Fun fact: I started my design career in a quiet seaside town. A lot of the houses I worked on were small cottages by the ocean, which meant TINY rooms + LOTS of creative design solutions. It’s always my goal to check off everything on my client’s wish list + then surprise them with more. In a compact space, it’s always possible to get what you want, it just may be on a smaller scale. The first thing I noticed about this bathroom is that it’s TINY… but my gears started turning right away.
I immediately saw that there was no window [+ no exterior wall to add one]. I knew I’d need to pull out all the stops to make this space feel bright + inviting. I also wasn’t a fan of the shower enclosure. It was constructed of full-height walls which made it feel miniature + dark. It protruded into the room [perpendicular to the entry] which made the footprint feel even smaller. Lastly, I knew I wanted to convert the standard hinged door to a pocket door. In a compact space, you need all the real estate you can get. When the door slides into the wall instead of into the room, you gain about 3′ of wall space.
First, I removed the existing shower walls + created a glass shower along the back of the room, leaving the front as open as possible. Walking into a more square footprint, instead of the previous L-shape, makes the space feel larger. It’s much less congested if two adults or an adult + a child need to be in the space simultaneously. This compact space didn’t allow for a large vanity, so I wanted to make sure I created storage elsewhere for clean towels + other bathroom essentials. The linen cabinet is definitely narrow, but packs a major punch: there are five 24″ deep roll trays behind the top door alone. A door on the bottom section would have hit into the toilet, so I opted for open shelving here. I love how the woven baskets bring some texture + warmth to this modern space. Lastly, a linear shower niche [the height of one tile] adds an unexpected layer of depth + storage. I love how this space turned out! Read on for allllll my sources 🙂
Hollywood Double Sconce
I couldn’t have dreamed up a better lighting fixture for this space. The finish, style + size are a match made in heaven.
Shower Glass Hardware
The custom frameless glass hardware will be polished chrome to match the plumbing fixtures. [Ordered locally].
1-1/4″ Cadet Knob in Flat Black, Quantity: 2
There are only two knobs in this bathroom, so I wanted them to pop as much as possible on the crisp white cabinetry. Pro tip: if you want knobs to work in a modern space, find ones with a sharp edge like these. [Ordered locally].
Honesty Robe Hook in Polished Chrome, Quantity: 4
These will be installed along the wall opposite the vanity. A perfect place for drying towels + hanging robes. [Ordered locally].
Honesty Pivoting Toilet Paper Holder in Polished Chrome
This will be installed on the side of the vanity. The pivoting arm makes changing rolls super quick + easy. [Ordered locally].
Floors: Arrowhead 10″x60″ Wood Look Matte Porcelain Tile in Honey, Quantity: 3 cartons
This large-format tile reduces grout lines + adds a soothing warmth to the room. Wood-look tile is one of my favorite materials to use in bathrooms, but I shy away from it when it butts up to real hardwood in hallways or bedrooms. The adjacent room in this case [a studio-like bedroom with kitchenette] is fully carpeted, so this tile is an obvious choice!
Shower Walls + Wainscot: Makoto 2.5″x10″ Matte Ceramic Wall Tile in Arashi Blue, Quantity: 34 cartons
The first material I specified for the bathroom, this varied, deep blue tile really set the tone for the space. It will take on a vertical stack pattern in the shower + continue along the bathroom walls about 2/3 of the way up. The remaining wall will be painted a bright gray-white. This application will bring the eye up + make the room feel brighter: a must in a tiny space with no windows!
Don’t forget to grab 34 pieces of Makoto .5″x8″ Matte Ceramic Jolly Miter Edge Trim in Arashi Blue to finish off the exposed edges!
Shower Floor: 360 3/4″x3/4″ Penny Round Gloss Mosaic Tile in Dove Grey, Quantity: 12 sheets
Pro tip: small-scale shower floor tile will make your tile installer a lot happier on the job + you much more satisfied with the final product. Usually arriving on sheets, this tile is flexible + can be easily sloped toward the drain. It’s also a must if you’re installing a hidden tiled drain. Another tip: small tile means more grout: necessary for some grip in a slippery shower!
I wanted something curvy + soft to break up all of the clean lines in the space. It’s nearly impossible to find a small enough rug that can be centered on a 27″ wide vanity, but this one is just right!
32″ Bowman Frameless Rounded Rectangle Pivot Mirror in Polished Chrome
Pro tip: when the top of your tile wainscot sits above the bottom of your mirror, but below the top, make sure you select a mirror with a hinge [sometimes called a pivot mirror]. This way, the mirror can sit naturally on both surface depths [the wall + the tile].
Savannah Handwoven Seagrass Medium Lidded Bin, Quantity: 2
These will sit atop the open shelves of the linen cabinet + hold bathroom essentials like toilet paper + extra hand towels.
Black + White State Prints
The bold wall tile does a lot of the talking, but I still wanted to add a touch art to the space. I love these simple posters because they’ll always remind my clients of home: sunny FL in the winter + Rhode Island for the remainder of the year!
Florida Print here. Rhode Island Print here. Don’t forget two wood frames here!
Honesty Shower Trim in Polished Chrome
I loved the clean, modern look of this collection. I made sure to balance the straight edges with curvier elements, such as the lighting fixture, knobs + rug. [Ordered locally].
Don’t forget the valve here! [Ordered locally].
San Souci Comfort Height One-Piece Compact Elongated Toilet With Quiet-Close Seat
Stylish + no weird crevices to scrub?! I think this is my dream toilet. [Ordered locally].
Honesty Single-Handle Faucet in Polished Chrome
I constantly debate purchasing a single-handle faucet for my bathroom because I’m all about function + it’s just slightly easier to operate. But… I also love the widespread version. Client’s choice! [Ordered locally].
Verticyl Square Undermount Sink in White
I was drawn to this sink for its style + scale. We aren’t dealing with the largest vanity in the world + this felt perfectly proportionate. [Ordered locally].
Vanity + Linen Cabinet: Crystal Cabinetry Full-Overlay in “Simply White” [Bayfield Door]
This design definitely called for a white-white. The wider stiles + rails of this door style will add some fun structure to the space. [Ordered locally.]
Silestone Eternal Serena 3″ Thick Quartz
I wanted to repeat the grey from the shower floor tile elsewhere in the room + the vanity top was the perfect spot! Pro tip: double the thickness of a quartz or marble to get extra vein payoff along the finished edges. This material will also be used for the shower threshold. [Ordered locally].
Benjamin Moore Classic Gray in Eggshell
I haven’t seen the large sample I ordered in the house yet, but this is a definite contender. This pale gray will be enough of a contrast with the bright white cabinetry, but also vibe well with the varied blue tile + the warm wood-look floors.
