New This Week: 6 Midsize Bathrooms With a Low-Curb Shower
See the features and finishes that bring style and functionality to this popular bathroom configuration
Mitchell Parker
May 28, 2021
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
We recently showcased a collection of stylish small bathrooms with shower-tub combos. Here, design and building pros share the materials and details they used to create modest-size bathrooms that incorporate a low-curb shower. See how their choices in tile selection, vanity style and other features might help inspire updates to your space.
1. Shiplap Shape-Up
Designer: Sally Soricelli of Nestorations
Location: San Marcos, California
Size: 52½ square feet (4.9 square meters); 5 by 10½ feet
Homeowners’ request. A light and bright bathroom that functioned for their busy family and added much-needed storage. Designer Sally Soricelli removed a wall between the former vanity and toilet and shower area to help brighten the room.
Special features. “The shiplap was a subtle design feature that really gave the space a designer touch,” Soricelli says. “There is a small foyer area outside the bathroom to hang towels, so we continued the shiplap on that wall as well to unite the two spaces into one cohesive space.
“Also, since this bathroom has only one small east-facing window, I knew using lighter materials would give that light and bright look the homeowners wanted. I chose a white porcelain Carrara-look tile in a matte finish for the shower walls and ran it all the way to the ceiling. The matte finish was important as it kept the casual feel my clients wanted. We went with a fun scallop tile in the shower pan and niche, which complemented the custom smoky blue cabinets.”
Designer tip. “Install your shower tile to the ceiling to make the space feel taller,” Soricelli says. “Also, for small countertops you can easily find an inexpensive remnant instead of buying a whole slab.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “When removing a wall, a skilled drywaller is worth their weight in gold,” Soricelli says. “Sometimes the walls don’t quite match up and it can be hard to hide the patched area where a wall was removed. We had to have the drywaller come back and add an extra coat to smooth the ceiling and the wall opposite the shiplap. It was a small delay that was definitely worth it.”
Paint colors: Smoky Blue (cabinets) and Extra White (shiplap), Sherwin-Williams; project photography: Natalia Robert Photography
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Designer: Sally Soricelli of Nestorations
Location: San Marcos, California
Size: 52½ square feet (4.9 square meters); 5 by 10½ feet
Homeowners’ request. A light and bright bathroom that functioned for their busy family and added much-needed storage. Designer Sally Soricelli removed a wall between the former vanity and toilet and shower area to help brighten the room.
Special features. “The shiplap was a subtle design feature that really gave the space a designer touch,” Soricelli says. “There is a small foyer area outside the bathroom to hang towels, so we continued the shiplap on that wall as well to unite the two spaces into one cohesive space.
“Also, since this bathroom has only one small east-facing window, I knew using lighter materials would give that light and bright look the homeowners wanted. I chose a white porcelain Carrara-look tile in a matte finish for the shower walls and ran it all the way to the ceiling. The matte finish was important as it kept the casual feel my clients wanted. We went with a fun scallop tile in the shower pan and niche, which complemented the custom smoky blue cabinets.”
Designer tip. “Install your shower tile to the ceiling to make the space feel taller,” Soricelli says. “Also, for small countertops you can easily find an inexpensive remnant instead of buying a whole slab.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “When removing a wall, a skilled drywaller is worth their weight in gold,” Soricelli says. “Sometimes the walls don’t quite match up and it can be hard to hide the patched area where a wall was removed. We had to have the drywaller come back and add an extra coat to smooth the ceiling and the wall opposite the shiplap. It was a small delay that was definitely worth it.”
Paint colors: Smoky Blue (cabinets) and Extra White (shiplap), Sherwin-Williams; project photography: Natalia Robert Photography
Find a bathroom remodeler near you
2. Oak and Brass Build-Out
Designer: Neal LeBouef of L Design Group
Builder: Pablo Pereira of Unika Homes
Location: Houston
Size: 72 square feet (6.7 square meters); 6 by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction house, the owners wanted a casual, fresh guest bath that also serves as a pool bath.
Special features. White oak vanity. Champagne bronze faucet and other details. Quartz countertop. Charcoal floor tile in a herringbone pattern. Glazed ceramic wall tile in varying white tones.
Designer tip. “Instead of three small drawers we did two large ones so we could use them for towel storage, this being a pool bath,” builder Pablo Pereira says. “We also made sure we dropped the concrete slab at the shower during the pour in order to minimize the curb.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Even with the concrete drop in the shower, a small curb was still required for proper drainage,” Pereira says. “So we installed a solid piece of the quartz counter as the threshold — instead of tile — to make it look intentional and part of the overall design. The solution gave us a nice shadow line at the floor that we did not anticipate.”
Faucet: Trinsic in Champagne Bronze, Delta
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Designer: Neal LeBouef of L Design Group
Builder: Pablo Pereira of Unika Homes
Location: Houston
Size: 72 square feet (6.7 square meters); 6 by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction house, the owners wanted a casual, fresh guest bath that also serves as a pool bath.
Special features. White oak vanity. Champagne bronze faucet and other details. Quartz countertop. Charcoal floor tile in a herringbone pattern. Glazed ceramic wall tile in varying white tones.
Designer tip. “Instead of three small drawers we did two large ones so we could use them for towel storage, this being a pool bath,” builder Pablo Pereira says. “We also made sure we dropped the concrete slab at the shower during the pour in order to minimize the curb.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Even with the concrete drop in the shower, a small curb was still required for proper drainage,” Pereira says. “So we installed a solid piece of the quartz counter as the threshold — instead of tile — to make it look intentional and part of the overall design. The solution gave us a nice shadow line at the floor that we did not anticipate.”
Faucet: Trinsic in Champagne Bronze, Delta
Shop for a bathroom vanity
3. Marble Mood
Designers: Lynae Parrott and Leann Waisath of LMOH Home
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Homeowners’ request. Remove a bathtub and replace it with a shower with an accessible entry for multigenerational guests. They also wanted colors and finishes that would feel current yet timeless.
The designers used Houzz Pro software to manage the project.
Special features. Carrara marble beveled subway tile for the shower and wainscoting. Carrara mosaic floor tile in a herringbone pattern. Custom Java wood floating vanity with an Odyssey White marble countertop. Gray walls (Colonnade Gray, reduced percentage, by Sherwin-Williams).
Designer tip. “To keep a space long-standing, we employ a variety of design techniques,” designer Lynae Parrott says. “Using classic materials and shapes is a start, then applying them as wainscoting or from floor to ceiling gives longevity and improved functionality for keeping a bathroom clean. In addition, mixing styles keeps a room relevant. We use traditional tile selections, transitional plumbing fixtures and hardware, contemporary floating vanities with stone top edge profiles and modern low-curb shower entries. By mixing styles, a room won’t be stuck in a decade or specific time period but instead feel timeless.”
Designers: Lynae Parrott and Leann Waisath of LMOH Home
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Homeowners’ request. Remove a bathtub and replace it with a shower with an accessible entry for multigenerational guests. They also wanted colors and finishes that would feel current yet timeless.
The designers used Houzz Pro software to manage the project.
Special features. Carrara marble beveled subway tile for the shower and wainscoting. Carrara mosaic floor tile in a herringbone pattern. Custom Java wood floating vanity with an Odyssey White marble countertop. Gray walls (Colonnade Gray, reduced percentage, by Sherwin-Williams).
Designer tip. “To keep a space long-standing, we employ a variety of design techniques,” designer Lynae Parrott says. “Using classic materials and shapes is a start, then applying them as wainscoting or from floor to ceiling gives longevity and improved functionality for keeping a bathroom clean. In addition, mixing styles keeps a room relevant. We use traditional tile selections, transitional plumbing fixtures and hardware, contemporary floating vanities with stone top edge profiles and modern low-curb shower entries. By mixing styles, a room won’t be stuck in a decade or specific time period but instead feel timeless.”
4. Artful Aesthetic
Designers: Alexandria Hubbard and Elle Hunter of Case Design/Remodeling
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Size: 37½ square feet (3.5 square meters); 5 by 7½ feet
Homeowner’s request. This is a condo bathroom and the homeowner didn’t have the option of changing the layout. So the designers got creative with material selections. “Our homeowner was not afraid to make bold decisions to really make the bathroom pop, which as a designer makes our job a lot of fun,” says designer Alexandria Hubbard, who used Houzz to communicate ideas and inspiration to the homeowner during the design process. “He gave us a lot of creative leeway to create a really dynamic modern space.”
Special features. The shower wall is an Alex Turco art panel made from composite aluminum with a glossy epoxy resin to make it waterproof. “We knew we wanted the back wall of the shower to be a wow factor,” Hubbard says. “The room was designed around this focal point, with all other design decisions being neutral to be more of the background and to let the panel be the star of the show.”
Designer tip. “A master bathroom, while not typically used by guests, is a fun place to add a pop of personality and be a bit daring in the material selection,” Hubbard says. “Find a fun color for the cabinetry or a bold pattern in the tile and make that the focal point of the space and allow everything else to complement it. It’s your space — do not be afraid to have a little fun with it and let it reflect you.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Whenever you do a slim slab stone or porcelain application, a consideration that often gets overlooked is transportation during production,” Hubbard says. “If the pieces are too big, they will not fit in elevators and around tight corners, everyday construction challenges when working in a city condo. More often than not that results in the slab being broken up into sections, and while practical, it may not always look as aesthetically pleasing.
“Our homeowner was dead set on not having any seams or grout joints, which proved to be a challenge to us when selecting materials. We also wanted to keep our craftsmen in mind who would be handling the material. The material we chose not only gave us flexibility in pattern and color, but was much lighter than stone and was easy to maneuver in and around our homeowner’s condo, a big win for the client and our production team.”
Black toilet, sink, shower base and shower fixtures: Kohler
Designers: Alexandria Hubbard and Elle Hunter of Case Design/Remodeling
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Size: 37½ square feet (3.5 square meters); 5 by 7½ feet
Homeowner’s request. This is a condo bathroom and the homeowner didn’t have the option of changing the layout. So the designers got creative with material selections. “Our homeowner was not afraid to make bold decisions to really make the bathroom pop, which as a designer makes our job a lot of fun,” says designer Alexandria Hubbard, who used Houzz to communicate ideas and inspiration to the homeowner during the design process. “He gave us a lot of creative leeway to create a really dynamic modern space.”
Special features. The shower wall is an Alex Turco art panel made from composite aluminum with a glossy epoxy resin to make it waterproof. “We knew we wanted the back wall of the shower to be a wow factor,” Hubbard says. “The room was designed around this focal point, with all other design decisions being neutral to be more of the background and to let the panel be the star of the show.”
Designer tip. “A master bathroom, while not typically used by guests, is a fun place to add a pop of personality and be a bit daring in the material selection,” Hubbard says. “Find a fun color for the cabinetry or a bold pattern in the tile and make that the focal point of the space and allow everything else to complement it. It’s your space — do not be afraid to have a little fun with it and let it reflect you.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Whenever you do a slim slab stone or porcelain application, a consideration that often gets overlooked is transportation during production,” Hubbard says. “If the pieces are too big, they will not fit in elevators and around tight corners, everyday construction challenges when working in a city condo. More often than not that results in the slab being broken up into sections, and while practical, it may not always look as aesthetically pleasing.
“Our homeowner was dead set on not having any seams or grout joints, which proved to be a challenge to us when selecting materials. We also wanted to keep our craftsmen in mind who would be handling the material. The material we chose not only gave us flexibility in pattern and color, but was much lighter than stone and was easy to maneuver in and around our homeowner’s condo, a big win for the client and our production team.”
Black toilet, sink, shower base and shower fixtures: Kohler
5. Blue Beauty
Designer: Krsta Matepi of Mused Interiors
Location: Honolulu
Size: 65 square feet (6 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This newly constructed bathroom was part of an overall house renovation,” designer Krsta Matepi says. “We wanted to create a bathroom that was functional and fun, as it sits adjacent to a preteen boys’ bedroom.”
Special features. Vivid blue subway tile in an alternating pattern. Quartz counters and backsplash surround a trough sink. “Wall-mount faucets add an industrial feel with the wheel handles,” Matepi says. “A medicine mirror cabinet is recessed into Italian cabinetry, creating a ledge for small items.”
Designer tip. “Select timeless shapes and materials but in an unexpected color to give the room personality without being too trendy,” Matepi says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The shower plumbing wall backs onto a half-height CMU [concrete masonry unit] wall and raised laundry closet,” Matepi says. “The contractor, Hale Partners Hawaii, and I had to be clever in how we set plumbing pipes around air vents and the recessed mirror.”
Vanity: Cleaf, via Plus Interiors
Designer: Krsta Matepi of Mused Interiors
Location: Honolulu
Size: 65 square feet (6 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This newly constructed bathroom was part of an overall house renovation,” designer Krsta Matepi says. “We wanted to create a bathroom that was functional and fun, as it sits adjacent to a preteen boys’ bedroom.”
Special features. Vivid blue subway tile in an alternating pattern. Quartz counters and backsplash surround a trough sink. “Wall-mount faucets add an industrial feel with the wheel handles,” Matepi says. “A medicine mirror cabinet is recessed into Italian cabinetry, creating a ledge for small items.”
Designer tip. “Select timeless shapes and materials but in an unexpected color to give the room personality without being too trendy,” Matepi says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The shower plumbing wall backs onto a half-height CMU [concrete masonry unit] wall and raised laundry closet,” Matepi says. “The contractor, Hale Partners Hawaii, and I had to be clever in how we set plumbing pipes around air vents and the recessed mirror.”
Vanity: Cleaf, via Plus Interiors
6. White-and-Wood Winner
Designer: Nicolette Bouw of NIBIO
Location: Woodinville, Washington
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 9 by 6 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This bathroom is part of an entire home remodel,” designer Nicolette Bouw says. “The theme for the house is modern farmhouse with a twist. This bathroom looked old and dingy, and also housed a stacked washer and dryer. This room not only doubled as a bathroom, but it was also the powder room. The clients hired me to crack the code of this impossible space and give them a separate powder room and a private bathroom. The laundry room was moved to another part of the house.”
Special features. “We brought the farmhouse element in with one shiplap wall,” Bouw says. “We chose a warm walnut floating vanity to bring in natural elements. And we used hexagon tiles on the floor and in the shower. We then chose white ice ceramic tiles for a fresh and clean look.” Green glass tiles in a herringbone pattern accent the shower niche.
Designer tip. “Think outside the box and be creative with spaces and layouts,” Bouw ways. “Just because it is not currently there does not mean it isn’t a possibility. When I had this floor plan on my computer, I immediately saw the potential of dividing the 78-square-foot space into two. The back 75% of the room could be for the master bathroom and the front 25% of the room could easily be a powder room with direct access from the hallway.”
Project photography: Rachael Ann Photography
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Designer: Nicolette Bouw of NIBIO
Location: Woodinville, Washington
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 9 by 6 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This bathroom is part of an entire home remodel,” designer Nicolette Bouw says. “The theme for the house is modern farmhouse with a twist. This bathroom looked old and dingy, and also housed a stacked washer and dryer. This room not only doubled as a bathroom, but it was also the powder room. The clients hired me to crack the code of this impossible space and give them a separate powder room and a private bathroom. The laundry room was moved to another part of the house.”
Special features. “We brought the farmhouse element in with one shiplap wall,” Bouw says. “We chose a warm walnut floating vanity to bring in natural elements. And we used hexagon tiles on the floor and in the shower. We then chose white ice ceramic tiles for a fresh and clean look.” Green glass tiles in a herringbone pattern accent the shower niche.
Designer tip. “Think outside the box and be creative with spaces and layouts,” Bouw ways. “Just because it is not currently there does not mean it isn’t a possibility. When I had this floor plan on my computer, I immediately saw the potential of dividing the 78-square-foot space into two. The back 75% of the room could be for the master bathroom and the front 25% of the room could easily be a powder room with direct access from the hallway.”
Project photography: Rachael Ann Photography
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse thousands of home design photos
Find a pro
Shop for your home
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Beautiful design!
Your bathroom cabinets the very close to the toilets how many inches apart are they?
The bathroom design is very beautiful