Bathroom of the Week: Warm Coastal Style in 70 Square Feet
A designer helps an empty-nest couple create a streamlined space with a low-curb shower, blue vanity and wood details
Wanting to downsize into a forever home, this Southern California empty-nest couple bought a ranch-style house and set about putting their personal stamp on the interiors.
Off the primary bedroom, the primary bathroom — with its dated look and chopped-up layout that included a shower-tub combo and toilet in a separate area — became a major focus. The couple looked at inspiration photos on Houzz with fresh coastal style and more open space in mind. They then turned to designer Cailey Damron to help make their dreams a reality. Damron removed a wall, relocated a closet and ditched the shower-tub combo in favor of a roomy new low-curb shower. A navy blue double vanity and other blue accents work with warm wood-look vinyl flooring and wood details to deliver the easygoing beach vibe the couple wanted.
Off the primary bedroom, the primary bathroom — with its dated look and chopped-up layout that included a shower-tub combo and toilet in a separate area — became a major focus. The couple looked at inspiration photos on Houzz with fresh coastal style and more open space in mind. They then turned to designer Cailey Damron to help make their dreams a reality. Damron removed a wall, relocated a closet and ditched the shower-tub combo in favor of a roomy new low-curb shower. A navy blue double vanity and other blue accents work with warm wood-look vinyl flooring and wood details to deliver the easygoing beach vibe the couple wanted.
After: Damron stripped the bathroom and knocked down the wall separating the two areas to create one streamlined open space. A new low-curb shower adds to the breezy feel. An off-white cotton waffle-weave shower curtain can be left fully pulled back to maximize openness. “They also didn’t want to clean shower glass, so they wanted to go with the curtain,” Damron says.
The low curb is a creamy white quartz remnant left over from the vanity countertop fabrication. “I always recommend doing this for a shower curb,” Damron says. “It makes it very easy to clean since there are no grout lines.”
The shower includes a polished nickel rain shower head, as well as a fixed shower head and hand shower behind the curtain. Light concrete-look 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles wrap the shower walls.
A corner shower stool in teak offers a spot to rest, hold a plant or place a foot for shaving one’s legs. “They opted not to do a built-in bench, to keep the budget under control but also give them flexibility in the future,” Damron says.
The toilet stayed in the same place.
Shower wall tile: Citizen in Civilian, Emser Tile; teak stool: Earthyteak, EcoDecors
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The low curb is a creamy white quartz remnant left over from the vanity countertop fabrication. “I always recommend doing this for a shower curb,” Damron says. “It makes it very easy to clean since there are no grout lines.”
The shower includes a polished nickel rain shower head, as well as a fixed shower head and hand shower behind the curtain. Light concrete-look 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles wrap the shower walls.
A corner shower stool in teak offers a spot to rest, hold a plant or place a foot for shaving one’s legs. “They opted not to do a built-in bench, to keep the budget under control but also give them flexibility in the future,” Damron says.
The toilet stayed in the same place.
Shower wall tile: Citizen in Civilian, Emser Tile; teak stool: Earthyteak, EcoDecors
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The shower floor is 8-by-8-inch waterproof porcelain tiles with a matte finish, light taupe grout and a cheerful pattern. “We just wanted to add something unique and playful,” Damron says. “She loves pattern and we wanted to be a bit bold but still keep the room looking clean. She wanted something that would not be too slippery, and this one has a bit of grit to it.”
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Shop for wall and floor tile
A shower niche has the same patterned tiles as the flooring and a quartz shelf that matches the curb.
A muted, classic navy blue paint (Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore) adds coastal color to the custom alder double vanity with Shaker-style doors and drawers. The color complements the gray-blue walls (Foggy Day by Dunn-Edwards).
Polished chrome pulls coordinate with polished chrome widespread faucets.
Two tall mirrors feature curved edges and thin white oak frames. “They kind of help to soften the space and bring in more of those coastal wood tones,” Damron says.
The reflection in the mirror on the left shows the entrance, which stayed in the same position. The right-side mirror reflection shows a new linen cabinet added across from the vanity.
Three polished nickel sconces have glass shades and an elegant profile. “They’re simple and timeless,” Damron says. “The glass shades are great because if they get wet, you just wipe them clean.” The bathroom also has three new LED ceiling lights.
The wood-look luxury vinyl flooring adds visual warmth. “This one feels pretty realistic,” Damron says. “It has texture to it, and we tried to bring in texture where we could in this bathroom.”
Sconces: Bryant in polished nickel, Visual Comfort; cabinet hardware: Riverside in polished chrome, Top Knobs; faucets: Composed widespread with lever handles in polished chrome, Kohler
How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity
Polished chrome pulls coordinate with polished chrome widespread faucets.
Two tall mirrors feature curved edges and thin white oak frames. “They kind of help to soften the space and bring in more of those coastal wood tones,” Damron says.
The reflection in the mirror on the left shows the entrance, which stayed in the same position. The right-side mirror reflection shows a new linen cabinet added across from the vanity.
Three polished nickel sconces have glass shades and an elegant profile. “They’re simple and timeless,” Damron says. “The glass shades are great because if they get wet, you just wipe them clean.” The bathroom also has three new LED ceiling lights.
The wood-look luxury vinyl flooring adds visual warmth. “This one feels pretty realistic,” Damron says. “It has texture to it, and we tried to bring in texture where we could in this bathroom.”
Sconces: Bryant in polished nickel, Visual Comfort; cabinet hardware: Riverside in polished chrome, Top Knobs; faucets: Composed widespread with lever handles in polished chrome, Kohler
How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity
Before: The previous vanity nearly butted up against a closet with a sliding mirrored door. “With more bedrooms than children to fill them, they opted to close in one of the bedrooms and convert that into a full walk-in closet,” Damron says. “This allowed them to open up the bathroom and not have that oddly shaped closet there.”
The reflection in the mirror over the vanity shows the closed door that connects the bathroom and bedroom. The former shower-toilet room is seen in one of the mirrored closet doors.
The reflection in the mirror over the vanity shows the closed door that connects the bathroom and bedroom. The former shower-toilet room is seen in one of the mirrored closet doors.
After: With the closet out of the way, Damron created a larger vanity that now extends to the wall that was once the back of the closet. “It’s an extra-large vanity and gives ample storage for both individuals,” she says.
A recessed mirrored medicine cabinet on the right adds more storage, as does the new linen cabinet, which is partially seen in the mirror reflection.
10 Bathroom Vanity Features Pros Always Recommend
A recessed mirrored medicine cabinet on the right adds more storage, as does the new linen cabinet, which is partially seen in the mirror reflection.
10 Bathroom Vanity Features Pros Always Recommend
Floating white oak shelves over the new toilet offer display space and a touch of warmth. “They bridge that space between the vanity and shower,” Damron says. “You can put canisters or towels up there. With the wood-framed mirrors and wood-look flooring, this was a way to add another natural material in there.”
Part of a larger renovation of the home, this updated bathroom now feels fresh and inviting. “This bathroom gives the clients a sense of simplicity and warmth while incorporating their love for the coast,” Damron says.
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More on Houzz
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Part of a larger renovation of the home, this updated bathroom now feels fresh and inviting. “This bathroom gives the clients a sense of simplicity and warmth while incorporating their love for the coast,” Damron says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for your bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Moorpark, California
Size: 70 square feet (6.5 square meters)
Designer: Cailey Damron of Corio Design House
Before: The former bathroom had many elements the couple found dated — tiled countertops, a basic wood vanity without hardware and a separate toilet area that also included a shower-tub combo with standard square white tiles. “The bathroom just wasn’t functional, and it lacked charm and personalization,” Damron says.
On the left side of the mirror reflection, the open door to the shower and toilet area is visible. On the right side of the reflection, you can see the edge of the bathroom’s entrance from the bedroom — the only entry into the bathroom.