Bathroom of the Week: Sauna and Cold Plunge Bring the Spa Home
A reworked layout, wellness features and a warm and soothing style create a luxurious retreat
Grant and Angela Morris appreciated the spacious size of their 260-square-foot primary bathroom. Too bad it was overcrowded with bulky elements and dated materials. Angela, a jewelry designer, wanted more efficiency and style. Grant wanted a sauna and other spa-like features for wellness benefits. To achieve their goals, they turned to designer Tara Lenney, who had worked with the couple to update other spaces in their home.
Moving a closet doorway freed up wall space for a new custom white oak double vanity that provides storage and visual warmth. Eliminating a former single-sink vanity made room for a handcrafted infrared sauna. A freestanding cold-plunge tub replaced the overwhelming built-in tub. The shower has a steam function. And pops of blue tile, paint and other details deliver a soothing style to this rejuvenating space.
Moving a closet doorway freed up wall space for a new custom white oak double vanity that provides storage and visual warmth. Eliminating a former single-sink vanity made room for a handcrafted infrared sauna. A freestanding cold-plunge tub replaced the overwhelming built-in tub. The shower has a steam function. And pops of blue tile, paint and other details deliver a soothing style to this rejuvenating space.
After: Lenney removed the existing components and updated the electrical and plumbing. “We didn’t move any walls in this project,” Angela says.
Shifting the closet door over 3 feet and reworking it onto an angled wall portion gave Lenney space for a new custom white oak double vanity that infuses warmth into the room and greatly improves storage. “Making a larger double vanity freed up space for us to add the sauna,” she says. “They were willing to give up about a foot or two of counter space to get that new function with the sauna.”
The striking floor consists of Carrara marble tiles with an inset design of chain-link marble mosaic tiles within a navy blue porcelain border. “The pattern was a subtle nod to her being a jewelry designer, like chain links on a bracelet,” Lenney says.
Chain-link floor tile: Costes Stone With Glass Mosaic, The Tile Shop; floor border tile: Track Stack in navy, The Tile Shop; main floor tile: Carrara Chateau marble, 8 by 12 inches, Floor & Decor; paint colors: Moderne White (ceiling and walls) and Pure White (trim), Sherwin-Williams
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Shifting the closet door over 3 feet and reworking it onto an angled wall portion gave Lenney space for a new custom white oak double vanity that infuses warmth into the room and greatly improves storage. “Making a larger double vanity freed up space for us to add the sauna,” she says. “They were willing to give up about a foot or two of counter space to get that new function with the sauna.”
The striking floor consists of Carrara marble tiles with an inset design of chain-link marble mosaic tiles within a navy blue porcelain border. “The pattern was a subtle nod to her being a jewelry designer, like chain links on a bracelet,” Lenney says.
Chain-link floor tile: Costes Stone With Glass Mosaic, The Tile Shop; floor border tile: Track Stack in navy, The Tile Shop; main floor tile: Carrara Chateau marble, 8 by 12 inches, Floor & Decor; paint colors: Moderne White (ceiling and walls) and Pure White (trim), Sherwin-Williams
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The new vanity has full-overlay fronts and includes a combination of center drawers, two pullouts and two double door cabinets that extend a few inches out. “Since we went from single vanities to a double vanity, we wanted to very clearly define each person’s space,” Lenney says. “It also makes it look more like a piece of furniture instead of standard cabinetry.”
On each end is a pullout with false drawer fronts. The pullout on the left holds hair dryers and other accessories. The center bank of drawers includes outlets in the top drawer for charging toothbrushes and razors. “The second drawer in the center has another plug for another blow-dryer,” Angela says. “We went all out on the cabinetry. Before, the drawers on our vanities were too shallow or too deep, and now we have tons of space for hiding all our tools and personal items.”
Acrylic-and-brass pulls, installed both horizontally and vertically, complement details such as the brushed brass faucets with gooseneck spouts. “I love those spouts,” Angela says. “They make it easy to wash your face.” A white quartz countertop and backsplash and white ceramic pendant lights keep things bright and airy. The updated bathroom also includes LED-lighted mirrors, a skylight and LED ceiling lights. The ceiling also has an integrated speaker system.
Mirrors: Crofton lighted LED vanity mirror, Uttermost; pendant lights: Hudson, Frontgate; faucets: Purist in Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass, Kohler
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On each end is a pullout with false drawer fronts. The pullout on the left holds hair dryers and other accessories. The center bank of drawers includes outlets in the top drawer for charging toothbrushes and razors. “The second drawer in the center has another plug for another blow-dryer,” Angela says. “We went all out on the cabinetry. Before, the drawers on our vanities were too shallow or too deep, and now we have tons of space for hiding all our tools and personal items.”
Acrylic-and-brass pulls, installed both horizontally and vertically, complement details such as the brushed brass faucets with gooseneck spouts. “I love those spouts,” Angela says. “They make it easy to wash your face.” A white quartz countertop and backsplash and white ceramic pendant lights keep things bright and airy. The updated bathroom also includes LED-lighted mirrors, a skylight and LED ceiling lights. The ceiling also has an integrated speaker system.
Mirrors: Crofton lighted LED vanity mirror, Uttermost; pendant lights: Hudson, Frontgate; faucets: Purist in Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass, Kohler
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Opposite the vanity is this new built-in linen cabinet. It includes two large cabinets — the top has shelves for beauty products, linens, medicines and toiletries; the bottom holds canvas laundry hampers. A tilt-down door between the two sections provides easy access to the hampers. “They wanted built-in hampers and together we came to this solution,” Lenney says.
12 Custom Storage Solutions for a Clutter-Free Bathroom
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Before: In the former bathroom, this secondary single-sink vanity sat crammed next to the corner shower stall. To the right of the shower was the large built-in tub. Despite the generous square footage of the space, the bulky elements crowded the room.
After: Eliminating the second vanity and corner shower created the space needed for the sauna and a low-curb shower.
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The indoor infrared sauna was handcrafted in Douglas fir. “Cedar is the traditional choice, but we went with Douglas fir to complement the new double vanity,” Lenney says. “They have a combination of the traditional stones that heat up, and the black panels you see are the infrared heat.”
While Grant was the one who requested the sauna, Angela takes full advantage of it. “You can sit in there and read a book, talk on your phone or listen to a podcast,” she says. “It also offers added benefits for your skin and helps your sleep.”
Custom sauna: Finnleo Sauna
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While Grant was the one who requested the sauna, Angela takes full advantage of it. “You can sit in there and read a book, talk on your phone or listen to a podcast,” she says. “It also offers added benefits for your skin and helps your sleep.”
Custom sauna: Finnleo Sauna
5 Luxury Wellness Features for 2025
The shower has a pressure-balanced system in a brass finish and a linear steam generator. The horizontal piece of brass seen on the lower part of the shower wall is the steam outlet. “The steam generator is actually hidden under the bench,” Lenney says.
Polished blue ceramic tiles in varying tones wrap the walls and ceiling. The shower floor is the same navy porcelain tile used for the border on the main floor. “Tara has designed every room in our house, and I like the flow of color with the different blues she has used,” Angela says. “I also find the blue color is serene and it feels more like a spa.”
Shower fixtures: Purist pressure-balanced shower system in Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass, Kohler; ceiling and wall tile: Enigma in Ash Blue, 2 by 8 inches, TileBar
Polished blue ceramic tiles in varying tones wrap the walls and ceiling. The shower floor is the same navy porcelain tile used for the border on the main floor. “Tara has designed every room in our house, and I like the flow of color with the different blues she has used,” Angela says. “I also find the blue color is serene and it feels more like a spa.”
Shower fixtures: Purist pressure-balanced shower system in Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass, Kohler; ceiling and wall tile: Enigma in Ash Blue, 2 by 8 inches, TileBar
To the right of the shower is a niche with floating shelves. On the bottom is access to the steam generator. The shelves hold organizers for bath salts, candles and towels. The white box on the top shelf is the cooler that connects to the freestanding cold-plunge tub to keep the water at a frigid temperature.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Before: Here’s a look at the former built-in tub, which took up considerable space. “The step up to the tub was also definitely a trip hazard,” Lenney says. The glass double doors on the right open to one of two home offices.
After: The modern acrylic cold-plunge tub has an airier look. The plunge provides a way to cool down after a steam shower or sauna. “We set up this tub so that it also functions as a normal soaking tub with hot water,” Lenney says. “A lot of cold-plunge tubs are much smaller and drain differently. You can’t use hot water with all of them.”
A floor-mount tub filler with built-in diverter and hand shower coordinates with the brass fixtures elsewhere in the room. The same marble tiles used on the bathroom floor provide protection for the wall surrounding the tub. An iron chandelier with a deep blue finish and handmade papier-mâché flowers adds a touch of personality and whimsy. “I love that it’s something different that I haven’t seen before, and it’s kind of a conversation piece when people come over,” Angela says. In the water closet, a custom white oak cabinet coordinates with the double vanity and linen cabinet.
Chandelier: Terrell Swann, Stray Dog Designs; tub: Brainpod 2.0, Polar Monkeys; tub filler: Purist, Kohler
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A floor-mount tub filler with built-in diverter and hand shower coordinates with the brass fixtures elsewhere in the room. The same marble tiles used on the bathroom floor provide protection for the wall surrounding the tub. An iron chandelier with a deep blue finish and handmade papier-mâché flowers adds a touch of personality and whimsy. “I love that it’s something different that I haven’t seen before, and it’s kind of a conversation piece when people come over,” Angela says. In the water closet, a custom white oak cabinet coordinates with the double vanity and linen cabinet.
Chandelier: Terrell Swann, Stray Dog Designs; tub: Brainpod 2.0, Polar Monkeys; tub filler: Purist, Kohler
The 10 Most Popular New Bathrooms So Far in 2025
The trim on the glass double doors to the home office is now painted a deep blue (Bunglehouse Blue by Sherwin-Williams), the same paint used on the walls of the updated water closet.
Floor plans: These before-and-after floor plans show the former layout of the primary bathroom (left) and the updated layout (right). The bathroom is in the lower left corner of each. The walk-in closet is in the angled portion at the top left of each plan; the bedroom is at the lower right. One of two home offices is on the upper right off the bedroom. The other is through the double doors off the bathroom on the left.
In the updated bathroom, you can see how consolidating the separate vanities into one double vanity helped free up room for the sauna and steam shower. “My favorite thing is that they both had very different goals for this bathroom but we were able to bring both of those things together and create a space that makes them exceedingly happy,” Lenney says.
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In the updated bathroom, you can see how consolidating the separate vanities into one double vanity helped free up room for the sauna and steam shower. “My favorite thing is that they both had very different goals for this bathroom but we were able to bring both of those things together and create a space that makes them exceedingly happy,” Lenney 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: Grant and Angela Morris and their three kids
Location: Dallas
Size: 260 square feet (24 square meters)
Designer: Tara Lenney Design
Before: Prior to the remodel, the en suite primary bathroom had two separate single-sink white vanities, one shown here, another slightly visible in the mirror reflection. The cabinets lacked adequate storage, which meant the brown granite countertops became cluttered. A doorway was on the wall to the left, leading to the walk-in closet. The white door seen partially open on the right connects to the primary bedroom. Gray walls and basic tile flooring did little to spark excitement.
“It was certainly a selling point that the bathroom was as big as it was when we bought the house, but it had a lot of dead space,” Angela says. “Everything was stuck on the perimeter and had that dead space in the middle. There are doors essentially on every wall that make the functional space smaller.”