Current old vanity.

I can do vanity in other tones/colors.

I love that faucet! I think it is a Grohe.

Hi Gerry-

I am so sorry for your loss.

I hope you have a complete recovery.

I think there are a few goals.

1. Have it be to your taste

2. Have it accommodate your guests in comfort and style

3. Have the accessories coordinate with the guest bedroom.

4. Have it be general enough that it won't hinder re-sale down the line.

5. Have it be easy to clean and maintain. Nothing that needs re-sealing or polishing.

So to those ends, what is your taste?

What do you like to see in the bathroom or when you go to a hotel, or stay at someone's home?

Do you want towels color coordinated to the room, or do you like white towels so you know they are spotlessly clean?

Oh, and I learned my lesson after one guest ruined a washcloth with her foundation.

Buy a bunch of tan or brown washcloths and go to the tailor & have them embroider the word "FOR COSMETICS" or "FOR MAKE-UP" in red along one edge, so that is what will be used to remove make-up. Cause people somehow cannot see that brand new roll of cotton pads and the brand new bottle of high-quality make-up remover. Aargh!

(Funny, a few years after this happened, I read about the same thing on Martha Stewart!)

If you are going with the white towel thing, think about what the other surfaces might be that you would like.

And for sure, you'd probably want space for lots and lots of towels and washcloths, etc, so guests don't feel like they would have to bother you.

I don't know that you have to not have a medicine chest. Maybe not the one you have now, but a different one, so your guests have a place to put your things.

I like those hotel towel racks to store lots of extra towel racks.

I think for towel racks for hanging towel, I like long ones that are double racks. And two of those, one for each occupant of the room. Because people use face towels and body towels, and I use bath sheets, too. Those gigantors are wonderful.

There are hand towels too, but I am wondering about those.

They get dirty so easily, we wash our hands a million times a day, they stay wet most of the day unless you change towels all the time. It isn't very ecological, or very tasteful, but I am wondering if it isn't more convenient and actually more healthful to use disposable thick paper hand towels.

(Oh, Mother, I'm sorry!)

I can't remember the last time I put out my embroidered hand towels.

Never mind the hygiene, they need ironing. (Horrors :)

And a double hook on the back of door for hangers for clothing or bathrobes.

I love the look of an old fashioned hotel or spa, with marble, but marble is higher up-keep.

Have you thought about a marble-look tile for the floor and the in the shower on the walls?

Corian makes one. And you can use that for the sink counter or get an all white counter for a pristine look.

Corian is great, it doesn't stain, is easily repairable.

For a guest bathroom you don't need all the fancy hidden electrical hook-ups for hair driers, etc, but I would definitely suggest at least two separated GFCI outlets for your guest to use their grooming tools.

Also, try out your sink for washing your face. Do you splash water outside your sink?

I am exasperated by sinks that are too small.

A bathroom sink doesn't need to be deep but it needs to be w-i-d-e otherwise I am getting water all over the place, and yes I can wipe up after myself each time, but why should I have to?

I'd rather just get a larger sink.

Oh, and I despise grout.

Please get a counter /backsplash that doesn't have grout. You can do that with Corian.

Think about an undermount sink too.

I would not get a pedestal sink. You do need storage for cleaning supplies, extra rolls of t.p., kleenex, etc.

See if you can get a vanity that has two drawers. One for her to put her cosmetic pouch and for him to put his dopp kit.

I like to put a green plant somewhere. Life is good energy in a room, and there are lots of indoor plants that love that humidity and don't need a lot of light.

Ferns are good, and you can hang one, and coleuses (is that the plural of coleus) gives you some added color with the green are great, either upright, mounding or hanging, and if you like drama, there is the staghorn fern.

Also in the guest bath I like to leave supplies because everyone forgets something.

I have a HUGE half clam shell that is filled with sample size toiletries that people may have forgotten or just want to try. It really makes them feel pampered and for little money for each I feel like I am treating them to goodies. You can put up some shelves high above the toilet for that along with a fragrance diffuser (those reed sticks in oil) and the plant and a box of kleenex.

Or if you have a garden you can use your own flowers and/or branches instead of a plant.

Are those your garden's apricot roses? Wowza!

They say, spend a night in your guest room and use your guest bath and you will know what you would want.

I won’t be keeping the faucet because, despite using CLR, it’s corroded from hard water. (I have the same faucet in powder room that’s in better shape because it’s used more so buildup isn’t bad) And I won’t reuse the overhead lights. I have 14 white guest bath towels so no need to buy new. This is my master bath for reference.

For ease of cleaning consider a floating vanity and a floating wall mounted toilet. Might as well focus on making everything accessible, for your guests, yourself and resale. Largest format stone-look beige tiles you can find mean less scrubbing grout in the shower. Stick with a shower curtain you can replace rather than glass you need to squeegee and polish. Make sure you make space for plenty of grab bars and good lighting. LED lights are great for brightness but also for dimness getting up in the middle of the night.

I echo the suggestion for offering thick paper towels for frequent hand washing. Also keep everything guests need out in the open — including offering a shower caddy in the shower where it is easy to remove and put back shampoos and soaps, rather than trendy “niches” where slippery stuff drops to the floor.

Hi Gerry, I like the style of your master bathroom! You seem to like an uncluttered, modern or transitional look. I do, too! After I was about to suggest maybe a whitewashed or weathered look wood vanity for your renovation, I noticed you have some nice beach themed art in your master bathroom, so maybe that could be a jumping off point for this new room. I’ve seen some nice solid surface countertops, like Corian and Livingstone, in almost a beach sand design that would look nice with the beige tile floors and white fixtures. Then you could change up the look as you like with towels and accessories. For the shower, if you want to keep it timeless, maybe do white subway tiles, or marble-like if you’re going for a more upscale look with the vanity. We just did a rectified porcelain tile in the kitchen and there are virtually no grout lines! Please keep us posted on your progress.

@ ital mover: Great advice on the grab bars. Since this is a total remodel, they can be blocked in during construction.

Gerry, Would you consider doing a cream or off white floor tile, instead of the beige? Or a tile that swirls cream and white? I think that would be more versatile and give you more decorating options.

Gerry, I’m so sorry for her loss of your husband. You’ve been through a lot, so hopefully the Houzz friends and pros here can help make a bathroom remodel easier.

I would go black and white in this bathroom. It’s totally neutral so all accessories can be changed at whim. If you like plain classic tiles, the floor can be either solid white or a marbled look. Or you can do a patterned floor in b&w. A black vanity, with drawers, for people’s stuff is also a good idea. Put shampoo and conditioner inside the shower (plain white large format tiles) and keep a basket on a shelf with other goodies. I would repeat the shelves in this bathroom, only in black.
I agree that ample towel bars and a hook for a robe you provide (a large one of course) is very welcoming.
Have the largest countertop you can get in there. Guests sometimes prefer leaving some stuff out so they remember to repack their toiletries when they leave.
If you love white towels put out a dark colored washcloth in a small basket labeled “for makeup removal”. In this case, black would work! Don’t forget a small bath mat so people don’t trip exiting the tub.
With a black and white bathroom, the shower curtain can be anything you love.
Personally, I would put brass fixtures with b&w but obviously anything goes.
I also agree that grab bars are a must.
Let us know what strikes you as matching your taste and folks will help find tiles, faucets, etc.

I’m going to go back to the tile showroom and see what jumps out at me. I like the idea of a light floor and dark vanity with a light top. The walls and trim in the adjacent area is Navajo White which is a creamy off white. I’ll take photos of the tile I like and post them for a vote. I am the poster child for analysis paralysis.

You’ve come to the right place. You’ll get even MORE ideas to add to your analysis paralysis! I agree to go dark on the vanity!

Condolences, it took me two years to get back to normal. If most of the tenants are Seniors I'd skip the tub entirely in favor of a very-low-curb shower. Be sure to take photos of the studded enclosure, showing the blocking for future grab bars with measurements, and keep them safe for future reference. Having a ready-to-go Senior shower will be a selling point if and when the time comes.

@Chiflipper - I already removed the tub in the master bedroom and converted it to a larger shower that is senior friendly. I don’t want to remove the other tub because, as a babysitting grandma, I have used the tub for the kiddies, as well as myself to soak out the aches.

@RedRyder - I bit the bullet and ordered a dark vanity so I’m going to go lighter on the floor. I was anticipating a long delay on shipment but it will be delivered early so I’ll probably have a vanity in my living room for awhile.