Bathroom Design
New This Week: 9 Bathrooms With Sensational Shower-Tub Combos
See how graphic tile, hardware finishes and other elements help integrate a bathtub in an interesting way
Combining the function of a shower and bathtub in a small guest or kids’ bathroom makes sense. The dual function obviously saves space while giving people washing options. But if your only experience with shower-tub combos is with those standard off-the-shelf slide-in versions, then it’s time to consider more exciting ways of working with this classic feature. The following designers used tile and other design elements to jazz up bathrooms that feature a shower-tub combo.
2. Black-and-White Tile
Design consultant: Kristy Elaine
General contractor: Elias Gonzalez of Urban Construction Design & Solutions
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 43 square feet (4 square meters); 8 feet, 8 inches by 5 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this spec home, design consultant Kristy Elaine and contractor Elias Gonzalez imagined that this bathroom would serve as a powder room as well as a guest bathroom for overnight visitors. “Based on the bathroom’s high visibility, we wanted to ensure it had plenty of personality while also featuring high functionality,” Elaine says.
Shower-tub features. Graphic floor and tub apron tile. Frameless glass shower divider.
Other special features. Quartzite slab countertop and backsplash.
Designer tip. We floated the custom Shaker cabinet off of the floor,” Elaine says. “This immediately made the space feel larger and airier.”
Sink: Merit in white, 18 inches, Ronbow; floor tile: Madama hex porcelain in Nero color, SomerTile; wall paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams
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Design consultant: Kristy Elaine
General contractor: Elias Gonzalez of Urban Construction Design & Solutions
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 43 square feet (4 square meters); 8 feet, 8 inches by 5 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this spec home, design consultant Kristy Elaine and contractor Elias Gonzalez imagined that this bathroom would serve as a powder room as well as a guest bathroom for overnight visitors. “Based on the bathroom’s high visibility, we wanted to ensure it had plenty of personality while also featuring high functionality,” Elaine says.
Shower-tub features. Graphic floor and tub apron tile. Frameless glass shower divider.
Other special features. Quartzite slab countertop and backsplash.
Designer tip. We floated the custom Shaker cabinet off of the floor,” Elaine says. “This immediately made the space feel larger and airier.”
Sink: Merit in white, 18 inches, Ronbow; floor tile: Madama hex porcelain in Nero color, SomerTile; wall paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams
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3. Beige and Brass
Designer: Marisela Arechiga of New Generation Home Improvements
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 35 square feet (3.3 square meters); about 5 by 7 feet
Homeowners’ request. The homeowners wanted this guest bathroom to also appeal to their young daughter.
Shower-tub features. Rose gold plumbing fixtures. Beige ceramic wall tile (Heath Ceramics) with peach-colored grout. The homeowners chose not to install a shower rod and curtain for now, because they use the bathtub only for bathing their children. They can easily add a shower rod in the future when needed. The vanity is clad in a melamine veneer, which is waterproof.
Other special features. Crystal-theme wallpaper. Terrazzo floor.
“Uh-oh” moment. “When not enough Heath Ceramic stone tiles were ordered for the overall tub walls, we had to troubleshoot,” designer Marisela Arechiga says. “We didn’t want to wait for the long lead times, so we decided to use the terrazzo floor remnants to create a standout nook within the stone tile wall.”
Designer: Marisela Arechiga of New Generation Home Improvements
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 35 square feet (3.3 square meters); about 5 by 7 feet
Homeowners’ request. The homeowners wanted this guest bathroom to also appeal to their young daughter.
Shower-tub features. Rose gold plumbing fixtures. Beige ceramic wall tile (Heath Ceramics) with peach-colored grout. The homeowners chose not to install a shower rod and curtain for now, because they use the bathtub only for bathing their children. They can easily add a shower rod in the future when needed. The vanity is clad in a melamine veneer, which is waterproof.
Other special features. Crystal-theme wallpaper. Terrazzo floor.
“Uh-oh” moment. “When not enough Heath Ceramic stone tiles were ordered for the overall tub walls, we had to troubleshoot,” designer Marisela Arechiga says. “We didn’t want to wait for the long lead times, so we decided to use the terrazzo floor remnants to create a standout nook within the stone tile wall.”
4. Navy Tile and Integrated Shelf
Designer: Janet Shea Interiors
Location: Cohasset, Massachusetts
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. A navy-and-white bathroom with a nautical feel.
Shower-tub features. Navy tile. Integrated shelf. Glass shower enclosure. “We decided to use the navy tile for the upper third of the tiled walls to keep this small bath from feeling too dark,” designer Janet Shea says.
Other special features. Shaker-style weathered wood vanity. Weathered wood-look porcelain floor tile.
Designer secret. “The weathered oak vanity and wood-like floor tile add warmth and texture, and are instrumental in keeping this room from feeling too cool and sterile,” Shea says.
Designer: Janet Shea Interiors
Location: Cohasset, Massachusetts
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. A navy-and-white bathroom with a nautical feel.
Shower-tub features. Navy tile. Integrated shelf. Glass shower enclosure. “We decided to use the navy tile for the upper third of the tiled walls to keep this small bath from feeling too dark,” designer Janet Shea says.
Other special features. Shaker-style weathered wood vanity. Weathered wood-look porcelain floor tile.
Designer secret. “The weathered oak vanity and wood-like floor tile add warmth and texture, and are instrumental in keeping this room from feeling too cool and sterile,” Shea says.
5. Soft Pink Finishes and Handmade Tile
Designer: Heidi Caillier Design
Location: Seattle
Size: 42 square feet (3.9 square meters); 6 by 7 feet
Homeowners’ request. “We did not have a lot of opportunity to change the layout due to the small and restrictive space,” designer Heidi Caillier says. “We wanted to keep the finishes simple but effective, so we chose a muted palette. The homeowners desperately needed storage, so we added a small vanity [and an] inset medicine cabinet, and then did a floor-to-ceiling skinny integrated cabinet next to the bathtub.”
Shower-tub features. Handmade tile. Gold-colored fixtures. Blush-colored wall paneling and tub apron (Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball). “I like to keep at least one bathtub in a house, and this was the only one, so we kept it,” Caillier says. “People like to take baths, and it is good for resale value. I also like the traditional look of a shower-tub over all of the big modern showers everyone is doing now. People have bathtubs for a reason.”
Designer tip. “Inset medicine cabinets are great for small bathrooms lacking storage, and we add them whenever possible,” Caillier says. “Also, keeping the palette to one or two main colors can make a space feel larger.”
Designer: Heidi Caillier Design
Location: Seattle
Size: 42 square feet (3.9 square meters); 6 by 7 feet
Homeowners’ request. “We did not have a lot of opportunity to change the layout due to the small and restrictive space,” designer Heidi Caillier says. “We wanted to keep the finishes simple but effective, so we chose a muted palette. The homeowners desperately needed storage, so we added a small vanity [and an] inset medicine cabinet, and then did a floor-to-ceiling skinny integrated cabinet next to the bathtub.”
Shower-tub features. Handmade tile. Gold-colored fixtures. Blush-colored wall paneling and tub apron (Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball). “I like to keep at least one bathtub in a house, and this was the only one, so we kept it,” Caillier says. “People like to take baths, and it is good for resale value. I also like the traditional look of a shower-tub over all of the big modern showers everyone is doing now. People have bathtubs for a reason.”
Designer tip. “Inset medicine cabinets are great for small bathrooms lacking storage, and we add them whenever possible,” Caillier says. “Also, keeping the palette to one or two main colors can make a space feel larger.”
6. Large Tub and Stacked Tile
Designers: Sara Hadden of CG&S Design-Build (project design) and Gregory Grammar of Shorelines Interiors (interior selections)
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 50 square feet (4.6 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. This guest bathroom was part of a whole-house renovation. The owners wanted to brighten and modernize all the rooms, and make this bath simple, clean and minimalist.
Shower-tub features. Wide and deep soaking tub. Fully tiled walls, shower and tub apron in a stacked pattern.
Other special features. Floating vanity with quartz countertop.
Designers: Sara Hadden of CG&S Design-Build (project design) and Gregory Grammar of Shorelines Interiors (interior selections)
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 50 square feet (4.6 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. This guest bathroom was part of a whole-house renovation. The owners wanted to brighten and modernize all the rooms, and make this bath simple, clean and minimalist.
Shower-tub features. Wide and deep soaking tub. Fully tiled walls, shower and tub apron in a stacked pattern.
Other special features. Floating vanity with quartz countertop.
7. Wood-Look Tile and Window Focal Point
Designer: Gina Lynch of Enfort Homes
Location: Kirkland, Washington
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters); 5 feet, 11 inches by 9 feet, 3 inches
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction spec home, designer Gina Lynch wanted to create a gender-neutral and timeless bathroom. “We intentionally worked a tub into the floor plan based on buyer feedback,” Lynch says. “Our area is bustling with young families, and we view the upstairs hall bath as the kids’ bath. A tub-shower makes this room perfectly versatile for every season of life.”
Shower-tub features. Wood-look wall tile. Matte black elongated hexagonal floor tile.
Other special features. “The window in the shower is such a beautiful focal point,” Lynch says. “I usually do niches and accents in the shower, but the window stole the show, so I simply had my tiler run the wood-look plank tile horizontally all the way to the 9-foot ceiling. I wanted the floor to be something that leads you in, so I ran the matte black elongated hex tile perpendicular to the tub. The wood-look mirror perfectly matches the shower tile, and the black hex knobs are a nod to the floors. The result is a harmonious modern-farmhouse bath.”
Designer tip. “My secret weapon for making the tub sort of ‘go away’ is actually the vanity,” Lynch says. “Since the white vanity is on the same visual plane as the white tub, the tub isn’t so in-your-face. This opens the door for the other elements of the room to shine.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Because of the window, it wasn’t easy to find a spot for a shampoo niche,” Lynch says. “It’s not good practice to put a niche under the shower head, and the wall opposite had stuff in the walls we couldn’t move. I decided to omit it altogether — after all, the window ledge could serve as a shampoo ledge in a pinch.”
Light: Barnside 4 vanity light in oil-rubbed bronze, Elk Group International; mirror: gray wood-frame mirror with black trim, Yosemite Home Decor; wall paint: Moderne White, Sherwin-Williams
Designer: Gina Lynch of Enfort Homes
Location: Kirkland, Washington
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters); 5 feet, 11 inches by 9 feet, 3 inches
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction spec home, designer Gina Lynch wanted to create a gender-neutral and timeless bathroom. “We intentionally worked a tub into the floor plan based on buyer feedback,” Lynch says. “Our area is bustling with young families, and we view the upstairs hall bath as the kids’ bath. A tub-shower makes this room perfectly versatile for every season of life.”
Shower-tub features. Wood-look wall tile. Matte black elongated hexagonal floor tile.
Other special features. “The window in the shower is such a beautiful focal point,” Lynch says. “I usually do niches and accents in the shower, but the window stole the show, so I simply had my tiler run the wood-look plank tile horizontally all the way to the 9-foot ceiling. I wanted the floor to be something that leads you in, so I ran the matte black elongated hex tile perpendicular to the tub. The wood-look mirror perfectly matches the shower tile, and the black hex knobs are a nod to the floors. The result is a harmonious modern-farmhouse bath.”
Designer tip. “My secret weapon for making the tub sort of ‘go away’ is actually the vanity,” Lynch says. “Since the white vanity is on the same visual plane as the white tub, the tub isn’t so in-your-face. This opens the door for the other elements of the room to shine.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Because of the window, it wasn’t easy to find a spot for a shampoo niche,” Lynch says. “It’s not good practice to put a niche under the shower head, and the wall opposite had stuff in the walls we couldn’t move. I decided to omit it altogether — after all, the window ledge could serve as a shampoo ledge in a pinch.”
Light: Barnside 4 vanity light in oil-rubbed bronze, Elk Group International; mirror: gray wood-frame mirror with black trim, Yosemite Home Decor; wall paint: Moderne White, Sherwin-Williams
8. Graphic Accent Tile and Matte Black Fixtures
Designer: Crystal Sinclair
Location: Rye, New York
Size: 90 square feet (8.4 square meters); 6 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction house, the homeowners wanted a modern, minimalist kids’ bathroom that still would feel a little fun. “Seeing how this is a kids’ bath, we wanted a tub-shower combo,” designer Crystal Sinclair says. “In fact, we selected a larger, lower tub to work around so that washing the kiddos would be easier.”
Shower-tub feature. Fun, graphic encaustic accent tile. “It gives the room a real focal point,” Sinclair says.
Other special features. Custom floating vanity. White floor tile. Matte black fixtures. “Everything was kept simple to help keep the eye focused on the tile,” Sinclair says.
Designer tip. “Keep it simple,” Sinclair says. “Make one, maybe two, standouts in the room. The other elements should complement these focal points.”
Accent tile: Concrete Collaborative
Designer: Crystal Sinclair
Location: Rye, New York
Size: 90 square feet (8.4 square meters); 6 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction house, the homeowners wanted a modern, minimalist kids’ bathroom that still would feel a little fun. “Seeing how this is a kids’ bath, we wanted a tub-shower combo,” designer Crystal Sinclair says. “In fact, we selected a larger, lower tub to work around so that washing the kiddos would be easier.”
Shower-tub feature. Fun, graphic encaustic accent tile. “It gives the room a real focal point,” Sinclair says.
Other special features. Custom floating vanity. White floor tile. Matte black fixtures. “Everything was kept simple to help keep the eye focused on the tile,” Sinclair says.
Designer tip. “Keep it simple,” Sinclair says. “Make one, maybe two, standouts in the room. The other elements should complement these focal points.”
Accent tile: Concrete Collaborative
9. Blue-Green Tile and High-Hung Shower Curtain
Designer: Beth Shaddock Cesare of Shaddock Homes
Location: Frisco, Texas
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 6 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. This bathroom is in a model home by Shaddock Homes. “We had a specific vision for the aesthetic of the home,” designer Beth Shaddock Cesare says. “We wanted it to have a modern but bohemian feel to it. Lately we’ve been leaning into the patterns trend, and wanted the flooring to be the inspiration for the room.”
Shower-tub features. Blue-green wall tile. High-hung shower curtain that highlights the high ceiling. “When designing a secondary bathroom for our homes, we often debate between a larger shower or a shower-tub combo, but this space needed to function for all types of people, because we designated it as our guest bath,” Shaddock Cesare says. “We find that choosing a combination shower-tub tends to be more favorable in cases of younger family members visiting. After making the decision of moving forward with the combination, we wanted to pick materials and colors to play up the space. We feel like the clean white bathtub creates the perfect white space between the tile styles of the room.”
Other special features. Graphic floor tile. Blue vanity (De Nimes by Farrow & Ball). Brass accents. “We really wanted to highlight the patterned tile of this room, so showcasing it with hues of matching blue tones seemed like the perfect way to go,” Shaddock Cesare says. “This was particularly successful with the bright white details and the brass hardware.”
Designer tip. “Don’t go too busy with the styling after making your selections,” Shaddock Cesare says. “What’s successful about this room is letting the cabinets and tile speak for themselves with simple baskets, art and earthy decor.”
More on Houzz
10 Colorful Vanities for a Bold Bathroom Makeover
Your Complete Bathroom Faucet Buying Guide
Look for an interior designer near you
Shop for bathroom products
Designer: Beth Shaddock Cesare of Shaddock Homes
Location: Frisco, Texas
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 6 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. This bathroom is in a model home by Shaddock Homes. “We had a specific vision for the aesthetic of the home,” designer Beth Shaddock Cesare says. “We wanted it to have a modern but bohemian feel to it. Lately we’ve been leaning into the patterns trend, and wanted the flooring to be the inspiration for the room.”
Shower-tub features. Blue-green wall tile. High-hung shower curtain that highlights the high ceiling. “When designing a secondary bathroom for our homes, we often debate between a larger shower or a shower-tub combo, but this space needed to function for all types of people, because we designated it as our guest bath,” Shaddock Cesare says. “We find that choosing a combination shower-tub tends to be more favorable in cases of younger family members visiting. After making the decision of moving forward with the combination, we wanted to pick materials and colors to play up the space. We feel like the clean white bathtub creates the perfect white space between the tile styles of the room.”
Other special features. Graphic floor tile. Blue vanity (De Nimes by Farrow & Ball). Brass accents. “We really wanted to highlight the patterned tile of this room, so showcasing it with hues of matching blue tones seemed like the perfect way to go,” Shaddock Cesare says. “This was particularly successful with the bright white details and the brass hardware.”
Designer tip. “Don’t go too busy with the styling after making your selections,” Shaddock Cesare says. “What’s successful about this room is letting the cabinets and tile speak for themselves with simple baskets, art and earthy decor.”
More on Houzz
10 Colorful Vanities for a Bold Bathroom Makeover
Your Complete Bathroom Faucet Buying Guide
Look for an interior designer near you
Shop for bathroom products
Designer: Karina Marshall of Marshall Interiors
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. Update the only bathroom inside a midcentury modern home created by famed developer Joseph Eichler in 1953. The small bathroom had been updated in the 1970s to include baby-blue finishes. “Because the space was on the smaller side, we wanted to keep the bathroom light and bright,” designer Karina Marshall says. “These homes have a cult following, and it was important to keep the essence of Eichler’s architect designs in the space. We had to ensure the bathroom fit seamlessly with the rest of the updated midcentury modern home.”
Shower-tub features. Bifold door. Rain shower head. “As the only bathroom in the house, we needed to keep it family-friendly, so keeping the bathtub was a must,” Marshall says. “Choosing a modern tub with a flat front helped update a typical bathtub combo. The client had a 1-year-old son at the time of the remodel. The hardest part of giving a toddler a bath is having plenty of accessibility to the tub and water controls. Often this is why many people use shower curtains, but we really wanted to keep it modern with a glass door and still be functional and accessible. We found a bifold door off the shelf that folds away to just 20 inches, leaving a good 40 inches for easy bath time.”
Other special features. Graphic green floor tile. Floating vanity with walnut drawer fronts and a large sink with two faucets. Black fixtures. Wooden midcentury-style light fixture.
Designer tip. “A tip for accessorizing a space is to have at least two occurrences of any major elements or materials,” Marshall says. “For instance, we balanced the green tile with plants on the windowsill, black faucets with a black-and-white photograph on the wall, wood doors on the vanity with a wood pendant.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Who knew random could be so hard?” Marshall says. “We really wanted to keep the pattern on the floor free of any repeats, keeping it completely random. However, to make it look random took a lot of work to lay out all the tiles. We spent hours switching and rotating tiles on the floor in another room and then had them installed in the bathroom in exactly the right order and direction. The installer wasn’t thrilled, but the work was well worth it.”
Floor tile: Dandelion in Lawn and Milk colors, Marrakech Design; project photo: Konstrukt Photo
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