebble shower floor tile. Floating vanity with dark wood veneer. Frameless glass partition. Wall-hung toilet. Concrete floor. Access to the outdoor courtyard from the shower through a sliding glass door.
Designer tip: “Keep the ceiling height at a minimum of 8 feet, 6 inches to make any bathroom feel bigger,” designer Tuan Vu says.
9. White Tile in Herringbone Pattern and ‘Watercolor’ Wallcovering
Designer: Kellye O’Kelly of OCG
Location: Eagle, Colorado
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This is the homeowners’ daughter’s bathroom, and they wanted it to be fun and playful but grow with her through the years,” designer Kellye O’Kelly says.
Special features. Curbless shower. Custom floating white oak vanity. White rectangular shower wall tile installed in a herringbone pattern. Watercolor-style wallcovering that adds a “bit of a campy theme,” O’Kelly says.
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Designer: Kellye O’Kelly of OCG
Location: Eagle, Colorado
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This is the homeowners’ daughter’s bathroom, and they wanted it to be fun and playful but grow with her through the years,” designer Kellye O’Kelly says.
Special features. Curbless shower. Custom floating white oak vanity. White rectangular shower wall tile installed in a herringbone pattern. Watercolor-style wallcovering that adds a “bit of a campy theme,” O’Kelly says.
More on Houzz
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Standard Fixture Dimensions and Measurements for a Master Bath
Get bathroom design ideas
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for bathroom products
Designer: Melinda Mandell Interior Design
Location: Santa Clara, California
Size: 95 square feet (8.8 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This master bath needed to have superhigh function packed into its footprint,” designer Melinda Mandell says. “The homeowner requested a large shower with dual shower heads, a Jacuzzi tub, a separate toilet room and a double vanity. And we packed it all in.”
Special features. Marble mosaic floor tile in a graphic hexagonal pattern. Custom vanity painted in Normandy by Benjamin Moore, with tapered legs and flush inset drawer fronts with a beaded frame. Dual shower heads. Recessed medicine cabinets. Light tube over shower. Large rectangular shower wall tile with a handmade-like texture.
Designer tip. “Balance pattern and solids, and incorporate both warm and cool tones,” Mandell says. “I did that here by contrasting the floor pattern with the dark solid color on the vanity.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “There was this ‘oh no’ moment when we went to install the medicine cabinets, because we feared we had not given enough space for the cabinets to open and clear the faucets,” Mandell says. “It all turned out OK, and the medicine cabinets clear just fine — but close. But we definitely had a moment of panic.”
Cabinetry: The Cutting Edge Custom Cabinetry; medicine cabinets and plumbing fixtures: Vintage Bath; wall paint: Foggy Day, Dunn-Edwards Paints
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