Hand-Painted Tile Inspires a Guest Bathroom’s New Look
A designer updates a 65-square-foot bathroom with a comfort-height vanity, transitional style and a bright, airy feel
Having enjoyed their Yorba Linda, California, home for over 20 years, these empty nesters were ready to give their three bathrooms a major refresh. They hired designer Suzy Sparks of Preferred Kitchen & Bath to lead the renovations. “The wife wanted the bathrooms to feel like a high-end spa,” she says.
The upstairs hall bathroom, designed with overnight guests in mind, balances a clean, light and airy feel with timeless transitional style. Standout features include hand-painted shower tile, a more functional vanity and a custom mirror frame.
The upstairs hall bathroom, designed with overnight guests in mind, balances a clean, light and airy feel with timeless transitional style. Standout features include hand-painted shower tile, a more functional vanity and a custom mirror frame.
Before Photo
After: A lighter palette makes the remodeled bathroom feel larger and more open.
“The architectural style of the house is traditional, and I didn’t want to deviate too far from that,” Sparks says. Shaker-style cabinetry, a painted wood mirror frame and a marble-look countertop honor the home’s classic architecture. Clean lines, a monochromatic palette and streamlined plumbing fixtures add a contemporary touch.
“The architectural style of the house is traditional, and I didn’t want to deviate too far from that,” Sparks says. Shaker-style cabinetry, a painted wood mirror frame and a marble-look countertop honor the home’s classic architecture. Clean lines, a monochromatic palette and streamlined plumbing fixtures add a contemporary touch.
Before Photo
Before: Metal-framed sliding shower doors divided the space visually, making it feel smaller.
Shower Curtain or Shower Door: Which Is Right for You?
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After: “My clients wanted a cast-iron tub because they really liked that feel,” Sparks says. Chosen for its clean lines, this alcove tub features an integrated apron front. Replacing the old sliding door with frameless glass opens up a clear view of the bathroom’s star feature. “The wife and I both fell in love with this hand-painted tile as soon as we saw it in the tile store,” Sparks says. “We decided to work everything else around it.”
Tile: Flower Deco Dawn, Adex USA; tub: Villager collection, Kohler
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Tile: Flower Deco Dawn, Adex USA; tub: Villager collection, Kohler
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Installing the tile on a diagonal adds dynamic movement through crisscrossing grout lines. Sparks says the arrangement elevates the tile design and makes the room feel taller. “We also liked the way the ‘flower’ looked on the diagonal over a straight-square installation,” she says.
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The transitional-style shower hardware has a brushed-nickel finish. A handheld shower wand makes cleaning easier.
Plumbing fixtures: Tempered collection in brushed nickel, Kohler
Plumbing fixtures: Tempered collection in brushed nickel, Kohler
Before Photo
Before: The existing vanity was lower than they wanted and had only one drawer.
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After: At 36 inches tall, the new vanity provides a comfortable height for everyday use. Sparks installed tip-out drawers beneath the sinks for items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, along with a central bank of drawers for additional storage.
“We knew we wanted the tile to be the star and for everything else in here to be subdued, but my clients did not want everything to be stark white either,” Sparks says. Creamy off-white cabinetry, Sherwin-Williams’ Agreeable Gray walls and whitewashed wood-look luxury vinyl floor tile keep the palette warm yet serene.
Cabinetry: Leeton in Steam finish, Diamond Cabinets
“We knew we wanted the tile to be the star and for everything else in here to be subdued, but my clients did not want everything to be stark white either,” Sparks says. Creamy off-white cabinetry, Sherwin-Williams’ Agreeable Gray walls and whitewashed wood-look luxury vinyl floor tile keep the palette warm yet serene.
Cabinetry: Leeton in Steam finish, Diamond Cabinets
The marble-look veining in the quartz countertop and backsplash adds subtle texture and picks up the colors of the shower tile. Sparks installed a custom wall mirror to complement the vanity. “This painted wood frame has a unique brushed texture to it,” she says.
The renovated bathroom now serves the couple’s visitors, including their grown children, extended family and friends. The home’s other remodeled bathrooms, the downstairs guest bathroom and primary bathroom, also have luxe spa-inspired looks.
Countertop: Calacatta Miraggio Gold, MSI
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The renovated bathroom now serves the couple’s visitors, including their grown children, extended family and friends. The home’s other remodeled bathrooms, the downstairs guest bathroom and primary bathroom, also have luxe spa-inspired looks.
Countertop: Calacatta Miraggio Gold, MSI
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos for ideas
Find design and remodeling pros
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Yorba Linda, California
Size: 65 square feet (6 square meters)
Designer: Suzy Sparks of Preferred Kitchen & Bath
Before: The existing bathroom had a tub-shower layout in 65 square feet. The vanity was lower than today’s comfort-height standard of 34 to 36 inches, and the finishes were past their prime.
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