In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

This powder room was transform from a Traditional White cabinet, to a painted dark plum hand distressed finish. Topped with leather Stone finish counter top. Hand carved Wood mirror, with antique gold gilt. Faux finish Venetian plaster walls.

Gorgeous Bathroom with White Walls and Granite Bathroom Countertops. Drop-in Freestanding Tub with a Walk-in Shower.
Inspiration for a small 1950s gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile, multicolored floor and single-sink bathroom remodel in Miami with raised-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink, granite countertops, multicolored countertops and a built-in vanity

1930's craftsman meets industrial farmhouse. AG completed this Gentilly Terrace bungalow in August 2016. Originally a quaint, 2 bed/1 bath, we added a master suite, knocked down a few walls, and brought this adorable home into the 21st century!

The ability to alter and adjust components addresses concerns for accessibility. The shower seat is moveable or removable. The curved grab bar is functional and attractive. The sliding glass shower door can be partially or completely removed. The Hansgrohe hand shower is placed on an adjustable bar making it possible to shower in a seated or standing position. The thermostatic shower control features an anti-scald safety stop to protect against water scalding. The shower controls are placed at the shower entrance. This allows the water temperature and flow to be properly adjusted before immersing body parts in the water. Not only is the toilet comfort height, the skirted design simplifies cleaning and the dual flush is environmentally friendly.

This artistic and design-forward family approached us at the beginning of the pandemic with a design prompt to blend their love of midcentury modern design with their Caribbean roots. With her parents originating from Trinidad & Tobago and his parents from Jamaica, they wanted their home to be an authentic representation of their heritage, with a midcentury modern twist. We found inspiration from a colorful Trinidad & Tobago tourism poster that they already owned and carried the tropical colors throughout the house — rich blues in the main bathroom, deep greens and oranges in the powder bathroom, mustard yellow in the dining room and guest bathroom, and sage green in the kitchen. This project was featured on Dwell in January 2022.

This tiny house needed a tiny bath. It's tiny, and delightful. It was quite dark and windowless, so we added a tubular skylight, which infused the tiny room with daylight. Did I mention tiny? This tiny house needed an upgrade to its tiny bath. With no possibility of a window, we choose a tubular skylight for an infusion of natural light. Difficult to see in the photo, but the floor tile continues in the same pattern up the wall. ©2017 Adam Gibson

Small elegant white tile and ceramic tile bathroom photo in Miami with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, laminate countertops and beige walls

Small trendy master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom photo in Denver with an undermount sink, quartz countertops and blue walls

Painting small spaces in dark colors actually makes them appear larger. Floating shelves and an open vanity lend a feeling of airiness to this restroom.

With hints of blacks, blues, and golds, this bathroom renovation was a perfect mix to bring this space to life again. Double bowl navy vanity with Carrara stone and an accent of white shiplap to tie in a little texture for a clean, refreshing, and simple feel. Simple subway tile with dark grout and black fixtures to note a contemporary aesthetic.

Gerri Hernandez
Example of a small eclectic gray tile and ceramic tile bathroom design in New York with a wall-mount sink and a one-piece toilet

Hannah Tindall
Inspiration for a small modern 3/4 beige tile and ceramic tile alcove shower remodel in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz countertops and beige walls

ARC Photography
Inspiration for a small contemporary 3/4 black and white tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile bathroom remodel in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an integrated sink and solid surface countertops

Inspiration for a small modern master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and gray floor bathroom remodel in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a vessel sink, quartzite countertops and white countertops

Samantha Ward
Bathroom - small traditional master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and gray floor bathroom idea in Kansas City with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls and gray countertops

Simplicity and functionality merged perfectly in this bathroom. A single vanity, Duravit© toilet, and built-in storage make the most of limited space.

This small, efficient master bathroom offers an ample tile shower, soaking tub, and his and hers style vanity.
Inspiration for a small craftsman master multicolored tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom remodel in Raleigh with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops, a one-piece toilet and beige walls

Inspiration for a small transitional master white tile and ceramic tile vinyl floor and beige floor bathroom remodel in Milwaukee with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, green walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops and beige countertops