Before and After: 5 Dramatic Bathroom Transformations
Bathrooms are among the most popular rooms to remodel, according to Houzz research, and it’s fun to see the before-and-after transformations. The following five bathrooms, which range from 40 to 135 square feet, each got a dramatic makeover. Which one most inspires you?
1. Green Tile to California Style
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple whose children have moved out
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters)
Designer: Carolyn Elleman of Case
Before: This bathroom had vintage charm but lacked practicality, and the homeowners were ready for an update. They wanted more storage, functionality and light.
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz to create your dream space
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple whose children have moved out
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters)
Designer: Carolyn Elleman of Case
Before: This bathroom had vintage charm but lacked practicality, and the homeowners were ready for an update. They wanted more storage, functionality and light.
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz to create your dream space
After: Designer Carolyn Elleman worked within the room’s 5-by-8-foot space with the goals of making it feel bigger, creating the largest shower possible and adding storage. The client said she wanted the space to reflect California, which Elleman interpreted as modern, light-filled and with warm golden tones. A cherry vanity and gold-colored metal finishes keep the mostly white room from feeling cold. Gray-tone porcelain floor tiles ground the space and offer nice contrast to the white.
Wall color: Panda White, Sherwin-Williams; faucets and shower heads: Delta
Browse modern cherry floating vanities in the Houzz Shop
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Wall color: Panda White, Sherwin-Williams; faucets and shower heads: Delta
Browse modern cherry floating vanities in the Houzz Shop
Read more about this bathroom
2. Dark to Spa-Like
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple who work in finance
Location: El Dorado Hills, California
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Designer: Samantha Crow of Juxtaposed Interiors
Before: The homeowners felt the existing bathroom’s finishes looked out of date, and the room didn’t have the light, spa-like vibe they wanted.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple who work in finance
Location: El Dorado Hills, California
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Designer: Samantha Crow of Juxtaposed Interiors
Before: The homeowners felt the existing bathroom’s finishes looked out of date, and the room didn’t have the light, spa-like vibe they wanted.
After: Finishes in whites and grays brighten up the space and materials with a variety of textures help keep it from feeling sterile.
Marble and marble-look tile create an elegant and luxurious atmosphere. The floor tile is large-format ceramic made to look like marble. A 3-by-5-foot basket-weave inlay of marble adds interest.
Marble and marble-look tile create an elegant and luxurious atmosphere. The floor tile is large-format ceramic made to look like marble. A 3-by-5-foot basket-weave inlay of marble adds interest.
The marble shower wall tile extends beyond the shower and onto the wall by the bathtub. Marble is also used for the herringbone-patterned floor in the shower.
Read more about this bathroom
Read more about this bathroom
3. Cramped to Wheelchair-Ready
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple who want to age in place
Location: Seattle
Size: 82 square feet (7.6 square meters)
Designers: Jen Kowalski of Six Walls Interior Design (interior design) and Matt Moisan of Potter Construction (construction and universal design)
Before: This bathroom was laid out poorly and needed to be completely redesigned in order to accommodate someone with mobility issues. It originally had a separate water closet and shower stall, as well as a huge soaking tub that the homeowners didn’t use. Removing dividing walls allowed for a better flow and walker or wheelchair access.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple who want to age in place
Location: Seattle
Size: 82 square feet (7.6 square meters)
Designers: Jen Kowalski of Six Walls Interior Design (interior design) and Matt Moisan of Potter Construction (construction and universal design)
Before: This bathroom was laid out poorly and needed to be completely redesigned in order to accommodate someone with mobility issues. It originally had a separate water closet and shower stall, as well as a huge soaking tub that the homeowners didn’t use. Removing dividing walls allowed for a better flow and walker or wheelchair access.
Photo by Jeff Beck Photography
After: The homeowners love unique, handcrafted wood items and one of the homeowners is a woodworker. He created the teak vanity and shelving himself. The countertops are Meridian Satin quartzite by Pental.
Including plenty of light is an important element of universal design. The team installed recessed lighting, vanity sconces and undermount vanity lighting, all on adjustable dimmers. The wall-mounted sinks are ADA-compliant and have space for walkers or wheelchairs beneath them.
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After: The homeowners love unique, handcrafted wood items and one of the homeowners is a woodworker. He created the teak vanity and shelving himself. The countertops are Meridian Satin quartzite by Pental.
Including plenty of light is an important element of universal design. The team installed recessed lighting, vanity sconces and undermount vanity lighting, all on adjustable dimmers. The wall-mounted sinks are ADA-compliant and have space for walkers or wheelchairs beneath them.
Find a local bathroom remodeler
After: Removing the walls and tub created room for a large shower stall with a curbless entry. (What looks like a curb on the left side is actually the base of the glass wall.) The stall includes a bench and is large enough for a caregiver to fit in to help if needed. The floor tile is slip-resistant.
Read more about this bathroom
Read more about this bathroom
Photos by Tacey Jungmann of Snowberry Lane Photography
4. Sharp Corners to Shimmery Mermaid Tile
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Chasity and Tim Blank
Location: Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Washington
Size: 136 square feet (13 square meters); 13 by 10½ feet
Designer: Kristine Tyler of Tree Frog Design
Before: An L-shaped vanity and attached bathtub in a large wood surround greeted anyone entering this bathroom with sharp corners and a heavy visual feel. And there was no shower. The Blanks hired designer Kristine Tyler to remake the bathroom and include the fish-scale tile the wife had fallen in love with.
Tile: Large Moroccan fish scales in Sea Mist, Mercury Mosaics; vanity: Penta textured laminate in Aspen, Bellmont Cabinet
4. Sharp Corners to Shimmery Mermaid Tile
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Chasity and Tim Blank
Location: Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Washington
Size: 136 square feet (13 square meters); 13 by 10½ feet
Designer: Kristine Tyler of Tree Frog Design
Before: An L-shaped vanity and attached bathtub in a large wood surround greeted anyone entering this bathroom with sharp corners and a heavy visual feel. And there was no shower. The Blanks hired designer Kristine Tyler to remake the bathroom and include the fish-scale tile the wife had fallen in love with.
Tile: Large Moroccan fish scales in Sea Mist, Mercury Mosaics; vanity: Penta textured laminate in Aspen, Bellmont Cabinet
After: This is the space from the same angle after the remodel. Tyler created a new layout by moving the toilet to the back wall and adding a walk-in shower. (She removed the stained glass window.)
The vanity is made of textured melamine, which Tyler says holds up better than wood in moisture-heavy bathrooms.
The vanity is made of textured melamine, which Tyler says holds up better than wood in moisture-heavy bathrooms.
A large soaking tub now sits below a larger window than the room had previously. The tub looks out over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Shop for bathroom vanity lighting
Read more about this bathroom
Shop for bathroom vanity lighting
Read more about this bathroom
5. Retro to Clean and Functional
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple whose children have moved out
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters)
Designer: Carolyn Elleman of Case
Before: This is the second of two bathrooms remodeled by design-build firm Case for a couple whose children had moved out. This one is used by the husband; the first before-and-after shown in this story is the bathroom the wife uses. An awkward “head-banger” wall cabinet over the toilet was the primary storage space before the bathroom was remodeled.
The couple donated the original sinks, tubs and toilets from the bathrooms to local charity Community Forklift.
Find a local bathroom remodeler
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple whose children have moved out
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters)
Designer: Carolyn Elleman of Case
Before: This is the second of two bathrooms remodeled by design-build firm Case for a couple whose children had moved out. This one is used by the husband; the first before-and-after shown in this story is the bathroom the wife uses. An awkward “head-banger” wall cabinet over the toilet was the primary storage space before the bathroom was remodeled.
The couple donated the original sinks, tubs and toilets from the bathrooms to local charity Community Forklift.
Find a local bathroom remodeler
After: The designer knew that white would lighten up the 5-by-8-foot bathroom and make it seem larger. She also knew that the homeowner liked strong contrast. Adding a sleek white wall-mounted vanity gave the client storage and a place to tuck away his shaving supplies. More storage is hidden behind the mirrored medicine cabinet. A toilet with a narrow tank also helps the room feel bigger. Clean lines for all the room’s elements keep things feeling uncluttered.