*This post was revised 8/19/25 to update product links from Ferguson Home
The homeowners had recently purchased their home in Snoqualmie and had cosmetically upgraded the rest of the home prior to tackling the full renovation of the primary bathroom. The home had been built about 20 years prior and had some odd design choices throughout such as carpet in the bathroom.
Ashis Bhakta of Elite Construction Contractors was tasked with the renovation while I assisted with all the design selections and details. The homeowners have impeccable style and are open to making bold choices so it was really fun working on this project with them.
While the home is more traditional in style with raised panel interior doors and architrave trim details, we blended the finishes to create a space that is an amalgam of modern and traditional elements that feels elegant and timeless.
THE LAYOUT
The alcove shower and small linen closet were removed so that the tub and shower could be separated for a true five piece primary suite. The new layout makes the room feel much larger than before due to keeping open sightlines and appropriately scaled fixtures.
We kept the majority of the fixtures in the same general area, so there were minimal costly relocations. We maxed out the vanity by expanding it closer to the door which required relocating the plumbing and light for one of the sinks.
The new shower has the shower head and slidebar along the back wall, which was relatively easy to relocate plumbing since it was all open to be reframed for the new ledge behind the tub.
There was some supply and drain relocating below the tub. Since the primary is located on the second floor, relocating the plumbing between the joists was fairly straight forward.
Since the small closet that was previously next to the old shower was eliminated, adding additional storage behind the door and utilizing the wall space above the toilet was a must.
Previously, there was a recessed medicine cabinet on the left side of the vanity. The homeowners had us fill that in and had new framing put in to recess the arched mirrored medicine cabinets. This added a lot of hidden storage for toiletries that is key in a small space. Splitting the mirrors also gives a more custom look than the sheet glass mirror previously installed.
THE CONFIGURATION
Expanding the vanity meant that we could do larger sink base cabinets and a larger width drawer bank. This made up for losing a little bit of storage space by elevating the cabinetry off the floor. The shower is modestly sized but feels large due to the tile extending to the ceiling and large custom niche. The full height glass panel between the shower and the tub makes the entire room feel more grand.
THE SHOWER TILE
Wrapping the tile around the shower, behind the tub and onto the right return wall makes that area feel larger and more special. The green satisfies the biophilic craving for nature. The tile is slightly irregular and variated in color to give it a more artisanal aesthetic. The dark paint color paired with the tile gives it a rich depth and makes the room feel more expansive by allowing the tile to recede into the background. Vertically straight stacking the tile draws your eye up and makes the room feel taller, while adding mirrors on both sides of the room next to it bounces the light from the window throughout the room and also gives the illusion of more depth. We opted for a white hex mosaic on the floor to brighten up the shower, mimic the white of the tub and allow for easier maintenance to make soap less noticeable on the floor.
THE FIXTURES
We went with Moen Brushed Gold finishes due to the homeowners liking how this shade of gold contrasts with the green tile. We went with a line that has traditional detailing that feels right at home with some of the more traditional elements of their home.
The water closet is very small, so we used an American Standard Cadet toilet that is space saving with a narrow tank while allowing room for an elongated bowl. The full skirt gives it a sleek look that feels a bit more contemporary, while the brushed gold lever maintains the consistency of the gold finishes.
The freestanding tub is a compact 55″ wide model that works well in small spaces. We upgraded the tub with added insulation on the inside to keep the water hot longer thereby extending potential relaxation time for a truly spa experience.
When choosing gold fixtures, it is sometimes hard to blend different gold finishes from different brands, so we kept the mixing to a minimum. We opted for a white drain and overflow in the freestanding tub to ensure the tub did not clash with the brushed gold tub fill. The mirror and vanity sconces are a slightly lighter brass; layered with the dark wall, the varied shades work well together with the faucet which appears to be just slightly more saturated.
THE COLORS
The shower tile creates a lot of the drama in this bathroom with its deep and saturated green hue that has a lot of variation from tile to tile in both texture and color. The green is elevated with the charcoal grout, black soapstone and dark wall paint color. The large black hex floor tile anchors the space and creates a striking graphic look with contrasting grout that accentuates the shape and bounces your eye around the room. The juxtaposition of the traditional fixtures with the modern floor tile creates a beautiful, layered effect.
BEFORE & AFTER SIDE-BY-SIDE BATHROOM COMPARISON
The before and after comparison is a lovely contrast showcasing how far the homeowners have come to put their style stamp on their home. The bathroom felt generic and builder basic before. Now, it feels like a spacious oasis to start the day.
THE DESIGN FINISHES
The color palette invokes a calm and relaxing retreat with a warm wood tone, a rich emerald green, a bright gold and moody blacks. The cabinet and countertop have a matte finish that allows the glass and shower tile tile to contrast nicely. Sherwin Williams Iron Ore paint on the walls creates a dramatic and moody backdrop for the brushed gold, walnut wood and green tile.
THE CABINET STYLE
A flat panel door with European-style boxes and full overlay doors creates a modern and minimally styled vanity. Floating the cabinets 10″ off the floor and flanking each side with 1.5″ thick panels gives it a furniture look and also helps to make the bathroom feel larger by allowing your eye to see more of the flooring below. The cabinet fronts are a walnut-look laminate that looks and feels very realistic. Using a laminate in a bathroom is great for keeping the door more stable with moisture, being easy to clean and keeping the color true over time. Natural walnut, while luxurious and beautiful, ages into a deeper yellow color that some may not like and is more costly to invest in up front.
MIXING METALS
The brushed gold on the plumbing fixtures is allowed to shine by keeping the shower glass and cabinet hardware a matte black that disappears amongst the finishes.
THE NATURAL STONE
The soapstone is carried from the countertop and into the shower, framing out the new recessed niche, forming the top on the shower curb, and wrapping the ledge behind the tub. Carrying the natural stone around the room provides continuity and gives the shower area an elevated look.
SPECIAL FEATURES
We incorporated mirrored medicine cabinets that were framed into the wall so they are completely recessed and unnoticeable. An outlet inside the cabinet is great for charging toothbrushes.
Both the shower and the tub area have handheld showers that will be great for bathing and easy cleanup. We located the shower control at the entrance of the shower to be able to turn it on without getting sprayed with cold water. The extended rain shower arm brings the water more central and points it down so as to keep the spray from going out the door. A towel hook is anchored in the glass adjacent to the tub to allow for hanging a robe or towel on the side.
A custom ledge was built across the entire back wall of the shower and tub area to create a display ledge behind the tub. Shallow storage was added behind the door and in the water closet in the form of floating shelves and a cabinet. The toilet is a space saving toilet with a flush skirt for low maintenance.
I absolutely love how this moody bathroom turned out and I hope they get to enjoy it for many years to come.
SHOP THE LOOK – FIXTURES
- Valve with Diverter Trim
- Handshower Slidebar
- Showerhead
- Shower Arm
- Shower Arm Flange
- Mirrored Medicine Cabinet
- Widespread Faucet
- Undermount Sink
- Freestanding Tub Faucet
- Freestanding Tub
- Tab Pull
SHOP THE LOOK – STYLING
- Vase
- Hydrangeas
- Shampoo + Condition Dispensers
- Extra Large Glass Canister
- Large Glass Canister
- Small Glass Canister
- Tub Shelf
- Sponges
- Sisal Body Brush
- Amethyst Perfume Bottle
- Glass Jewelry Box
*Note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from product links. I only recommend products I’ve used and loved.
If you are located in the Snoqualmie or greater Seattle area and are interested in a kitchen or bath remodel, please feel free to drop us a line below.
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