Bathroom Gets Warm Finishes and a Curbless Shower
A designer found on Houzz lightens up a bathroom and gives it a timeless transitional look
The decor in this Charlotte, North Carolina, couple’s home leaned too traditional, ornate and fussy for their tastes. They searched Houzz for an interior designer to help with their whole-house renovation, were drawn to the work of Melissa Rieser and hired her. In the primary bathroom, Rieser reconfigured a chopped-up layout to fill the room with light and helped the couple achieve a transitional style that balances classic and modern elements.
For the countertop and backsplash, Rieser suggested a classic quartzite. At 10 inches high, the backsplash has a stronger presence than a standard 4-inch backsplash. “The high backsplash allowed us to mount the faucets on it,” Rieser says. “It also gives the vanity a grander and more upscale custom look.” Likewise, at 3 inches thick, the mitered countertop is more than double the standard 1¼-inch thickness. The substantial straight edge adds a modern touch to the transitional mix.
For the faucets, hardware, lighting and mirrors, the homeowners didn’t want shiny brass, trendy matte black or anything silver. Thus, honey bronze was a perfect choice for them, and it complements the tones in the white oak and the quartzite beautifully.
Electrical outlets are hidden inside the vanity so as not to interrupt the backsplash. The vanity has nine drawers, and behind the cabinet doors are rollouts that make it easy to access items stored in the back.
The wall color is Sherwin-Williams’ Pearly White. “This is a go-to warm off-white for me because it works with lots of different undertones,” the designer says. The door on the left leads to a toilet room.
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For the faucets, hardware, lighting and mirrors, the homeowners didn’t want shiny brass, trendy matte black or anything silver. Thus, honey bronze was a perfect choice for them, and it complements the tones in the white oak and the quartzite beautifully.
Electrical outlets are hidden inside the vanity so as not to interrupt the backsplash. The vanity has nine drawers, and behind the cabinet doors are rollouts that make it easy to access items stored in the back.
The wall color is Sherwin-Williams’ Pearly White. “This is a go-to warm off-white for me because it works with lots of different undertones,” the designer says. The door on the left leads to a toilet room.
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The large window was existing, but before, it was flanked by a shower stall on the left and a toilet room on the right. Both of these spaces had been walled in, resulting in a chopped-up floor plan. (See before-and-after floor plans below.) Rieser took down the walls to open up the room, moved the toilet room behind the vanity wall and placed a new shower stall in its place. Using a clear glass shower enclosure created a much more open feel and made the bathroom feel bigger.
The shower has a marble mosaic floor that provides another traditional touch. On the walls, large-format (30-by-60-inch) porcelain tiles have an onyx look. The floating shower bench is also covered in these tiles for a seamless, minimalist effect.
The shower water flows into a linear drain on the right. “This drain was a challenge,” Rieser says. “My clients really wanted a linear drain, and we wound up having to have this one custom-made and painted.” The drain and the floor that slants toward it contain the water within the shower stall, allowing for a curbless entry.
The rest of the bathroom also has tile flooring. “We wanted the classic look of a herringbone wood on the floors,” Rieser says. “To avoid water damage to real wood, we opted for a ceramic tile that has a wood look.”
The shower has a marble mosaic floor that provides another traditional touch. On the walls, large-format (30-by-60-inch) porcelain tiles have an onyx look. The floating shower bench is also covered in these tiles for a seamless, minimalist effect.
The shower water flows into a linear drain on the right. “This drain was a challenge,” Rieser says. “My clients really wanted a linear drain, and we wound up having to have this one custom-made and painted.” The drain and the floor that slants toward it contain the water within the shower stall, allowing for a curbless entry.
The rest of the bathroom also has tile flooring. “We wanted the classic look of a herringbone wood on the floors,” Rieser says. “To avoid water damage to real wood, we opted for a ceramic tile that has a wood look.”
Another shower detail worth noting is the thermostatic control located within easy reach of the door. This means the homeowners can turn on the water and wait for it to warm up without getting splashed by cold water.
The freestanding tub was chosen to complement the room’s transitional style. “The tub is not overly traditional or too modern,” Rieser says. “It has very simple lines.”
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The freestanding tub was chosen to complement the room’s transitional style. “The tub is not overly traditional or too modern,” Rieser says. “It has very simple lines.”
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The home overall lacked adequate storage. The removal of the toilet room walls opened up space for a large freestanding armoire next to the bathtub that helped remedy this.
“We wanted a beautiful piece that would stand out a bit,” Rieser says. “But we also wanted it to be classic, beautiful and minimalist.” She custom-designed the piece to fit the scale of the room and coordinate with the vanity.
“We wanted a beautiful piece that would stand out a bit,” Rieser says. “But we also wanted it to be classic, beautiful and minimalist.” She custom-designed the piece to fit the scale of the room and coordinate with the vanity.
Before: Changing the floor plan had a major impact on the design. As mentioned, the areas marked “water closet” and “shower” had been walled in, resulting in a cramped layout. On the opposite side of the bathroom, two vanities were separated by double entry doors.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: The water closet moved to the opposite side of the room (top left) and the shower stall took its place (bottom left). This opened up the window wall considerably. The new armoire, to the right of the bathtub, isn’t shown on this plan. To accommodate the double vanity, the entry to the bathroom is now at the top right.
The new bathroom layout provides a larger, zero-threshold shower, more than enough storage and a more expansive and airy feel. Finishes like the off-white paint, quartzite, marble shower floor, onyx-look shower tile, white oak cabinetry and honey bronze fixtures create a warm and calming ambience in the space.
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The new bathroom layout provides a larger, zero-threshold shower, more than enough storage and a more expansive and airy feel. Finishes like the off-white paint, quartzite, marble shower floor, onyx-look shower tile, white oak cabinetry and honey bronze fixtures create a warm and calming ambience in the space.
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos for ideas
Find home design and construction professionals
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two teenagers
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 135 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Melissa Rieser Interiors
“The original style of their home was old-world with lots of dark accents and scrolling iron. It all felt very heavy,” Reiser says. “I suggested soft wood tones and a transitional style. The style is classic and incorporates some newer trends that have longevity. Nothing is too trendy.” The designer used Houzz Pro software to keep the project organized.
The design kicked off with a custom double vanity in white oak. The cabinetry is slim Shaker style, with thin rails that give the vanity a less busy look than typical wider Shaker rails would.
At 60 inches high, the extra-tall mirrors draw the eye up and emphasize the room’s 10-foot ceilings. Hurricane sconces are a traditional choice, but their clean-lined rectangular backs and glass cylinders lean minimalist. Their tall proportions work well with the mirrors.
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