A Bathroom Goes from “Choppy and Closed-Off” to Spacious and Spa-Like
Although there are lots of stylish bathrooms with small square footage out there, the gift of having more space to work with (and the budget to do it), is that you can be a little more flexible with the layout to create something to your exact liking.
That’s what interior designer Madison Niemann of Coastal Canyon Interiors did in her own last-updated-in-the-’90s bathroom. The room was 120 square feet but “was dated, with floral wallpaper, a small single sink awkwardly tucked in the corner near the window, and a large empty area that seemed like it may have once been a closet … the flooring was a quick fix — vinyl laid directly over old tile,” Madison describes. “Through a narrow doorway, you’d find the world’s tiniest shower and toilet crammed into a tight nook.”
In short, the bathroom had lots of square footage but its features were awkwardly crammed in. After a professional reno (designed by Madison and executed by Candan Construction), it now makes a lot more sense. Here are the biggest difference-makers in the bathroom.
Removing a wall allowed for the fixtures to spread out more.
“The original layout was choppy and closed-off, so removing a wall was the first major step,” Madison says, adding that it helped let in more light. “We tore down walls, floors, opened up the ceiling, and even redid all the electrical,” she describes of the demo process. “This space was truly gutted and rebuilt.”
Madison says watching it all come back together into her design was satisfying. It was “fresh, elevated, and more ‘us’ within the two-week window our crew promised,” she says.
One of the biggest difference-makers was creating a larger shower: “Expanding the shower made a huge difference in both function and the overall sense of space,” Madison says.
New tiles give the bathroom a bright, boho look.
Another change that helps the bathroom feel larger is the bright, earthy palette for the walls and floors. Madison selected Sherwin-Williams’ Dover White for the walls, white and gray square tiles for the shower walls, and terracotta tiles for the floors.
“I had originally envisioned larger, rectangular white tiles for the shower walls, but after placing the order, I found out they were unavailable,” she says. “It was frustrating in the moment to pivot, but the alternative tile ended up working beautifully.”
A large vanity offers more getting-ready space than before.
Another thing Madison wishes was slightly different about her bathroom redo is the mirrors. “We couldn’t install medicine cabinets due to the placement of the wall supports,” she says. “I had really hoped to gain that extra storage, so losing that feature was a bit of a disappointment.” Instead, she went with elongated arch-shaped mirrors that brighten the room — plus, the new, wider vanity offers more storage.
The mirrors paired with the double-sink vanity “add symmetry and elegance,” Madison says, and the latter has helped the bathroom become somewhat of a command center for her family. “One of my favorite things is how it works for our whole family. Our two young kids love coming in to shower and get ready with us,” she says. “We wanted it to be our space, but still have room for all of us to share those everyday moments, and now it truly feels like that. I’m so proud of how it turned out. It checks all the boxes for us.”
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