Bathroom Design
4 Stylish New Bathrooms With a Shower-Tub Combo
See how designers play with tile, color and vanity selection to elevate the look and feel of this classic bathroom setup
For a modest-size guest bathroom, few things top the space-saving function of a shower-tub combo. The setup gives guests — and kids or grandkids — the option of showering or bathing without taking up the amount of space needed for a separate shower and tub. Plus, you can still pack in a lot of style by playing up or playing down the arrangement. Here, four designers show how they handled a guest bathroom that includes a shower-tub combo.
2. Soft and Subtle
Designer: Kristine Kay Interiors
Builder: Meiste Homes
Location: Macatawa, Michigan
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a space with a tub to scrub-a-dub-dub her granddaughter after a long, hot day at the beach,” designer Kristine Kay says.
Shower-tub details. “The overall color scheme for the bath is crisp white and soft sage that will grow with the grandkids over time,” Kay says. “The tub and white vanity keep things bright and fresh.”
Other special features. “The vanity offers a lower shelf for decorative storage baskets,” Kay says. “The mosaic plaid tile brings a sense of playfulness. And Farrow & Ball paint in color Cromarty is the perfect sage green neutral that acts as a backdrop for the pink accents, which could easily be changed to a different color as the wee one transitions to her teen years.”
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to mix patterns,” Kay says. “The organic shapes of the floral shower curtain mixed with the plaid floor tile bring the space to life.”
Vanity: Bertch; floor tile: Soho porcelain collection in Plaid, Anatolia; wall paint: Cromarty, Farrow & Ball
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Designer: Kristine Kay Interiors
Builder: Meiste Homes
Location: Macatawa, Michigan
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a space with a tub to scrub-a-dub-dub her granddaughter after a long, hot day at the beach,” designer Kristine Kay says.
Shower-tub details. “The overall color scheme for the bath is crisp white and soft sage that will grow with the grandkids over time,” Kay says. “The tub and white vanity keep things bright and fresh.”
Other special features. “The vanity offers a lower shelf for decorative storage baskets,” Kay says. “The mosaic plaid tile brings a sense of playfulness. And Farrow & Ball paint in color Cromarty is the perfect sage green neutral that acts as a backdrop for the pink accents, which could easily be changed to a different color as the wee one transitions to her teen years.”
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to mix patterns,” Kay says. “The organic shapes of the floral shower curtain mixed with the plaid floor tile bring the space to life.”
Vanity: Bertch; floor tile: Soho porcelain collection in Plaid, Anatolia; wall paint: Cromarty, Farrow & Ball
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3. Tile Touch
Designer: Jeremy Babel of Jeremy Babel Architecture + Design
Location: West Hurley, New York
Size: 42½ square feet (4 square meters); 5 by 8½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This was a new-construction project and the client wanted simple and efficient en suite bathrooms for the home’s two secondary bedrooms,” architect and designer Jeremy Babel says.
Shower-tub details. “We elected to use a shower-tub combo for maximum utility for both the homeowners and their guests with young children,” Babel says. “The deep tub by Duravit is suitable for both children and adults to comfortably take a bath. The palette of the home in general is minimal yet warm. In this bathroom, polished concrete floors with radiant heating are combined with floor-to-ceiling subway tile. These highly structured finishes are warmed and softened with satin brass fixtures and accessories.” Babel also tiled the apron of the tub to make the element visually recede.
Other special features. “A large tilt-turn window in the shower provides ample daylight to the room and can be tilted open for extra ventilation,” Babel says.
Designer tip. “A modern console sink helps to make the space feel more visually open and generous,” Babel says. “An integrated shelf below provides space for extra towels and storage baskets while preserving the open and minimal design.”
Tile: Basix, 2 by 8 inches, Nemo Tile + Stone; tub: Starck, Duravit; toilet: one-piece elongated, Duravit; vanity: DuraSquare metal console washbasin, Duravit; shower fixtures and faucet: Artos
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Designer: Jeremy Babel of Jeremy Babel Architecture + Design
Location: West Hurley, New York
Size: 42½ square feet (4 square meters); 5 by 8½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This was a new-construction project and the client wanted simple and efficient en suite bathrooms for the home’s two secondary bedrooms,” architect and designer Jeremy Babel says.
Shower-tub details. “We elected to use a shower-tub combo for maximum utility for both the homeowners and their guests with young children,” Babel says. “The deep tub by Duravit is suitable for both children and adults to comfortably take a bath. The palette of the home in general is minimal yet warm. In this bathroom, polished concrete floors with radiant heating are combined with floor-to-ceiling subway tile. These highly structured finishes are warmed and softened with satin brass fixtures and accessories.” Babel also tiled the apron of the tub to make the element visually recede.
Other special features. “A large tilt-turn window in the shower provides ample daylight to the room and can be tilted open for extra ventilation,” Babel says.
Designer tip. “A modern console sink helps to make the space feel more visually open and generous,” Babel says. “An integrated shelf below provides space for extra towels and storage baskets while preserving the open and minimal design.”
Tile: Basix, 2 by 8 inches, Nemo Tile + Stone; tub: Starck, Duravit; toilet: one-piece elongated, Duravit; vanity: DuraSquare metal console washbasin, Duravit; shower fixtures and faucet: Artos
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4. Old and New
Designer: Stephanie Tottingham of Kashas Design | Build
Location: Washougal, Washington
Size: 75 square feet (7 square meters); 6½ by 11½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This bathroom was part of a two-bathroom remodel,” designer Stephanie Tottingham says. “It was made smaller in order to make the master bathroom into a larger space.”
Shower-tub details. “The homeowners wanted to keep a bathtub in the home, and the shower-tub combo was the best solution,” Tottingham says. “Because it’s a focal point, the black-and-white tile and window were the complementary features.”
Other special features. “The homeowners have eclectic taste and love to use salvaged items,” Tottingham says. “The central piece of the bath was the antique wood storage cabinet that became the vanity.” The countertop and backsplash are honed Carrara marble. The mirror is a cast-iron antique. Black hexagonal floor tiles add depth and contrast.
Shower wall tile: Vivace in Motif Rice, 4 by 4 inches, Bedrosians Tile & Stone
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Designer: Stephanie Tottingham of Kashas Design | Build
Location: Washougal, Washington
Size: 75 square feet (7 square meters); 6½ by 11½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This bathroom was part of a two-bathroom remodel,” designer Stephanie Tottingham says. “It was made smaller in order to make the master bathroom into a larger space.”
Shower-tub details. “The homeowners wanted to keep a bathtub in the home, and the shower-tub combo was the best solution,” Tottingham says. “Because it’s a focal point, the black-and-white tile and window were the complementary features.”
Other special features. “The homeowners have eclectic taste and love to use salvaged items,” Tottingham says. “The central piece of the bath was the antique wood storage cabinet that became the vanity.” The countertop and backsplash are honed Carrara marble. The mirror is a cast-iron antique. Black hexagonal floor tiles add depth and contrast.
Shower wall tile: Vivace in Motif Rice, 4 by 4 inches, Bedrosians Tile & Stone
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Find bathroom remodelers
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Designer: Emily Manera of Studio Collab
Location: Joshua Tree, California
Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters); 5 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. “They wanted an upscale guest bathroom that had an elevated feel but didn’t break the bank,” designer Emily Manera says. “They needed a tub for their family but liked the idea of doing a tiled face to conceal it. The bathroom was part of a full-house renovation, so they wanted it to go along with the rest of the aesthetic. Because it’s located in the desert, they wanted a warm, earthy but modern look and were really drawn to rich browns and ocher colors to mimic the warmth of the desert.”
Shower-tub details. “They were drawn to a rusty brown glazed brick tile because of its earthiness and warmth, so we used that for the shower tile and soap niche, with a brass metal trim on the vertical edges,” Manera says. “We chose to tile the face of the tub in a complementary stone mosaic with matching metal trim. We used a light beige grout to really make the tile pop but blend in more for the mosaic.”
Other special features. “The walls and ceiling of this bathroom have a subtle beige Roman clay plaster finish,” Manera says. “The floating vanity has a warm wood finish to match the wood baseboards. We really wanted these spaces in this home to burst with warmth. We did a custom vanity mirror with integrated ceramic sconces and black trim. Matte black plumbing fixtures and a framed glass partition finish off the space for a modern twist.”
Designer tip. “Doing a drop-in-style tub with a tiled face really helps to elevate a shower-tub combo,” Manera says. “Now you don’t have to see the white face of the tub. It also gives it a nice tiled surface to mount a glass panel to so you can ditch the shower curtain and opt for a modern look.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We experienced some challenges with the shower tile install,” Manera says. “The brick can be difficult to work with because of its natural handmade quality given that no two tiles are exactly the same. We did express this to our installers since we’ve worked with the product before, but even the most experienced trades can have difficulties. At one point during the install, we had to make them pull out a bunch of the tiles and reinstall them to achieve a better outcome. In the end it was worth the fuss, but the more experience the better when working with these types of products.”
Shower tile: Columbia Plateau, Fireclay Tile; sconces: Stepped Discus, Justice Design Group; tub apron tile: Hanami stick pattern in Medium Earth, Zen+Clay
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