Large New Shower for a 56-Square-Foot Bathroom
A designer found on Houzz creates a fresh, light-filled look in a bathroom for empty nesters
Having lived in their Oakland, California, home for decades, these empty nesters were ready to refresh the two full bathrooms in the 1950s house. They turned to Houzz to find professional help and hired kitchen and bath designer William Adams. For the 56-square-foot primary bathroom on the main floor, they traded an unused bathtub for a spacious shower. Enhanced by abundant natural light and a biophilic material palette, the new space feels connected to nature and far larger than its modest footprint.
Before Photo
After: The room’s footprint remained the same, but the new layout makes it feel much larger. Removing the bathtub opened up space for a generous shower measuring 3 by 6½ feet. Adams also replaced the existing window with an operable awning window with waterproof trim.
A new skylight floods the bathroom with natural light. The room’s only dark feature, a deep green entry wall, recedes visually, creating the illusion of greater depth.
Meeting code requirements for clearances in the space between the vanity and toilet and the swing radius of the entry and shower doors proved challenging. “Using a wall-mount toilet was crucial,” Adams says. “It was the only way we could make this work.” Concealing the tank behind the wall saved about 9 inches compared with a standard toilet, while the open space beneath the bowl reinforces the room’s light, airy feel.
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Meeting code requirements for clearances in the space between the vanity and toilet and the swing radius of the entry and shower doors proved challenging. “Using a wall-mount toilet was crucial,” Adams says. “It was the only way we could make this work.” Concealing the tank behind the wall saved about 9 inches compared with a standard toilet, while the open space beneath the bowl reinforces the room’s light, airy feel.
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Tall legs on the walnut vanity enhance the sense of openness. Fitting in a double vanity was a challenge, but eliminating the old shower stall freed up enough room for a 5-foot-long ready-made model.
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See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The vanity and mirrored medicine cabinets provide ample storage, while integrated lighting in the mirrors keeps the look clean and uncluttered.
When it came to style, Adams drew on his clients’ lifestyle, their business and the natural character of their neighborhood. He also knew they were world travelers who appreciate clean lines and nature. “They own a product development company and are definitely tactile texture people,” he says. “They live and breathe product development and had a lot of interest in color, texture and pattern.”
The surrounding landscape played a role as well. The neighborhood is filled with trees, and while the homeowners wanted a bold pop of color, they weren’t sure what direction to take. Adams suggested green to echo the natural setting.
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When it came to style, Adams drew on his clients’ lifestyle, their business and the natural character of their neighborhood. He also knew they were world travelers who appreciate clean lines and nature. “They own a product development company and are definitely tactile texture people,” he says. “They live and breathe product development and had a lot of interest in color, texture and pattern.”
The surrounding landscape played a role as well. The neighborhood is filled with trees, and while the homeowners wanted a bold pop of color, they weren’t sure what direction to take. Adams suggested green to echo the natural setting.
10 Top Trends in New Faucets, Sinks, Vanities and More for 2026
The Room & Board vanity is semi-custom, allowing the homeowners to choose from a selection of countertops and specify the backsplash and sidesplashes. They selected a quartz that resembles Carrara marble, continuing the natural look.
For the plumbing fixtures, they chose Hansgrohe’s gunmetal finish. “This finish has a beautiful pewter look,” Adams says. The simple one-hole faucets contribute to the bathroom’s streamlined, uncluttered look.
For the plumbing fixtures, they chose Hansgrohe’s gunmetal finish. “This finish has a beautiful pewter look,” Adams says. The simple one-hole faucets contribute to the bathroom’s streamlined, uncluttered look.
Before Photo
After: The new shower feels open and airy, with a pony wall providing separation from the vanity.
To introduce texture, Adams used 3D elongated subway tiles on the shower’s back wall, with the pattern most pronounced at the ends and flattening toward the center.
Tiles: 3-by-12-inch in White Stone, Stripes collection, Wow
Tiles: 3-by-12-inch in White Stone, Stripes collection, Wow
On the side walls, vertically stacked green elongated subway tiles draw the eye upward. “This helps the ceiling feel higher,” Adams says.
To keep the shower layout flexible, the homeowners opted for a movable teak bench. It can be positioned for shaving or pulled close to the handheld shower wand if they ever need to sit while bathing as they age in place. Although they chose not to install support bars, Adams had the walls blocked for easy future installation.
Adams notes that the plant isn’t just for show. “The homeowners love that the plant absorbs water whenever they take a shower,” he says.
Tile: 2-by-8-inch ceramic in Sequoia, Zia Tile
Check out our guide to get started on your home project
To keep the shower layout flexible, the homeowners opted for a movable teak bench. It can be positioned for shaving or pulled close to the handheld shower wand if they ever need to sit while bathing as they age in place. Although they chose not to install support bars, Adams had the walls blocked for easy future installation.
Adams notes that the plant isn’t just for show. “The homeowners love that the plant absorbs water whenever they take a shower,” he says.
Tile: 2-by-8-inch ceramic in Sequoia, Zia Tile
Check out our guide to get started on your home project
Terrazzo floor tiles run throughout the bathroom and shower, bringing a lively pattern and an interesting texture that suit the homeowners’ tastes.
Adams capped the pony wall in the same terrazzo and outlined it with black tile edging for crisp contrast. A mix of green and white shower tiles wraps the pony wall. “The white tile has subtle flecks in it that match the colors in the terrazzo,” Adams says.
Tucking the shower niches into the pony wall keeps them out of sight.
With limited wall space, towel storage required careful planning. Hooks on the back of the entry door and towel bars on the wall behind it make efficient use of every available inch.
Matte black towel bars: Grohe
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Matte black towel bars: Grohe
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: Montclair neighborhood of Oakland, California
Size: 56 square feet (5.2 square meters)
Designer: William Adams Design
Before: The bathroom hadn’t been updated since the home was built in 1952. While the original fixtures and tile had their charms, the layout was impractical and called for a down-to-the-studs renovation. Storage was limited, and Adams described the shower stall as a “coffin shower” — small, narrow and dark. The homeowners chose to remodel the bathrooms one at a time so they could remain in the house during construction.
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