Enhancing Accessibility: A Small Bothell Primary Bath Renovated for Aging In Place

*This post was revised 8/19/25 to update product links

This Bothell home was originally built in 1987, and the current owners have lived in their home since 1991. While their original bathroom still functioned adequately, they were ready for a style upgrade that carries them into their next chapter of retirement with accessibility in mind. After completing updates on their main floor including their kitchen and powder bathroom, the homeowners wanted to update their personal bathroom upstairs to match their style and convert from a generic tub/shower combo to walk in shower. They wanted to make the overall room feel more spacious and luxurious despite its small footprint.

The homeowners plan to spend the rest of their retirement in this home, so it was important to give them a space that better functions for their changing accessibility needs in the long run as well as low maintenance finishes. Every piece was selected with functionality in mind. The homeowners were referred to me by a colleague in new construction and a personal friend of theirs when they began their search for a quality renovation. I assisted with their design management and order procurement while working closely with Ashis Bhakta and his team at Elite Construction Contractors to ensure the remodel went as smoothly as possible.

While it is rare to have a renovation project without any hiccups, having a contractor that can handle any surprises with a positive attitude and minimal disruption to the timeline is important. We always try to build in extra buffer time into the schedule to plan for unforeseen delays while keeping it as tight as possible. While a few minor issues arose, the project went off very smoothly within a typical 6-8 week overall timeline. In any bathroom renovation, there are several subcontractors and vendors to coordinate with lots of moving parts to consider. Plumbers, electricians, finish carpenters, tile setters, painters, custom countertop and glass vendors are all key players to align. In this case, the addition of a custom cultured stone shower pan and wall system needed an additional template and fabrication time, adding a bit of extra lead time to the overall project timeline.

DESIGNING FOR SMALL SPACES

Due to the small size of the room, every inch is critical. We made very deliberate choices that maximize functionality while working within spatial limitations. We went with a Kohler Persuade toilet that has a slim base and shallow tank so an elongated bowl toilet can fit in a round toilet footprint so as not to interfere with the swing of the entry door. This toilet is one of my favorites due to its compact, streamlined look and skirted sides that avoid dust collection. The comfort height of the toilet and elongated bowl make it a great choice that also gives the back wall a more open feel. We were able to max out the shower pan size with a few borrowed inches while still keeping the toilet spacing just within minimum code clearances. In a narrow shower space with a glass shower door, every little bit of elbow room counts and I wanted to enlarge it as much as possible beyond the 29″ tub footprint. 

SYSTEMS UPDATE

The electrical updates were fairly minimal in this renovation. We installed like for like on the vanity and fan fixtures. The new fan has much more efficient and powerful air flow compared to the old fixture, yet is so quiet you can barely tell it’s on. Radiant heat was added under the new wood-look tile floors. Something to consider when installing new heated floors is the power required to run it and the proximity to the electrical panel. The new heated floor system required installing a new thermostat and running a new wire on a dedicated circuit. Luckily, the existing electrical panel had space for a dedicated 220v circuit from a previous water heater conversion so there was no costly panel update necessary. The bathroom also backs up to attic space above the garage, so running the new wire in this case was minimal.

THE DESIGN

For color selections, we were working within a palette they had selected for other room updates. Being able to see clearly from the vanity wall to the back of the shower gives the room a much more expansive feel. The floor to ceiling shower panels make the room feel taller and the clear glass offers an unobstructed view that bounces more light throughout.

THE SHOWER

The tub was removed and converted to a composite stone slab shower system for easy maintenance and better flow. The homeowners had weighed the pros and cons of a tile shower versus a solid-surface shower and ultimately decided that no grout would be the way to go for easy maintenance. With future mobility in mind, a grab bar was added on the wall at the shower entry with extra blocking framed into the wall for strength and stability. The low-profile shower pan threshold promotes easy step-in access. A large niche was framed into the back shower wall to keep plenty of storage within reach. The shower plumbing was updated to include a large multi-function showerhead and handheld shower perfect for cleaning. A widespread faucet and undermount sink were also thoughtfully chosen for ease of cleaning and an updated look.

THE FIXTURES

Classic brushed nickel fixtures and hardware were installed throughout, including the edge trim on top of the tile baseboards. The Brizo plumbing fixtures give a clean, modern aesthetic. The lighting feels simple and elegant. The Top Knobs cabinet hardware is simple and comfortable to grab with no sharp corners. The toilet features a dual flush feature for water conservation.

CABINETS

For cabinet style, we matched the wood species on the vanity with their kitchen and powder to keep the cherry consistent but used a slightly deeper stain in this room to give it a rich look and more contrast with the floor tile. We chose a shaker door style for the cabinetry but with a slight bevel on the frame to keep dust collection to a minimum. There is an awkward angled wall on the left side of the vanity; we kept this angled space open for their trash can underneath the counter but wrapped the inside of the wall with 3/4″ thick cabinet end panels for a more finished look. The medicine cabinet was refaced with a new door panel to match the vanity. We framed out the wall-to-wall mirror with wood trim to match the cabinetry to elevate the look. We wanted to keep the mirror as large as possible to make the tight space still feel as spacious and bright as possible. 

HARD SURFACES

The black quartz countertops have a light white veining to give a little dimension to the top while keeping the pattern minimal and neutral next to the more busy shower walls. The shower wall slabs are in a bold stone pattern that gives a very PNW contemporary vibe blending grays and blacks.

The wood look of the tile plank floor was selected to blend with the other oak hardwood floors to keep continuity of finishes throughout the home. The color was also chosen to blend with the existing door and window casing that wasn’t touched in this renovation. I was pleasantly surprised when the tile installer carried the tile pattern into the baseboard for a seamless transition from the floor to the wall which is a more time-consuming aesthetic detail to add than running the tile lengthwise and perpendicular to the floor.

BEFORE PHOTOS

NEW BATHROOM PHOTOS

BEFORE & AFTER

SIDE-BY-SIDE BATHROOM COMPARISON

The before and after comparison is a lovely contrast that shows how much more streamlined the new space is with a richer color palette. We used Sherwin Williams Snowbound on the walls and ceiling to give it just a hint of a warm gray that compliments the cabinetry well. The previous vanity counter had a laminate top with drop in sink and the new top is a black quartz countertop with an undermount sink that feels less cluttered. The lights feel contemporary and bright.

The new tile floor feels warm (literally and visually) and aesthetically pleasing.

The new shower feels elevated with a custom system and functional with the added niche.

These clients were wonderful to work with and I hope they get to enjoy their space for many years to come. If you are interested in aging in place and updating your home to fit your long term needs, feel free to reach out to me.

SHOP THE FIXTURE & STYLING LOOKS BELOW

SHOP THE LOOK – FIXTURES

1. Valve with Diverter Trim
2. Handshower
3. Showerhead
4. Shower Arm
5. Toilet
6. Vanity Light
7. Robe Hook
8. 12″ Towel Bar
9. Cabinet Pull
10. Exhaust Fan/Light
11. Toilet Paper Holder
12. Widespread Faucet
13. Grab Bar

SHOP THE LOOK – STYLING

1. Black Vase
2. Hydrangeas
3. Soap Dispenser
4. Herringbone Turkish Towels (Set of 2)
5. Candlestick Holder
6. Ceramic Soap Dispenser
7. Faux Pearl Plant
8. Sponges
9. Sisal Body Brush
10. Marble Soap Dish
11. Mini Marble Ring Dish
12. OHD Signature Scent Candle
13. Glass Match Cloche with Striker (Smoke)

*Note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from product links. I only recommend products I’ve used and loved.

SNEAK PEAK!

Stay tuned for an exciting two-part upcoming blog post about our Vegas whole house renovation project next month with a gorgeous kitchen and primary bath renovation among other lovely design features and a custom laundry room in Issaquah coming later this summer.

Photos above copyright Sumaira Amber Photography.

Let us know what you think of the small space maximizing details included in this bathroom renovation in the comments below.

If you are located in the Bothell or greater Seattle area and are interested in a bathroom or kitchen remodel, please feel free to drop us a line with the contact form below!