The brief
This bathroom was the centerpiece of a whole-home remodel for a homeowner heading into retirement. Like the rest of the house, it was carpeted, and it had three problems that mattered more with every passing year.
The sunken tub was the biggest: stepping down into it and back out is one of the riskier moves in any bathroom. A glass-block wall faced the outside, translucent enough to make you think twice about showering in front of it. And a dropped ceiling made the room feel smaller than it was.
The goal was a bathroom that would be safe and easy to use for the long term, without looking like a medical space.
A shower you walk straight into
We removed the sunken tub and built a curbless walk-in shower in its place: no step and no lip to catch a foot, with room for a shower chair if it is ever needed. A built-in bench gives a place to sit, and a handheld shower on a slide bar can be used seated or standing.
Curbless showers take more work than they look. The floor has to be recessed so the shower slopes to its drain while the rest of the room stays level, and the waterproofing has to run continuously across that transition. That work happens early, under everything you see.
Fresh air instead of glass block
The glass-block wall came out and a hopper window went in, set high in the shower wall. It opens for fresh air while showering, brings in daylight, and keeps privacy because of where it sits.
Along with the window, taking out the dropped ceiling and replacing the carpet with tile made the room feel brighter and larger without changing its footprint.
Inspired by nature
The homeowner loves the outdoors, so the palette came from there: soft green wall tile, white tile on the adjoining walls, and a warm, rust-toned terracotta floor in the shower. Brushed brass fixtures and maple cabinetry in a cinnamon stain keep the room warm.
Small touches add comfort, including a bidet seat on the toilet, a niche set at a reachable height, and a long vanity with two sinks and plenty of drawer storage.
