Dated Hall Bathroom Gets a Grown-Up Glow-Up
Blue tile, warm wood and smart features transform this bathroom for kids and guests
After teaming up with design-build firm Custom Craft on several spaces in their Eagleville, Pennsylvania, home, these homeowners turned to the pros again to rethink a tired hallway bathroom used by their school-age sons and guests. The space had basic finishes, an aging wood double vanity and a little-used shower-tub combo. Plus, it didn’t match the elevated look of the rest of the renovated home.
Design manager Brittany Murray helped the homeowners take cues from their updated primary bath and give this bathroom a grown-up refresh. A new low-curb shower with a rain shower head, wall-mounted shower head and handheld sprayer, vibrant blue wall tile and a furniture-style cherry double vanity bring style and function, while warm taupe walls and matte ivory porcelain floor tile create a calm, cohesive backdrop.
Design manager Brittany Murray helped the homeowners take cues from their updated primary bath and give this bathroom a grown-up refresh. A new low-curb shower with a rain shower head, wall-mounted shower head and handheld sprayer, vibrant blue wall tile and a furniture-style cherry double vanity bring style and function, while warm taupe walls and matte ivory porcelain floor tile create a calm, cohesive backdrop.
After: Murray removed the double vanity, flooring, shower-tub combo and toilet and updated the electrical and plumbing. A new low-curb shower with a sliding glass door gives the bathroom a grown-up look and visually expands the space. Glossy blue ceramic tiles in a staggered brick pattern add an energetic pop of color.
The cherry double vanity introduces warm contrast. Matte 12-by-24-inch ivory porcelain floor tiles, paired with almond grout in a staggered brick pattern, blend the classic look of marble with a subtle concrete-inspired edge. Warm taupe walls in a matte finish (Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams), along with a soft, warm off-white on the ceiling and trim (Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams), create a neutral, cozy backdrop. A woven Roman shade on the window adds texture and privacy while still letting in natural light.
Floor tiles: Sterlina II in ivory, 12 by 24 inches, Emser Tile
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The cherry double vanity introduces warm contrast. Matte 12-by-24-inch ivory porcelain floor tiles, paired with almond grout in a staggered brick pattern, blend the classic look of marble with a subtle concrete-inspired edge. Warm taupe walls in a matte finish (Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams), along with a soft, warm off-white on the ceiling and trim (Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams), create a neutral, cozy backdrop. A woven Roman shade on the window adds texture and privacy while still letting in natural light.
Floor tiles: Sterlina II in ivory, 12 by 24 inches, Emser Tile
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The shower features a wall-mounted multifunction shower head (not shown), a seven-setting hand shower and a rain shower head (next photo), all in a champagne bronze finish. A matching grab bar adds safety. A double niche and a generous corner shelf hold bathing products. “That corner shelf is a bit larger than usual and reinforced with support brackets so if they needed to sit down for any reason they would have a place to do so,” Murray says. On the shower floor, 1½-inch matte white hexagonal glass tiles with a limestone look provide contrast to the blue wall tile, as well as a slip-resistant surface.
Blue tile: Portmore Sky Blue, 3 by 8 inches, TileBar; shower fixtures: Delta
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Blue tile: Portmore Sky Blue, 3 by 8 inches, TileBar; shower fixtures: Delta
Before and After: 4 Brilliant Bathrooms Under 60 Square Feet
The large rain shower head in champagne bronze resists water spots and mineral buildup.
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The full-overlay semicustom cherry double vanity with a light, neutral stain offers a mix of soft-close drawers and cabinets. Honey bronze knobs and pulls coordinate with other bronze finishes in the space. “We added the posts on either side to give it a bit more character,” Murray says. “The updated configuration of the cabinetry allowed for more functional storage.”
The vanity countertop and backsplash are a marble-look quartz with a bright white background, warm dramatic veining and an eased edge. “We chose this quartz for ease of maintenance and cleanup,” Murray says. “The warm veining of the countertop also ties in nicely with the stain on the cabinetry.”
The wall mirror frames echo the vanity finish, while champagne bronze LED light bars with soft white glass shades cast an even glow. “We also added an LED light over the shower area to make sure there’s ample light in there,” Murray says.
Lighting: Rosh bath bar in champagne bronze, Kichler; vanity: cherry in Sandy Cove finish, Legacy Crafted Cabinets
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The vanity countertop and backsplash are a marble-look quartz with a bright white background, warm dramatic veining and an eased edge. “We chose this quartz for ease of maintenance and cleanup,” Murray says. “The warm veining of the countertop also ties in nicely with the stain on the cabinetry.”
The wall mirror frames echo the vanity finish, while champagne bronze LED light bars with soft white glass shades cast an even glow. “We also added an LED light over the shower area to make sure there’s ample light in there,” Murray says.
Lighting: Rosh bath bar in champagne bronze, Kichler; vanity: cherry in Sandy Cove finish, Legacy Crafted Cabinets
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A sleek, tankless one-piece smart toilet is another standout upgrade. This model offers adjustable seat temperature, an air dryer, manual and automatic flush options, a night light, UV sterilization and more. “They wanted an upgraded toilet with all the bells and whistles,” Murray says. The control panel is mounted on the wall above the toilet paper holder.
Toilet: Vela Plus smart toilet, Signature Hardware
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Toilet: Vela Plus smart toilet, Signature Hardware
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Before: Previously, the wall across from the vanity was mostly empty with only a single towel bar, giving it a bland, unfinished look. “They wanted to make sure they maintained adequate locations for hanging towels,” Murray says. “We also wanted to dress it up and make it more of a focal point here.”
After: A shiplap wall with eighth-inch nickel-gap paneling and towel hooks adds function and visual interest. “We originally explored using it all around the bathroom or making a focal point on the vanity wall, but we felt there was enough going on on the vanity wall and wanted to draw attention to the other side,” Murray says. “This update really personalizes the space for the homeowners and makes it their own. It also improves the functionality and makes their day better.”
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with school-age sons
Location: Eagleville, Pennsylvania
Size: 65 square feet (6 square meters)
Designer: Brittany Murray, design manager for Custom Craft
Before: This black-and-white photo highlights some of the dated features in the former hall bath, including an aging double vanity with limited storage and a basic, rarely used shower-tub. Cream walls and floor tile offered little visual interest. “They definitely wanted to maximize the storage in this bathroom,” Murray says.
The homeowners also wanted to replace the toilet while keeping the operable window for natural light and fresh air. “Their main goal was to update the bathroom and refresh it so the kids would actually use it,” Murray says.