New This Week: 4 Fresh Midsize Bathrooms With a Low-Curb Shower
This popular shower feature can help create a light and airy feeling in the room and enhance stylish materials
A low-profile barrier can create a safe entry point to a shower. But a short curb can also help lighten the look and feel of a space, which is especially important when square footage is limited. Plus, the airy look frees up visual space to allow tile and other stylish details to stand out more. Here, design and remodeling pros share how they used a low-curb shower to create a fresh and open look in a midsize bathroom.
2. Marble-Look Luxury
Designer: Jennifer Whisenant of Noble Johnson Architects
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Size: 41 square feet (3.8 square meters); 5 feet, 3 inches by 7 feet, 9 inches
Homeowners’ request. “This project was unique in that it was not designed for a specific homeowner in mind,” interior designer Jennifer Whisenant says. “This bathroom was a part of a tiny house designed to be put on display at Nashville botanical garden Cheekwood and then auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting Cheekwood and the Swan Ball. Since the tiny house would be transported on a trailer, we selected large-format tiles for the shower walls, with the thought being the larger tiles would be more rigid during transport than multiple small mosaic tiles.”
Low-curb shower details. “A curbless shower can involve recessing the floor below the shower so the finished material — tile — is all flush within the bathroom,” Whisenant says. “That is not an opportunity we had due to the structure of the tiny house, so we included a low shower curb to keep water contained.”
The shower walls, ceiling and main bathroom floor are 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles that mimic the look of Calacatta marble. The shower floor consists of 1-by-3-inch mosaic tiles set in a herringbone pattern.
Other special features. Shiplap walls and ceiling. Creamy light beige vanity (Naturel by Sherwin-Williams) with honey bronze hardware. Brushed bronze plumbing fixtures.
Designer tip. “The lighter colors and verticality of the shiplap on the walls were designed to make the bathroom feel larger,” Whisenant says. “Also, we upgraded the cabinetry to include a scalloped toe kick design so the built-in vanity looked more like furniture. It’s a small detail that can add a major impact.”
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Designer: Jennifer Whisenant of Noble Johnson Architects
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Size: 41 square feet (3.8 square meters); 5 feet, 3 inches by 7 feet, 9 inches
Homeowners’ request. “This project was unique in that it was not designed for a specific homeowner in mind,” interior designer Jennifer Whisenant says. “This bathroom was a part of a tiny house designed to be put on display at Nashville botanical garden Cheekwood and then auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting Cheekwood and the Swan Ball. Since the tiny house would be transported on a trailer, we selected large-format tiles for the shower walls, with the thought being the larger tiles would be more rigid during transport than multiple small mosaic tiles.”
Low-curb shower details. “A curbless shower can involve recessing the floor below the shower so the finished material — tile — is all flush within the bathroom,” Whisenant says. “That is not an opportunity we had due to the structure of the tiny house, so we included a low shower curb to keep water contained.”
The shower walls, ceiling and main bathroom floor are 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles that mimic the look of Calacatta marble. The shower floor consists of 1-by-3-inch mosaic tiles set in a herringbone pattern.
Other special features. Shiplap walls and ceiling. Creamy light beige vanity (Naturel by Sherwin-Williams) with honey bronze hardware. Brushed bronze plumbing fixtures.
Designer tip. “The lighter colors and verticality of the shiplap on the walls were designed to make the bathroom feel larger,” Whisenant says. “Also, we upgraded the cabinetry to include a scalloped toe kick design so the built-in vanity looked more like furniture. It’s a small detail that can add a major impact.”
Find a bathroom designer near you
3. Pretty Playfulness
Designer and homeowner: Jennifer Kizzee
Location: League City, Texas
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is our kids’ bathroom, which needed not only a face-lift but character,” designer Jennifer Kizzee says. “Our clients — our kids — needed to have separate sinks, storage, better lighting and a much roomier shower rather than the basic-grade shower-tub combo that we started with. Our main vision was to really take down the soulless space and transform it into a whimsical and eclectic space for them to feel inspired by the fun hues and textures each morning.”
Low-curb shower details. “As we were designing the actual shower, we felt it was important to have a low-curb shower for them to be able to jump in and out with no issues, not to mention it always looks more sleek when you have a low-profile shower curb or no curb at all,” Kizzee says. Matte porcelain tile in a geometric print covers the main floor and curb front.
Other special features. 4-by-12-inch slate blue tile in a stacked pattern running floor to ceiling in the shower and spanning the lower portion of the vanity wall. “Additionally, we wanted to ensure we had a fairly large shampoo niche for all their bathing products,” Kizzee says. “There’s nothing sadder than having a 6-by-10-inch niche on your walls when you have an army of shampoo and conditioner bottles.
“For spark, we went with brass finishes and champagne bronze plumbing fixtures, but we also mixed it with black towel hooks and pulls for a touch of contrast. And to bring an organic midcentury modern feel, we incorporated a slat wall enhanced by painting the back wall with Tricorn Black matte paint from Sherwin-Williams.”
Designer tip. “We knew all along we wanted a trendy, fresh, bold and fun bathroom, but we were also on a budget, which challenged us to keep the cost down,” Kizzee says. “Anytime you are planning to tackle a home project on a budget, start by identifying which items will have the highest price tag and work your way down from there. For us the most expensive item was the vanity cabinet. So in an effort to keep the cost down, we decided to purchase a prefabricated double-sink vanity instead of going with a custom-built cabinet.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We were very thoughtful about buying all our materials in advance, knowing there’s low inventory on pretty much everything nowadays, but what we did not account for was for the shower glass hardware, hinges and such to be out of stock for several months,” Kizzee says. “As an interim solution, we improvised and used a temporary adjustable plastic rod and a plastic curtain to get us by. It wasn’t the best look after all the reno work we did, but it sure saved us while we waited for the hardware to arrive.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Designer and homeowner: Jennifer Kizzee
Location: League City, Texas
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is our kids’ bathroom, which needed not only a face-lift but character,” designer Jennifer Kizzee says. “Our clients — our kids — needed to have separate sinks, storage, better lighting and a much roomier shower rather than the basic-grade shower-tub combo that we started with. Our main vision was to really take down the soulless space and transform it into a whimsical and eclectic space for them to feel inspired by the fun hues and textures each morning.”
Low-curb shower details. “As we were designing the actual shower, we felt it was important to have a low-curb shower for them to be able to jump in and out with no issues, not to mention it always looks more sleek when you have a low-profile shower curb or no curb at all,” Kizzee says. Matte porcelain tile in a geometric print covers the main floor and curb front.
Other special features. 4-by-12-inch slate blue tile in a stacked pattern running floor to ceiling in the shower and spanning the lower portion of the vanity wall. “Additionally, we wanted to ensure we had a fairly large shampoo niche for all their bathing products,” Kizzee says. “There’s nothing sadder than having a 6-by-10-inch niche on your walls when you have an army of shampoo and conditioner bottles.
“For spark, we went with brass finishes and champagne bronze plumbing fixtures, but we also mixed it with black towel hooks and pulls for a touch of contrast. And to bring an organic midcentury modern feel, we incorporated a slat wall enhanced by painting the back wall with Tricorn Black matte paint from Sherwin-Williams.”
Designer tip. “We knew all along we wanted a trendy, fresh, bold and fun bathroom, but we were also on a budget, which challenged us to keep the cost down,” Kizzee says. “Anytime you are planning to tackle a home project on a budget, start by identifying which items will have the highest price tag and work your way down from there. For us the most expensive item was the vanity cabinet. So in an effort to keep the cost down, we decided to purchase a prefabricated double-sink vanity instead of going with a custom-built cabinet.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We were very thoughtful about buying all our materials in advance, knowing there’s low inventory on pretty much everything nowadays, but what we did not account for was for the shower glass hardware, hinges and such to be out of stock for several months,” Kizzee says. “As an interim solution, we improvised and used a temporary adjustable plastic rod and a plastic curtain to get us by. It wasn’t the best look after all the reno work we did, but it sure saved us while we waited for the hardware to arrive.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
4. Southwest Sanctuary
Designer: Connie Pichler of Wolfgang Pichler Design
Location: Yucca Valley, California
Size: 67 square feet (6.2 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted to create a Mediterranean-Mexican vibe for the house,” designer Connie Pichler says. “When they purchased the house, it was in very bad shape, so the whole remodel was kind of a challenge, also due to the very tight budget.”
Low-curb shower details. A low but chunky plaster curb divides black-and-white patterned porcelain floor tile that runs throughout the room. A sliding glass and black frame shower enclosure coordinates with the black in the tile and other black details in the space.
Other special features. Floating white oak vanity. Oak towel ladder partially painted black.
Designer tip. “Be minimalist when it comes to big surfaces like walls or furniture and use patterns or intense colors just as accents,” Pichler says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “When it comes to remodeling, there will always be challenging moments,” Pichler says. “You can never foresee what will happen, and costs can and will easily explode. Every wall that you open provides new surprises. A lot of money will go into those unexpected things and the owners will have the feeling that they are spending too much on things that nobody can see in the end. Therefore it is important to have a structured budget for different things in the beginning. Don’t spend all the money on concrete and electric wiring and leave nothing left for appliances, furniture and decor. This is what will really make the look in the end. A professional design team is aware of that and will calculate contingencies without spending the furniture budget.”
Vanity: Happy in white oak finish, Moreno Bath; floor tile: Evoke Deco by Adessi, Floor & Decor
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Designer: Connie Pichler of Wolfgang Pichler Design
Location: Yucca Valley, California
Size: 67 square feet (6.2 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted to create a Mediterranean-Mexican vibe for the house,” designer Connie Pichler says. “When they purchased the house, it was in very bad shape, so the whole remodel was kind of a challenge, also due to the very tight budget.”
Low-curb shower details. A low but chunky plaster curb divides black-and-white patterned porcelain floor tile that runs throughout the room. A sliding glass and black frame shower enclosure coordinates with the black in the tile and other black details in the space.
Other special features. Floating white oak vanity. Oak towel ladder partially painted black.
Designer tip. “Be minimalist when it comes to big surfaces like walls or furniture and use patterns or intense colors just as accents,” Pichler says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “When it comes to remodeling, there will always be challenging moments,” Pichler says. “You can never foresee what will happen, and costs can and will easily explode. Every wall that you open provides new surprises. A lot of money will go into those unexpected things and the owners will have the feeling that they are spending too much on things that nobody can see in the end. Therefore it is important to have a structured budget for different things in the beginning. Don’t spend all the money on concrete and electric wiring and leave nothing left for appliances, furniture and decor. This is what will really make the look in the end. A professional design team is aware of that and will calculate contingencies without spending the furniture budget.”
Vanity: Happy in white oak finish, Moreno Bath; floor tile: Evoke Deco by Adessi, Floor & Decor
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for your bathroom
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Designer and homeowner: Stephanie Hain Torres
General contractor: Spruill Remodel
Location: Heath, Texas
Size: 70 square feet (6.5 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This pool bath was original to the 1997 house and had dark brown and yellowish colors and a dividing wall between the toilet and vanity space, making it feel tight and enclosed,” general contractor Brandon Spruill says. “The homeowner wanted the bathroom to feel open and lighter. She had us remove the tub-shower combo and install a stand-up shower with frameless shower glass, which made the bathroom feel quite a bit larger. We also removed the dividing wall that blocked the toilet from the vanity area, allowing more light from the exterior door to enter into the space.”
Low-curb shower details. 2½-by-8-inch light blue handmade-look tile on the walls and curb. “When it comes to remodeling, it’s tough to get a curbless shower, especially when dealing with a slab foundation,” Spruill says. “Most of the time the curbless shower is decided before the slab is poured. While forming up a brand-new foundation, the foundation contractor will lower the slab in the shower area to create the drop you need for a curbless shower. When remodeling, there can be quite a bit of extra costs associated with dropping the shower, such as chipping out the concrete, repairing post tension cables, etc. Cost is a big part of why we normally go with a low-curb shower, but 99% of the time a customer that wants a curbless shower and goes with a low-curb shower does not care once they see the finished product.”
Other special features. Porcelain hexagonal floor tiles. Champagne bronze shower fixtures, with controls located in an easy-to-reach area away from the shower head.
Shower wall tile: Cloe, 2½ by 8 inches in Baby Blue, Bderosians Tile & Stone; shower fixtures: Trinsic in champagne bronze, Delta; wall, ceiling and trim paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams
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