She Moved the Shower in Her Bathroom — Now It Looks Straight Out of a Luxury Spa
A crisp white color scheme can help rooms feel bigger and brighter—but in some spaces, that’s just not enough. The only upstairs bathroom in Alli Devlin’s home suffered from an always-cramped feeling, thanks to the tiny windows and poor layout.
Another drag: The 1978 home had seen few updates over the years, and the bathroom was no exception.
The Bathroom Had Been Poorly Updated Over the Years
“The few bathroom accessories added over the years — towel rings, over-the-toilet storage — were uncoordinated and poorly placed in the space,” says Alli. Thankfully, she was up to the challenge of renovating.
She Began the Bathroom Transformation with Professional Help
She quickly enlisted the architectural services of her cousin, Sarah Merrimen, and set to work gathering inspiration. She particularly loved a bathroom designed by Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn that featured a black tile wall and a wood-toned vanity.
With the help of local contractors, Alli expanded the bathroom’s footprint by incorporating two neighboring closets in the master bedroom. The layout of the bathroom was changed, moving the shower across from a new vanity setup to make room for a floor-to-ceiling window.
The vanity, custom-made by North Coast Modern, is extra long but features just one sink. “Give me extra counter space, please!” says Alli, who knew the old vanity didn’t have enough for two people to share. Floor-to-ceiling subway tile from Fireclay Tile is a dramatic backdrop for two new vanity mirrors and unique bowl-shaped sconces from Nino Shea (similar to these from Amazon).
Now the Bathroom Is Full of Drama and Is “The Best Room in the Home”
The non-tiled walls got a little something, too, with an old-world cement plaster finish. That golden tone complements the hex tile floors, which are golden Calacatta marble.
Alli calls the new space “the best room in the home.”
“The full wall adds drama, and the walnut vanity plus the brass fixtures and soft gray cement-finish wall add warmth,” Alli says. “This is my heart’s color palette, so I am happy every day starting my day here. No regrets on knocking out the master bedroom closets—the extra bathroom space is worth it!”
Find an Achor of Inspiration for You to Always Come Back to While Designing
As for advice, Alli has some wise words: “Find your anchor inspiration and hold it tight. There are many small and large decisions to make along the way — keeping your north star close in mind will guide you through the tricky decisions about material choices, where to cut the budget, and where to pay for the exact material you desire.”
Inspired? Submit your own project here.