Spa-Like Wet Room Transforms a Tight ’70s Bathroom
Designers reimagine a 166-square-foot layout with better flow, more daylight and warm wood accents
Set in a 1978 home in Santa Cruz, California, this primary bathroom felt dated and cramped for a couple with two school-aged kids. Glass-block windows dimmed the space, beige tile covered nearly every surface and a tight layout squeezed the shower beside a bulky built-in tub. Separate vanities with dark countertops added to the visual weight.
Seeking a calmer, more modern look rooted in Japandi style — and a layout that would breathe — the homeowners enlisted designers Cyndi Mosher and Jennifer Simmons, who use Houzz Pro software. Working within the existing footprint, the designers, along with builder Jared Lewis, reimagined the room with a lighter touch and clearer flow. A custom bleached walnut double vanity and matching storage bench introduce warmth to a restrained palette of white, gray and black. A wet room with a freestanding tub and open shower creates a spa-like retreat. Expanded windows invite in natural light, and a thoughtful mix of tile adds subtle texture, resulting in a serene, streamlined space that feels both functional and restorative.
Seeking a calmer, more modern look rooted in Japandi style — and a layout that would breathe — the homeowners enlisted designers Cyndi Mosher and Jennifer Simmons, who use Houzz Pro software. Working within the existing footprint, the designers, along with builder Jared Lewis, reimagined the room with a lighter touch and clearer flow. A custom bleached walnut double vanity and matching storage bench introduce warmth to a restrained palette of white, gray and black. A wet room with a freestanding tub and open shower creates a spa-like retreat. Expanded windows invite in natural light, and a thoughtful mix of tile adds subtle texture, resulting in a serene, streamlined space that feels both functional and restorative.
The vanity’s polished light gray quartz countertop and backsplash offer durable performance and subtle contrast to the warm wood, with delicate white veining adding depth. A pair of matte white oval vessel sinks — crafted from finely ground volcanic limestone and high-performance resins — introduce a soft, organic shape. Wall-mounted black faucets keep the look streamlined and make cleaning easier.
Rectangular aluminum-and-glass mirrors in a matte black finish echo the bathroom’s window frames and feature integrated LED lighting. Simple matte black towel hooks mounted between them add a crisp, functional touch.
Mirrors: Dora rectangular lighted LED mirror in matte black, Pottery Barn; sink: Barcelona collection, Victoria + Albert; faucets: Arca in black, Riobel
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Rectangular aluminum-and-glass mirrors in a matte black finish echo the bathroom’s window frames and feature integrated LED lighting. Simple matte black towel hooks mounted between them add a crisp, functional touch.
Mirrors: Dora rectangular lighted LED mirror in matte black, Pottery Barn; sink: Barcelona collection, Victoria + Albert; faucets: Arca in black, Riobel
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The custom built-in bench provides a convenient spot to sit or set down clothing. A horizontal transom and two tall fiberglass windows flood the room with natural light, enhancing the airy feel. A floating walnut shelf offers display space for a plant or decor. “There’s integrated lighting under that shelf,” Simmons says. “It’s a nice glow when that light is on.” Across from the bench, a door leads to the primary bedroom, with the water closet located at that end of the bathroom.
Wall, ceiling and trim paint: 50/50 blend of Swiss Coffee by Kelly-Moore Paints and Simply White by Benjamin Moore
How to Remodel a Bathroom
Wall, ceiling and trim paint: 50/50 blend of Swiss Coffee by Kelly-Moore Paints and Simply White by Benjamin Moore
How to Remodel a Bathroom
The spacious, low-curb wet room has a custom frameless glass enclosure for a clean, open feel. A 34-by-70-inch white freestanding soaking tub — positioned where the old deck-mounted tub once sat — pairs with a wall-mounted black filler, hand shower and thermostatic pressure-balanced valve. The open shower includes a six-function black shower head and hand shower for flexibility.
Glossy white ceramic field tiles line the upper walls in a vertical pattern that reinforces the modern aesthetic. The same porcelain tiles used on the main bathroom floor wrap the lower walls and continue underfoot, creating continuity. “That linear break between the ceramic field tile and the terrazzo tile was something we carried through the niche and bottom of the new window,” Simmons says.
A quiet yet powerful ceiling-mounted exhaust fan helps manage steam, while a casement window adds natural ventilation. Recessed LED can lights on dimmers provide soft, adjustable illumination in the evening.
Before and After: 4 Polished White-and-Wood Bathrooms
Glossy white ceramic field tiles line the upper walls in a vertical pattern that reinforces the modern aesthetic. The same porcelain tiles used on the main bathroom floor wrap the lower walls and continue underfoot, creating continuity. “That linear break between the ceramic field tile and the terrazzo tile was something we carried through the niche and bottom of the new window,” Simmons says.
A quiet yet powerful ceiling-mounted exhaust fan helps manage steam, while a casement window adds natural ventilation. Recessed LED can lights on dimmers provide soft, adjustable illumination in the evening.
Before and After: 4 Polished White-and-Wood Bathrooms
A 36-inch-wide niche provides built-in storage for hair and body products, keeping the wet-room floor clear and uncluttered.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Bathroom mood board created with Houzz Pro software
The designers used Houzz Pro to create a mood board that guided the bathroom’s materials, palette, tile patterns and key details. “I think this was one of my favorite bathrooms that we’ve done,” Simmons says. “My favorite part is the wet-room area and the juxtaposition of the terrazzo and the field tile. It’s a very spa-like bathroom.”
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The designers used Houzz Pro to create a mood board that guided the bathroom’s materials, palette, tile patterns and key details. “I think this was one of my favorite bathrooms that we’ve done,” Simmons says. “My favorite part is the wet-room area and the juxtaposition of the terrazzo and the field tile. It’s a very spa-like bathroom.”
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two school-aged kids
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Size: 166 square feet (15 square meters)
Designers: Cyndi Mosher and Jennifer Simmons of Beyond the Box Design Collective
Builder: Jared Lewis of Lewis Design-Build-Remodel
The updated bathroom keeps the original footprint but removing the separate vanities and a tall linen cabinet opened up the layout. In their place, a custom floating bleached walnut double vanity anchors the room, paired with a matching built-in bench with storage drawers along the adjoining wall. “When we looked at different options for the cabinetry, we went with the bleached look that brings out more warmth and the tone of the wood,” Simmons says.
To the left of the bench, a new doorway replaces an aging bifold door and connects to the primary closet. To the right, a newly created wet room enhances the layout.
A restrained palette balances the warmth of wood cabinetry with soft white and gray tones, punctuated by crisp black accents. While the homeowners initially considered earth tones, the vision evolved into a calm, modern retreat with Scandinavian influences that ultimately landed on a Japandi-inspired look. “They like simplicity,” Mosher says.
Light-medium gray porcelain floor tiles in a contemporary 24-by-24-inch format offer a subtle Venetian terrazzo look and continue into the wet room for visual continuity. “They really liked that terrazzo look, and once we looked at different versions, we liked this one with the gray and white,” Simmons says. Existing globe pendant lights the homeowners loved were thoughtfully incorporated into the refreshed space.
The design firm uses Houzz Pro software to manage its business. “We use it to track leads and projects,” Simmons says. “We use the Mood Boards, Selection Boards and Selection Tracker. That gives the builder a consolidated list of all the products in one place.”
Floor tiles: Flake series, Richards & Sterling; cabinetmaker: Schmitz Woodworks; staging for photo shoot: Savannah Gonzales, Eleven Home Aesthetics
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