Bathroom Makeovers
Before and Afters
Before and After: 3 Bathroom Makeovers With Soaking Tubs
Pros found on Houzz revamp dated bathrooms with luxe standalone tubs, roomy showers and bold details
When the owners of these bathrooms decided to renovate, they sought out expert help on Houzz, where they found pros who transformed their outdated drop-in tubs, cramped showers and blah color schemes into stylish and airy retreats with luxurious standalone soaking tubs in starring roles. Check out the makeovers below and let us know in the Comments which tub is calling your name.
After: Without changing the bathroom’s footprint, Catlin gave it a new style one might call eclectic-meets-modern farmhouse. The room has plentiful nods to nature, such as a botanical black-and-white wallpaper, live plants, rustic wood open shelving and mossy green paint on the dual vanities. Biophilic design, which helps people feel connected to nature, is thought to promote wellness.
Other highlights of the space include taupe-and-white chevron floor tile, luxurious glass-and-brass vanity hardware, arched mirrors and conical sconces.
Browse a curated selection of bathroom vanities in the Houzz Shop
Other highlights of the space include taupe-and-white chevron floor tile, luxurious glass-and-brass vanity hardware, arched mirrors and conical sconces.
Browse a curated selection of bathroom vanities in the Houzz Shop
After: Replacing the bathtub and deck with a black freestanding tub added the boldness the owners craved and also made the room feel more modern and spacious. A hammered metal table adds a glam touch.
Although the new shower isn’t larger, Catlin made it feel brighter and more spacious by wrapping the shower bench and curb in the same marble-like quartz she used on the vanity countertops and replacing the dull brown wall tile with 4-by-12-inch polished porcelain tiles in gray and white. Hexagonal marble tiles on the shower floor coordinate with the main floor tile, and the matte black frame on the glass shower enclosure echoes the black fixtures and tub.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Although the new shower isn’t larger, Catlin made it feel brighter and more spacious by wrapping the shower bench and curb in the same marble-like quartz she used on the vanity countertops and replacing the dull brown wall tile with 4-by-12-inch polished porcelain tiles in gray and white. Hexagonal marble tiles on the shower floor coordinate with the main floor tile, and the matte black frame on the glass shower enclosure echoes the black fixtures and tub.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
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“After” photos by William Flanagan of pash-uhn
2. Dark and Dangerous to Crisp and Hip
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three young children
Location: Suburban Seattle
Size: 217 square feet (20 square meters)
Designer: Alinda Morris Interior Design
Before: Eager to update and brighten their overwhelmingly brown, 1980s-era primary bathroom in suburban Seattle, this couple hired interior designer Alinda Morris after finding her on Houzz. Although the room is large and awash in sunlight from skylights and transom windows, as you can see in this photo, the color made it look heavy and dark, and the space was used inefficiently.
Morris wanted to give the hip, well-traveled owners a special design that made them feel like they were on vacation in their own home.
2. Dark and Dangerous to Crisp and Hip
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three young children
Location: Suburban Seattle
Size: 217 square feet (20 square meters)
Designer: Alinda Morris Interior Design
Before: Eager to update and brighten their overwhelmingly brown, 1980s-era primary bathroom in suburban Seattle, this couple hired interior designer Alinda Morris after finding her on Houzz. Although the room is large and awash in sunlight from skylights and transom windows, as you can see in this photo, the color made it look heavy and dark, and the space was used inefficiently.
Morris wanted to give the hip, well-traveled owners a special design that made them feel like they were on vacation in their own home.
After: This photo (taken from the opposite direction of the previous one) shows how Morris lightened and modernized the space with a black-and-white palette and warm wood touches.
She installed budget-friendly 3-by-12-inch tile in a herringbone pattern on the vanity wall and chose dark grout and black-framed round mirrors for contrast.
A custom floating walnut vanity topped with polished quartz and illuminated by LED pendant lights adds warmth.
Morris also swapped the dark wood floor for more modern, textured 12-by-24-inch carbon-colored porcelain tiles that coordinate with the grout.
Read a step-by-step guide to buying a bathroom vanity
She installed budget-friendly 3-by-12-inch tile in a herringbone pattern on the vanity wall and chose dark grout and black-framed round mirrors for contrast.
A custom floating walnut vanity topped with polished quartz and illuminated by LED pendant lights adds warmth.
Morris also swapped the dark wood floor for more modern, textured 12-by-24-inch carbon-colored porcelain tiles that coordinate with the grout.
Read a step-by-step guide to buying a bathroom vanity
Before: A stepped entry to a deep shower-tub combo posed a serious slipping and tripping hazard.
The head-scratching design also included two shower heads (there’s one out of view on the left wall) that extended awkwardly from boxes.
Shop for a freestanding tub
The head-scratching design also included two shower heads (there’s one out of view on the left wall) that extended awkwardly from boxes.
Shop for a freestanding tub
After: Now the homeowners have just a small step into a generous 7-foot-long shower that has an articulating shower head on the left and an adjustable handheld shower on the right. A bar on top supports the shower’s thick tempered-glass enclosure, eliminating the need for a frame.
Without the space-hogging steps and tub deck, there was plenty of room for a luxurious oval 59-inch-long acrylic freestanding tub. A half wall with niches divides the space between the shower and the new tub, which features a shiny black exterior and a wall-mounted tub filler.
The same white tile used for the backsplash, but installed in a brick-set pattern, wraps the walls.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Without the space-hogging steps and tub deck, there was plenty of room for a luxurious oval 59-inch-long acrylic freestanding tub. A half wall with niches divides the space between the shower and the new tub, which features a shiny black exterior and a wall-mounted tub filler.
The same white tile used for the backsplash, but installed in a brick-set pattern, wraps the walls.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
“After” photos by Bob Fortner Photography
3. Awkward and Anonymous to Calming and Curbless
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple with three children
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Size: 130 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer-builder: Richard Ryder of Clearcut Construction
Before: The owner of this bland primary bathroom wanted the space, which she shares with her husband, to be a sanctuary after busy days working as a dermatologist. She sought expert help on Houzz, where she found Richard Ryder of Clearcut Construction.
One of the room’s biggest challenges was its poorly proportioned design, which made the space from the top of the mirrors to the 14-foot-high ceiling look awkwardly vast. There was also an inefficient linen closet, seen on the left, that the homeowner didn’t want.
Find a local bathroom remodeler on Houzz
3. Awkward and Anonymous to Calming and Curbless
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple with three children
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Size: 130 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer-builder: Richard Ryder of Clearcut Construction
Before: The owner of this bland primary bathroom wanted the space, which she shares with her husband, to be a sanctuary after busy days working as a dermatologist. She sought expert help on Houzz, where she found Richard Ryder of Clearcut Construction.
One of the room’s biggest challenges was its poorly proportioned design, which made the space from the top of the mirrors to the 14-foot-high ceiling look awkwardly vast. There was also an inefficient linen closet, seen on the left, that the homeowner didn’t want.
Find a local bathroom remodeler on Houzz
After: Ryder and the homeowner shared ideabooks during the remodeling process, though Ryder had mostly free rein. Their collaboration resulted in this modern-farmhouse-style space, which mixes classic elements like stained cypress beams and a marble vanity top with modern accents such as globe pendant lights suspended from a rod. The applied molding on the walls and warm-toned beams also make the vaulted ceiling feel less imposing.
The owner loves herringbone, so Ryder installed herringbone floors that look like wide planks of wood but are actually digitally printed porcelain tile.
The eye-catching linen cabinets gets their dark color from a black dye stain with conversion varnish, a type of lacquer. Along with open shelves, they offer efficient storage for the homeowners’ toiletries and accessories.
The door to the right leads to a toilet room.
The owner loves herringbone, so Ryder installed herringbone floors that look like wide planks of wood but are actually digitally printed porcelain tile.
The eye-catching linen cabinets gets their dark color from a black dye stain with conversion varnish, a type of lacquer. Along with open shelves, they offer efficient storage for the homeowners’ toiletries and accessories.
The door to the right leads to a toilet room.
Before: Another of the room’s shortcomings was its awkward drop-in bathtub, which was crammed into a corner between the shower and vanity.
Ryder donated the cabinetry, sinks and countertops to Habitat for Humanity, but the chunky tub had to be cut in half to fit out the door.
Ryder donated the cabinetry, sinks and countertops to Habitat for Humanity, but the chunky tub had to be cut in half to fit out the door.
After: The new sculptural freestanding bathtub frees up floor space and gives the room contemporary style. Ryder added a waterfall shelf and small shelf in stained cypress to tie in with the beams and add warmth to this corner. He also installed a neat row of hooks for towels and robes.
One of the homeowner’s must-haves was a curbless shower entry, which is great for accessibility (as is the marble-topped bench) and also offers a seamless look. Another nonnegotiable was a fixture shower set that the owner had experienced at a hotel, which includes a regular shower head, a rain shower head and a handheld wand, all in polished nickel. A discreet linear drain keeps the main floor dry.
Ryder chose a double herringbone pattern for the shower and tub wall tile to tie in the floor but add a twist. Small box-shaped sconces that shine light above and below emphasize the tile’s texture, as well as the room’s beams and molding.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a local bathroom remodeler
Shop for your bathroom
One of the homeowner’s must-haves was a curbless shower entry, which is great for accessibility (as is the marble-topped bench) and also offers a seamless look. Another nonnegotiable was a fixture shower set that the owner had experienced at a hotel, which includes a regular shower head, a rain shower head and a handheld wand, all in polished nickel. A discreet linear drain keeps the main floor dry.
Ryder chose a double herringbone pattern for the shower and tub wall tile to tie in the floor but add a twist. Small box-shaped sconces that shine light above and below emphasize the tile’s texture, as well as the room’s beams and molding.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a local bathroom remodeler
Shop for your bathroom
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1. Colorless and Cramped to Bold and Botanical
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple with two young children
Location: Encinitas, California
Size: 108 square feet (10 square meters); 9 by 12 feet
Designer: Bonnie Bagley Catlin
of Signature Designs Kitchen & Bath
Contractor: Remcon Design Build
Before: After finding designer Bonnie Bagley Catlin on Houzz, a young couple who’d recently relocated to Southern California from Utah asked her to give their functional but standard-looking primary bathroom a fresh and bold new look.
Hire a local bathroom designer