Bathroom of the Week: Finding Warm, Rustic Lodge Style — and Love
A curbless shower, river rock tile and knotty cedar paneling created an inviting look for a remodel that led to marriage
The owner of this rustic Coupeville, Washington, log house with water views bought the home as an investment property and weekend getaway. Looking to infuse the aging home with a modern lodge look and feel, she first turned her attention to updating the 1980s en suite primary bath before addressing other spaces. Problems included a cramped layout with a bulky built-in corner tub squeezed between a small shower stall and basic vanity. A lack of style was also evident in the dated materials.
For help, she hired designer Kristine Tyler. Tyler eliminated the corner tub, making space for a large curbless shower. River rock tile spans the entire floor, playing off the knotty cedar ceiling and wall portions to create a rustic look. A custom alder floating vanity complements the knotty cedar and includes a handcrafted bronze sink with a layered design. Ribbed copper-tone tiles on the side walls add texture and warmth. And in a twist of fate, an inspirational tile design led the homeowner to reconnect with a high school boyfriend, who’s the brother of the owner of the tile company. The couple married soon after the bathroom project was completed.
For help, she hired designer Kristine Tyler. Tyler eliminated the corner tub, making space for a large curbless shower. River rock tile spans the entire floor, playing off the knotty cedar ceiling and wall portions to create a rustic look. A custom alder floating vanity complements the knotty cedar and includes a handcrafted bronze sink with a layered design. Ribbed copper-tone tiles on the side walls add texture and warmth. And in a twist of fate, an inspirational tile design led the homeowner to reconnect with a high school boyfriend, who’s the brother of the owner of the tile company. The couple married soon after the bathroom project was completed.
After: Tyler kept some of the knotty cedar paneling as a starting point but created a more user-friendly layout by ditching the built-in tub and installing a spacious curbless shower. “She wanted it to be like a two-person shower,” Tyler says. The custom enclosure has pony walls with tempered glass panels on top. The pony wall on the left provides added privacy for the toilet area.
River rock tile in a honed finish covers the bathroom flooring, creating a rustic look and feel. “She brought up those tiles,” Tyler says. “What she was looking to do was create a bathroom that felt like a warm hug.” The pony walls and back wall of the shower have 12-by-24-inch gray porcelain field tiles with a matte metallic look. “I love that tile because it has tones of both gray and brown in it, so it’s very warm,” Tyler says. The side walls are 4-by-8-inch ribbed copper-tone tiles that provide visual warmth and texture.
Pony wall and back shower wall tile: Oxide Iron, 12 by 24 inches, MSI; wall paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore
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River rock tile in a honed finish covers the bathroom flooring, creating a rustic look and feel. “She brought up those tiles,” Tyler says. “What she was looking to do was create a bathroom that felt like a warm hug.” The pony walls and back wall of the shower have 12-by-24-inch gray porcelain field tiles with a matte metallic look. “I love that tile because it has tones of both gray and brown in it, so it’s very warm,” Tyler says. The side walls are 4-by-8-inch ribbed copper-tone tiles that provide visual warmth and texture.
Pony wall and back shower wall tile: Oxide Iron, 12 by 24 inches, MSI; wall paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore
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The back wall of the shower includes a square tile design that features an inspirational message. The tile was created by California studio FLM Ceramics, and the founder of the company turned out to be the brother of the homeowner’s high school boyfriend. The two reconnected and ended up getting married. “I found out about this as it was unfolding,” Tyler says. “They’re such a cute couple. I got invited to the wedding.”
A pair of indoor-outdoor LED sconces with a rich oil-rubbed bronze finish flank the inspirational tile. “I wanted to put additional lighting in the shower,” Tyler says. “They’re rated for rain, and I thought they were a nice touch.” A heated towel rack and teak bench create a spa-like experience. “The towel warmer and bench are far enough away from the shower fixtures that you can sit there and decompress,” Tyler says.
10 Smart Bathroom Storage Solutions
A pair of indoor-outdoor LED sconces with a rich oil-rubbed bronze finish flank the inspirational tile. “I wanted to put additional lighting in the shower,” Tyler says. “They’re rated for rain, and I thought they were a nice touch.” A heated towel rack and teak bench create a spa-like experience. “The towel warmer and bench are far enough away from the shower fixtures that you can sit there and decompress,” Tyler says.
10 Smart Bathroom Storage Solutions
A band of river rock tile extends from the shower floor up the wall behind the main fixtures. “We were trying to have it look like a waterfall,” Tyler says. The same tile covers the back of a niche on the left. The fixtures have a wheel handle on the left that allows the homeowners to turn on the water without getting sprayed. A 10-inch round multifunction shower head and four-function hand shower add to the spa experience.
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Before: Here’s a look at the former bathroom’s vanity area. Beige-and-brown cabinets and Broadway-style lights dated the look. “The tall linen cabinet took away from the space,” Tyler says. “There’s also additional linen storage on the other side of the door.” A door to the right of the cabinets connects the bathroom to the primary bedroom. A door in the foreground, about where this photo was taken from, connects to a hallway.
After: Tyler added a new custom alder vanity with Shaker-style fronts, a stained finish and a durable gray-brown quartz countertop. The floating design adds a bit of breathing room, making the bathroom feel lighter.
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The pulls and knobs have an oil-rubbed bronze finish that coordinates with other finishes, including the pivot mirror, towel ring and eye-catching sink (see below). A pair of linear sconces in natural iron flank the mirror. Below the vanity, a floating live-edge shelf made of fir offers easy access to clean towels.
Live-edge shelf: Whidbey Millhouse; mirror: Tolson rounded rectangle pivot in oil-rubbed bronze, Rejuvenation
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Live-edge shelf: Whidbey Millhouse; mirror: Tolson rounded rectangle pivot in oil-rubbed bronze, Rejuvenation
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A trip to a local showroom with the homeowner led to the discovery of this showstopping bronze sink with a copper finish and 21-layer design. “Some people must have a sparkly clean sink all the time,” Tyler says. “This is a vacation home and she wasn’t worried about the cleaning.” A U-spout widespread faucet with brass finish and wheel handles coordinates with the shower fixtures.
The inviting bathroom is now a welcoming retreat that celebrates the home’s location. “It’s a very rustic house, and when you use those materials like the river rock tile, it feels like a walk on a Pacific Northwest beach,” Tyler says.
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The inviting bathroom is now a welcoming retreat that celebrates the home’s location. “It’s a very rustic house, and when you use those materials like the river rock tile, it feels like a walk on a Pacific Northwest beach,” Tyler says.
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for your bathroom
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple. He’s a teacher; she’s a real estate agent
Location: Coupeville, Washington
Size: 96 square feet (8.9 square meters), 8 feet, 4 inches by 11 feet, 6 inches
Designer: Kristine Tyler of Treefrog Design
Before: Prior to the remodel, the homeowner appreciated the warmth of the knotty cedar paneling on portions of the bathroom walls and vaulted ceiling. But she disliked the jetted tub with large tile deck, which sat crammed next to a small shower stall. “She thought it was silly to have this tiny shower and huge tub,” Tyler says. “She also has a Jacuzzi outside and thought she didn’t need a Jacuzzi tub both outside and inside.”
The homeowner wanted to keep the skylight and window over the tub to preserve the natural light. She also liked how the toilet sat behind a partition wall, but she wanted to add a second wall for more privacy.