Midcentury Modern Style in a 56-Square-Foot Bathroom
The bright blue tile floor steals the show in this California bath with a sleek shower-tub combo
Before Photo
Before: “The original bathroom had a traditional design that didn’t work well with the Eichler’s clean and modern lines,” Buenaventura says. They specifically wanted to get rid of the beige color scheme and bulky vanity.
After: Bright white walls and blue geometric floor tiles give the 56-square-foot bathroom a clean, modern look. The bathroom has a similar layout as before: a vanity right inside the door, a toilet to the right of the vanity and a shower (shown later) across from the vanity.
Flooring: Vibrant blue tiles in an oversized hexagon pattern give the bathroom an immediate focal point. “In small bathrooms, people can end up wanting to go neutral with everything to make it more spacious,” Lin says, “but having a strong feature, like this floor, can be really cool in a small space.”
Together, Buenaventura and Lin looked at different types of tile. The cement tile they initially picked out ended up being too thick. That led them to this clay tile, which is half as thick.
Pro tip: Pick a bathroom floor color that’s a little lighter than your initial choice, Lin says. Most bathrooms, especially small ones, end up a little dark inside, and a lighter floor color can help prevent that. For this bathroom, she and Buenaventura had considered a navy tile but instead used a brighter blue.
Lighting: Two pendant lights hang from the ceiling and provide light around the mirror and vanity. Lin and Buenaventura decided not to install sconces, to visually keep the wall clean and because they already had a lot to install behind the wall, such as new plumbing for the sink and toilet.
The pendant lights they did install have clear glass. Lin likes them because they don’t take up much visual space and provide a lot of light.
Mirror: The rounded corners on the mirror make the space feel more modern and bring out the roundness of the pendant lights.
Floor tile: Dusty Blue, Hexite, Fireclay Tile; mirror: Rejuvenation; sink: AllModern; faucet: Kohler; vanity: custom, North Coast Modern; pendant lights: School House Electric & Supply
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Flooring: Vibrant blue tiles in an oversized hexagon pattern give the bathroom an immediate focal point. “In small bathrooms, people can end up wanting to go neutral with everything to make it more spacious,” Lin says, “but having a strong feature, like this floor, can be really cool in a small space.”
Together, Buenaventura and Lin looked at different types of tile. The cement tile they initially picked out ended up being too thick. That led them to this clay tile, which is half as thick.
Pro tip: Pick a bathroom floor color that’s a little lighter than your initial choice, Lin says. Most bathrooms, especially small ones, end up a little dark inside, and a lighter floor color can help prevent that. For this bathroom, she and Buenaventura had considered a navy tile but instead used a brighter blue.
Lighting: Two pendant lights hang from the ceiling and provide light around the mirror and vanity. Lin and Buenaventura decided not to install sconces, to visually keep the wall clean and because they already had a lot to install behind the wall, such as new plumbing for the sink and toilet.
The pendant lights they did install have clear glass. Lin likes them because they don’t take up much visual space and provide a lot of light.
Mirror: The rounded corners on the mirror make the space feel more modern and bring out the roundness of the pendant lights.
Floor tile: Dusty Blue, Hexite, Fireclay Tile; mirror: Rejuvenation; sink: AllModern; faucet: Kohler; vanity: custom, North Coast Modern; pendant lights: School House Electric & Supply
Find a bathroom mirror
Vanity: A custom midcentury-style dresser holds a rectangular sink and has dedicated storage. “The vanity, even though it’s substantial, doesn’t look overwhelming in the room,” Buenaventura says. She especially likes how the legs don’t take up much floor space and let you see more of the tile floor.
For the vanity design, Lin passed along ideas and inspiration, and then Buenaventura worked with North Coast Modern to create a piece that fit the space and gave her custom storage, such as an organizer for a hair dryer and curling iron. Each styling tool is plugged inside the cabinet, “so all I have to do is take it out of its holder and turn it on,” she says.
Browse midcentury-style bathroom vanities
For the vanity design, Lin passed along ideas and inspiration, and then Buenaventura worked with North Coast Modern to create a piece that fit the space and gave her custom storage, such as an organizer for a hair dryer and curling iron. Each styling tool is plugged inside the cabinet, “so all I have to do is take it out of its holder and turn it on,” she says.
Browse midcentury-style bathroom vanities
Tub-shower combination: Large rectangular tiles and a movable glass panel surround a new, modern tub. Buenaventura, who hates shower curtains, likes that the glass panel lets a lot of light into the bathing area and makes the space feel bigger because part of the room isn’t blocked off with a curtain. This panel covers 60 percent of the opening, Lin says, and can swing out from the wall. “It works very well and keeps the water in, but still looks bright and open when you’re in the shower,” Buenaventura says.
The movable glass panel has come in handy when the homeowners are bathing their dogs. They can just swing it open and stand next to the tub, instead of having to get in the tub with the dog.
Pro tip: A glass panel with minimal hardware takes up less space and makes a bathroom visually larger, Lin says. While the option isn’t for everyone, it’s great for small bathrooms.
Shower tile: Fireclay Tile; tub: Clarke
Contractor: The Building Co.
More
How to Remodel Your Bathroom
No Need to Compromise on Style With a Shower-Tub Combo
Other Resources on Houzz
Browse more photos of midcentury-style bathrooms
Find midcentury-style bath products
The movable glass panel has come in handy when the homeowners are bathing their dogs. They can just swing it open and stand next to the tub, instead of having to get in the tub with the dog.
Pro tip: A glass panel with minimal hardware takes up less space and makes a bathroom visually larger, Lin says. While the option isn’t for everyone, it’s great for small bathrooms.
Shower tile: Fireclay Tile; tub: Clarke
Contractor: The Building Co.
More
How to Remodel Your Bathroom
No Need to Compromise on Style With a Shower-Tub Combo
Other Resources on Houzz
Browse more photos of midcentury-style bathrooms
Find midcentury-style bath products
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Elsvette Buenaventura and her husband
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 56 square feet (5.2 square meters)
Designer: Pamela Lin of Urbanism Designs
Backstory: When Elsvette Buenaventura and her husband bought their Eichler home, they knew this bathroom would be the first space to get an update. They didn’t like the room’s previous style, but it also didn’t function well. The toilet didn’t work, and the plumbing needed redoing. For the remodel, Buenaventura turned to designer Pamela Lin for direction. They had worked together in the past, and Buenaventura knew the designer herself lived in an Eichler home.
Scope: The homeowners worked with Lin and contractors to design a new space, fix the plumbing and install all new fixtures and furnishings. The bathroom remodel took about two to three months to complete. During the remodel, the homeowners used another bathroom in the home.