8 Exceptional New Bathrooms With a Curbless Shower
Designers share details on how this feature can provide a safe entry point, expand visual space and add style
There are many benefits to a curbless shower entry, most notably its safety for aging household members and its seamless look that can help visually expand a space. The feature requires more construction and a higher budget than a low-curb option. Here, design pros share why it’s a move worth considering.
2. In the Mood
Designer: April Aduddell of April Interiors
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 66 square feet (6.1 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This moody en suite guest bathroom was thoughtfully designed with aging parents in mind,” designer April Aduddell says. “The clients knew their out-of-state parents would be the main occupants of this space. The highlight of the bathroom is the zero-entry shower, which not only provides a seamless transition but also eliminates the risk of tripping.”
Shower details. “The curbless shower offers numerous benefits, most notably the seamless transition it provides from the bathroom to the shower area,” Aduddell says. “However, it is important to plan ahead when incorporating a zero-entry shower into the architectural design. Ideally, this should be considered during the construction phase, as it requires the foundation to be recessed and sloped accordingly. In the case of this specific bathroom, mosaic-sized tiles were utilized to maintain the necessary slope of the shower floor without compromising the overall aesthetic and appearance of the tile design.”
Other special features. Blue shower wall tile in a basketweave pattern. Double console sink vanity. Gray hexagonal floor tile. Frameless glass shower divider.
Designer tip. Aduddell recommends locating a shower niche in the least visible spot rather than on a wall that would put products on display. “In real life, the shampoo niche is typically filled with utilitarian items and not always a great focal point,” she says.
Shower tile: Makoto in Arashi Blue, 2½ by 10 inches (wall) and 2 inches round (floor), Bedrosians; floor tile: Disk Hex in Anthracite, Travis Tile Sales; shower fixtures and faucets: Brizo; paint colors: Snowbound (walls, ceiling and trim) and Tricorn Black (door), Sherwin-Williams
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Designer: April Aduddell of April Interiors
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 66 square feet (6.1 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This moody en suite guest bathroom was thoughtfully designed with aging parents in mind,” designer April Aduddell says. “The clients knew their out-of-state parents would be the main occupants of this space. The highlight of the bathroom is the zero-entry shower, which not only provides a seamless transition but also eliminates the risk of tripping.”
Shower details. “The curbless shower offers numerous benefits, most notably the seamless transition it provides from the bathroom to the shower area,” Aduddell says. “However, it is important to plan ahead when incorporating a zero-entry shower into the architectural design. Ideally, this should be considered during the construction phase, as it requires the foundation to be recessed and sloped accordingly. In the case of this specific bathroom, mosaic-sized tiles were utilized to maintain the necessary slope of the shower floor without compromising the overall aesthetic and appearance of the tile design.”
Other special features. Blue shower wall tile in a basketweave pattern. Double console sink vanity. Gray hexagonal floor tile. Frameless glass shower divider.
Designer tip. Aduddell recommends locating a shower niche in the least visible spot rather than on a wall that would put products on display. “In real life, the shampoo niche is typically filled with utilitarian items and not always a great focal point,” she says.
Shower tile: Makoto in Arashi Blue, 2½ by 10 inches (wall) and 2 inches round (floor), Bedrosians; floor tile: Disk Hex in Anthracite, Travis Tile Sales; shower fixtures and faucets: Brizo; paint colors: Snowbound (walls, ceiling and trim) and Tricorn Black (door), Sherwin-Williams
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3. Look Up
Designer: Sharon George of Architecture by George
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: The shower is 33 square feet (3.1 square meters); 5½ by 6 feet
Homeowners’ request. This master bathroom was part of a new addition to the home.
Shower details. Frameless glass enclosure. Green tile in a vertical stacked pattern helps draw the eye up. Mosaic tile flooring creates a nonslip surface. “Because this was an addition, we had to pour a new slab foundation, which gives you the perfect opportunity to create a dropped area for the shower in order to create a flush-entry curbless shower,” architect Sharon George says.
Other special features. “You’ll notice that the shower and tub area has a sloped higher ceiling and a large window that’s placed up high to bring in lots of natural light, so you can see sky and still have privacy,” George says. “This feature makes the bathroom feel much bigger than it actually is.”
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Designer: Sharon George of Architecture by George
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: The shower is 33 square feet (3.1 square meters); 5½ by 6 feet
Homeowners’ request. This master bathroom was part of a new addition to the home.
Shower details. Frameless glass enclosure. Green tile in a vertical stacked pattern helps draw the eye up. Mosaic tile flooring creates a nonslip surface. “Because this was an addition, we had to pour a new slab foundation, which gives you the perfect opportunity to create a dropped area for the shower in order to create a flush-entry curbless shower,” architect Sharon George says.
Other special features. “You’ll notice that the shower and tub area has a sloped higher ceiling and a large window that’s placed up high to bring in lots of natural light, so you can see sky and still have privacy,” George says. “This feature makes the bathroom feel much bigger than it actually is.”
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4. Dramatic Play
Designer: Harmony Weihs of Design Harmony
Location: Mercer Island, Washington
Homeowners’ request. Remove a massive built-in, step-up jetted tub and create an airier layout with a larger shower and a curbless design.
Shower details. “Advantages are that you don’t have to step over a curb and it’s easier to clean,” Weihs says. “I added a beautiful marble mosaic flooring to add interest throughout the entire bath and to allow for the shower slope.”
Other special features. Black frame shower enclosure. Black freestanding tub.
Designer tip. “Pick one big element to be the star,” Weihs says. “Pick everything else to work around and with the star design element. Here the star is the floor.”
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Designer: Harmony Weihs of Design Harmony
Location: Mercer Island, Washington
Homeowners’ request. Remove a massive built-in, step-up jetted tub and create an airier layout with a larger shower and a curbless design.
Shower details. “Advantages are that you don’t have to step over a curb and it’s easier to clean,” Weihs says. “I added a beautiful marble mosaic flooring to add interest throughout the entire bath and to allow for the shower slope.”
Other special features. Black frame shower enclosure. Black freestanding tub.
Designer tip. “Pick one big element to be the star,” Weihs says. “Pick everything else to work around and with the star design element. Here the star is the floor.”
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5. Down to Earth
Designer: Lilianne Steckel Interior Design
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 141 square feet (13 square meters); 11 feet, 4 inches by 12½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This was a custom, new-build residence in the sweet neighborhood of Zilker Park,” designer Lilianne Steckel says.
Shower details. “I am not a fan of shower curbs,” Steckel says. “Curbless always looks more seamless, timeless and modern. And when you slope the shower to accommodate this, it functions better for drainage. Not all builders want to do this. Luckily ours preferred the look as well. Our clients are tall and the ease of walking straight out of the shower was high on their list.”
Other special features. “We did a simple earthy palette of white, brass and green,” Steckel says. “The backyard can be viewed out the windows, making the palette more connected to the outdoors. The floor tile is a concrete tile with inlay brass. The walls are a lime wash.”
Designer tip. “I think a pony wall with half glass above it is a great trick in the shower if you have a border to other parts of the bathroom,” Steckel says. “It encloses the shower area but allows for visual openness and natural light to reach the whole bathroom, making it airy and bright.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Another house started being built right behind them when we were almost complete and ready for their move-in,” Steckel says. “We thought, ‘Oh no, the view into this bathroom window at the bathtub is going to be in direct sight from their neighbors’ house!’ We had to install last-minute shades on the windows that are minimal but give them privacy, especially at night.”
Wall tile: Heath Ceramics
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Designer: Lilianne Steckel Interior Design
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 141 square feet (13 square meters); 11 feet, 4 inches by 12½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “This was a custom, new-build residence in the sweet neighborhood of Zilker Park,” designer Lilianne Steckel says.
Shower details. “I am not a fan of shower curbs,” Steckel says. “Curbless always looks more seamless, timeless and modern. And when you slope the shower to accommodate this, it functions better for drainage. Not all builders want to do this. Luckily ours preferred the look as well. Our clients are tall and the ease of walking straight out of the shower was high on their list.”
Other special features. “We did a simple earthy palette of white, brass and green,” Steckel says. “The backyard can be viewed out the windows, making the palette more connected to the outdoors. The floor tile is a concrete tile with inlay brass. The walls are a lime wash.”
Designer tip. “I think a pony wall with half glass above it is a great trick in the shower if you have a border to other parts of the bathroom,” Steckel says. “It encloses the shower area but allows for visual openness and natural light to reach the whole bathroom, making it airy and bright.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Another house started being built right behind them when we were almost complete and ready for their move-in,” Steckel says. “We thought, ‘Oh no, the view into this bathroom window at the bathtub is going to be in direct sight from their neighbors’ house!’ We had to install last-minute shades on the windows that are minimal but give them privacy, especially at night.”
Wall tile: Heath Ceramics
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6. Egyptian Inspiration
Designers: Paige Loczi, Catrina Cooper and Jennifer Frisbie of Loczi
Location: Sebastopol, California
Size: 96 square feet (8.9 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The clients requested a sexy space with sumptuous materials and rich, earthy colors,” designer Paige Loczi says. “We enrolled one of our favorite plaster experts, Rye Hudak from Level Five Design, to complete this design.”
Shower details. ”The clients wanted a seamless transition into the shower,” Loczi says. “We removed the traditional ‘curb’ and cut the 24-by-24-inch marble floor tile into smaller 3-by-24-inch segments to allow for sufficient grip and slope toward the drain.”
Other special features. The shower wall tile is hand-painted glazed ceramic that nods to historical Egyptian designs. The floor features radiant heat. “We used a vanity with an integrated counter [and sinks], accompanying medicine cabinets and storage from Wetstyle, a company known for its clean, modern lines.”
Designer tip. ”We created a skylight over the vanity and shower, allowing one to bathe and soak in the rays or the moonlight,” Loczi says.
Wall tile: Petite Cairo, Lea Nigel Studios; floor tile: Mia, Ann Sacks
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Designers: Paige Loczi, Catrina Cooper and Jennifer Frisbie of Loczi
Location: Sebastopol, California
Size: 96 square feet (8.9 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The clients requested a sexy space with sumptuous materials and rich, earthy colors,” designer Paige Loczi says. “We enrolled one of our favorite plaster experts, Rye Hudak from Level Five Design, to complete this design.”
Shower details. ”The clients wanted a seamless transition into the shower,” Loczi says. “We removed the traditional ‘curb’ and cut the 24-by-24-inch marble floor tile into smaller 3-by-24-inch segments to allow for sufficient grip and slope toward the drain.”
Other special features. The shower wall tile is hand-painted glazed ceramic that nods to historical Egyptian designs. The floor features radiant heat. “We used a vanity with an integrated counter [and sinks], accompanying medicine cabinets and storage from Wetstyle, a company known for its clean, modern lines.”
Designer tip. ”We created a skylight over the vanity and shower, allowing one to bathe and soak in the rays or the moonlight,” Loczi says.
Wall tile: Petite Cairo, Lea Nigel Studios; floor tile: Mia, Ann Sacks
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7. Living on the Ledge
Designer: Eve Charbonneau of Home by Eve for Leclair Decor
Location: Downers Grove, Illinois
Homeowners’ request. “My clients gave me a lot of creative freedom with this project,” designer Eve Charbonneau says. “Their requests for this en suite included heated floors, a steam shower and a makeup vanity. Our vision was to craft a serene retreat that would strike a balance between modernity and comfort.”
Shower details. “A curbless shower allows for a seamless continuation of the flooring throughout the bathroom and is the perfect detail in a modern home,” Charbonneau says. “This allowed for a full-height glass enclosure, which further accentuates that modern aesthetic. As a fresh alternative to your typical shower niche, we built the back wall out to create a shampoo ledge, which we finished in the Calacatta Vagli marble stone.” The shower walls and ceiling are textured zellige tile.
Other special features. Basalt stone flooring in a herringbone pattern. “Good design is about more than what meets the eye,” Charbonneau says. “It addresses ambiance and considers all five senses. This en suite has it all, from heated floors to a layered lighting scheme complete with undercabinet LEDs, a steam shower with aromatherapy and built-in speakers throughout by EOC Audio.”
Designer: Eve Charbonneau of Home by Eve for Leclair Decor
Location: Downers Grove, Illinois
Homeowners’ request. “My clients gave me a lot of creative freedom with this project,” designer Eve Charbonneau says. “Their requests for this en suite included heated floors, a steam shower and a makeup vanity. Our vision was to craft a serene retreat that would strike a balance between modernity and comfort.”
Shower details. “A curbless shower allows for a seamless continuation of the flooring throughout the bathroom and is the perfect detail in a modern home,” Charbonneau says. “This allowed for a full-height glass enclosure, which further accentuates that modern aesthetic. As a fresh alternative to your typical shower niche, we built the back wall out to create a shampoo ledge, which we finished in the Calacatta Vagli marble stone.” The shower walls and ceiling are textured zellige tile.
Other special features. Basalt stone flooring in a herringbone pattern. “Good design is about more than what meets the eye,” Charbonneau says. “It addresses ambiance and considers all five senses. This en suite has it all, from heated floors to a layered lighting scheme complete with undercabinet LEDs, a steam shower with aromatherapy and built-in speakers throughout by EOC Audio.”
8. Blue Depth
Designers: John Klopf, Angela Todorova and Lucie Danigo of Klopf Architecture
Location: Palo Alto, California
Size: 63 square feet (5.9 square meters); 5 feet, 2 inches by 12 feet, 3 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The clients wanted a bathroom featuring darker, masculine colors for their teenage son to call his own,” designer Lucie Danigo says. “It was important to create a sense of flow and continuity between spaces by featuring a uniform palette of materials and finishes throughout the house to avoid a chopped-up feel.”
Shower details. “As part of the simple, modern design directive, the curbless shower allowed us to use a uniform floor tile carried into the shower to visually extend the space without a break in materials,” Danigo says. “The glass enclosure accentuates that continuity and allows the natural light to flood the bathroom, brightening the room during the day despite the darker wall tiles. A floating walnut vanity allows the flooring to flow continuously without a visual break.”
Other special features. “Ceramic tiles are carried up to the ceiling to emphasize the height of the room and flush drywall and wall tile transitions create a seamless look,” Danigo says. “A high clerestory window allows natural light to flood the room while maintaining privacy. All of these elements help to expand the space visually, making it feel open and much larger than it is.”
Designer tip. “Designing the room as part of a whole-house design was important in creating a cohesive look throughout the spaces, allowing the elements to flow together,” Danigo says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “With the second-level bathroom, we had to make the most of every inch to ensure we planned the shower’s slope and the linear drain in the floor assembly,” Danigo says.
Wall tiles: Tahoe Blue, Heath Ceramics
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Designers: John Klopf, Angela Todorova and Lucie Danigo of Klopf Architecture
Location: Palo Alto, California
Size: 63 square feet (5.9 square meters); 5 feet, 2 inches by 12 feet, 3 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The clients wanted a bathroom featuring darker, masculine colors for their teenage son to call his own,” designer Lucie Danigo says. “It was important to create a sense of flow and continuity between spaces by featuring a uniform palette of materials and finishes throughout the house to avoid a chopped-up feel.”
Shower details. “As part of the simple, modern design directive, the curbless shower allowed us to use a uniform floor tile carried into the shower to visually extend the space without a break in materials,” Danigo says. “The glass enclosure accentuates that continuity and allows the natural light to flood the bathroom, brightening the room during the day despite the darker wall tiles. A floating walnut vanity allows the flooring to flow continuously without a visual break.”
Other special features. “Ceramic tiles are carried up to the ceiling to emphasize the height of the room and flush drywall and wall tile transitions create a seamless look,” Danigo says. “A high clerestory window allows natural light to flood the room while maintaining privacy. All of these elements help to expand the space visually, making it feel open and much larger than it is.”
Designer tip. “Designing the room as part of a whole-house design was important in creating a cohesive look throughout the spaces, allowing the elements to flow together,” Danigo says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “With the second-level bathroom, we had to make the most of every inch to ensure we planned the shower’s slope and the linear drain in the floor assembly,” Danigo says.
Wall tiles: Tahoe Blue, Heath Ceramics
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom design stories
Browse and save bathroom photos
Find bathroom remodelers
Shop for bathroom products
Designer: Deirdre Doherty Interiors
Location: Cheviot Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters); 5 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This project was a full remodel of the client’s childhood home, including an addition of a primary suite,” designer Deirdre Doherty says. “We were able to use space from the original primary bathroom and closet to add this guest bathroom along with a laundry room.”
Shower details. “The curbless shower gives the bathroom a spa feeling as well as opens up the space,” Doherty says. “We wanted to utilize the same patterned material on the floor onto the back wall to elongate the space, so the curbless shower was the best option to make this happen. It made the bathroom feel light and bright but also appear larger than it is. We actually dropped the floor inside the shower about 2 inches to allow for proper slope to the linear drain, which is placed at the left side of the shower.”
Other special features. “We selected the complementary handmade zellige tile in a slate color and a marble slab countertop with slate veining to tie the whole look together,” Doherty says. “We used brushed gold hardware, including a wall-mounted faucet. The mirror is wrapped with a leather trim.”
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid of pattern in tile design,” Doherty says. “When thoughtfully placed, it can really make the room.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The pattern we chose for the floor tile was not a good match for the pitch needed for the fully curbless shower,” Doherty says. “To make it all work, we teamed up with the contractor and tile installer in the framing phase to drop the floor in the shower to allow for a proper pitch that did not need so much cutting of tile. This preserved the overall design and tile pattern and ensured the shower drainage would not be an issue.”
Mirror: Lostine; faucet and shower fixtures: Purist, Kohler
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