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Our Modern Cottage Bathroom Reveal!

January 27, 2021

It's safe to say that when we demo'd our bathroom last June (say it ain't so!!), we were not expecting the renovation to take this long. But here we are, at the end of January with a new bathroom that we're over the moon to be sharing with you today. We moved shortly after finishing our bathroom renovation in our last house, so we're very excited to enjoy this bathroom for a good long time. Here's how it looked before.

And now!

In the before, the doorway at the far end of the bathroom lead to our former closet. It was after we finished our new closet (check it out here!) that we started the bathroom and we were able to expand our bathroom into that space. I can't imagine it without that window at the end!

If I back up a few more feet, you can see how the bathroom looks from the entry to our bedroom. We switched up the layout completely to maximize every inch. Our bathroom before felt like a very narrow hallway and we wanted our new bathroom to feel roomy, but functional and bright! We added three additional windows! When I was designing the space, I really wanted to play with marrying warm and cool tones and masculine and feminine and I love how this view shows all of that.

On the right is the water closet. It's a small room with a pocket door that we added a lot of personality to with very few elements. Wallpaper. Console Sink. Vintage mirror. Smart Toilet. And somehow, it's absolutely my favorite room in our house--okay, it's probably the toilet. (psst. linked every last source at the bottom of the post for you!)

Directly across from the water closet is the shower. Having a shower with natural light never gets old. We used a special water-grade privacy window (Pella brand) and it let's light pour in so I can admire all the tile and stone. I've always been a fan of mixed metals and this bathroom is no different. All of our plumbing faucets and light fixtures are black and we accented the space with brass hardware. It feels warm and cool, masculine and feminine. We mixed two different tile in the shower + slab stone with pretty blue undertones and I love the way the black faucets are virtually maintenance free.

We tucked the shower niche around the corner where it's a little less seen.

 

I love having the shower and toilet at the front of our bathroom because it's kind of like the things you want quick access to are there! Adding the console sink to the water closet has made it even moreso. Because, from my experience, walking into the heart of the bathroom--well, I never want to leave.

His and her vanities flank either side. I opted for the side with extra storage, so Chris gets the window side. The windows that used to not be there! It blows my mind every morning as I look out into the trees that we used to not see the little birds sitting right outside.


On the opposite side, we added tower storage to mimic the shape of the windows. I haven't come CLOSE to filling them up, but give me a few months. ;)

Perhaps the area of the bathroom that I spent the most time tweaking (and changing my mind about) was the tub area. We went from long linen curtains and a brass fixture, to navy velvet curtains to no curtains and a more historic light and warm wood window shades. Once I decided I didn't want to cover the beautiful window return tile with long curtains, but instead hang a gallery wall around the tub nook--it was the missing piece for me. It feels warm and lived in and collected and all the modern cottage feelings that we're going for in this house.



We have one blurry before photo facing toward our room that has an equally refreshing after.

I know this was a long process, and I'm sure there will be little tweaks and additions down the line (for instance I nixed the rug for now because our floors are heated and it felt busy with the art and a rug...but maybe in the future?), but in case you missed any part of it, here's every last post about our bathroom process:

The Two Layouts We're Deciding Between + Before Tour
Our Demo'd Bathroom
Order of Events Leading up to a Renovation + Our Bathroom Mood Board
Plumbing, Electrical, Floor Pre - An Update on Bathroom Progress
The Breakdown of all the Plumbing Fixtures We Chose
How We Mixed 5 Different Tiles in Our Bathroom
Bathroom Rug Fashion Show
The Unexpected Solution to Getting My Dream Shower Door Knob
All About the Custom Vanities in our Bathroom

And all of the sources for you, too! Thank you so much for cheering us on and being so invested in this project. It's our dream bathroom, truly.

Sources

Wall Color: Alabaster by Sherwin Williams
Trim Color: Lamp Room Gray by Farrow & Ball
Window: Pella Architect Series

Tile:
Wall Tile
Shower Floor
Wall Skirting
Floor Tile
Chair rail
Countertop: Honed Calacatta White

Water Closet:
Wallpaper
Mirror (vintage)
Sink
Console Legs
Faucet
Hand Soap
Toilet
Hand Towel

Shower:
Towel Hooks
Shower Knob
Showerhead
Hand Shower
Body Sprays
Volume Controls
Thermostatic Valves

Vanities:
Cabinet Knobs
Mirror
Sconces
Sink
Faucets
Hand Soap
Towel Ring
Hand Towel
Round Marble Tray (similar)
Clear Ribbed Vase
Smoke Glass Vase
Oval Tray

Bathtub
Bath Faucet
Side Table
Pendant Light
Roman Shades
Towel Bar
Bath Towels

Gallery Wall:
Peonies
Study of Clouds
Small Landscape
Rocky Shore
Old Apple Tree
The Moment is Now

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  1. Thumb up! I like your post here. And wow the images are fantastic. I am dreaming to have a bathroom like those you have shared. Very helpful and excited to see your great reveal. My bathroom should be liveable like it has ever been, so I'm thinking of bathroom remodeling in RI, now. I would like to consider a new tub and have a space for the make-up, cleaning products. Thank you =)

  2. Wonderfull renovation!!! But I would love to see the before and after floor plan of the bathroom.
    But congrats ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????

  3. It’s all beautiful getting so much inspo for my own renovation. I love your mix of all three metals. Small question where your toilet tissue holder is from? If I were to do a polished chrome washstand with matte black faucet and shower set Matte black how would you incorporate brushed gold and more polished chrome?

  4. OMG...... I thought the bathroom was beautiful before then; the after pictures are absolutely gorgeous. Before the internet I would go through magazines and cut out pictures of different rooms, Windows or doors that someday I would like to have in my own home. Now I just have to go to the internet and I can find anything I want...now that I have your website, I don't have to look any further! You guys do great!

  5. Just curious. The electrical code I believe says that a light fixture over a tub must be at least 8 ft above the rim of the tub. Is yours over the tub or does it just look that way. I love the cabinetry, very elegant, and the use of art.

  6. This may be obvious to some, but...is the double set of thermostatic valves and volume control for his and hers, or one for shower head and one for the body sprays (which would be my guess)?

  7. Love everything you do! Your style is calming and yet has personality which I feel a lot of established designers are missing. You really know how to put a gallery wall together! Loved watching the video of you doing it. I got so obsessed with vintage and antique art that I started an Etsy shop. Etsy.com/shop/VintagePrintsNow

  8. Beautiful bathroom. Just curious why you trimmed out the sink windows but not the bathroom window? Is there a design reason or a practical reason?

  9. GORGEOUS! Anyone else too superstitious to have two mirrors facing each other in your house?! Other than that (for ME), perfection!!

  10. Have you taken a bath yet!? With the lights dimmed low, at night, peaceful and quiet... sounds magical!!! How about a bathroom speaker for music?

  11. Curious to hear the thought process around trimming out some of the windows by Chris' vanity but not behind the tub! We are renovating now there are soooo many micro decisions like that to make it is mind boggling!

    1. Trim actually couldn't fit on the window by the tub, so we did a drywall return--which is actually MORE expensive than trim, because it has to be perfect. It ended up working out perfectly because the focal window in the living room (the big arch one) is also a drywall return with the other windows framed.

  12. Completely love it!! It’s come together so well. Would you mind sharing what the dimensions of the room are (including shower and wc)?

  13. It's beautiful! I've always heard that rectangular floor finishing (whether wood or tile) should run the length of the room. That it visually lengthens the longest part of the room. I'm curious if you had a reason that you ran them the floor tile more horizontal? If that all makes sense!

    1. With bricklay tile patterns, I believe it feels more right to most people (myself definitely included) to view it horizontally. As you would see the pattern on a brick wall.
      I read a really thorough article on this once but I can't recall the source well enough to link for you!

  14. So so good! One question though, is there a door to the bathroom? Or could someone be able to see you showering/bathing from your room? Thought process on that??
    It really turned out so amazing!

  15. The bathroom looks amazing! Will you do a cost breakdown and maybe a look for less like your previous master bathroom? I’m still partial to that gorgeous dark green shower in your previous home but those fluted cabinets are to die for ????

  16. Bravissima! Watching this evolve over time has been such a treat. Especially (maybe?) the curtain debate. I could see why softening all that stone made sense before all the finishing touches were there - even though I did wonder why install a lot of gorgeous tile only to cover it. But I have learned to just watch and see how you do. Sometimes you change my mind and sometimes you validate my instincts - pretty much summing up the whole reason people follow other people design stories, am I right? But I confess I nearly stood and saluted when I saw the gallery. All that gorgeous warmth, with the blind, is EXACTLY what fits in this room and in this house. Thank you for taking us on the journey and sharing the results.

  17. Simply exquisite Julia. Between the gallery and the curated vanities, it feels less like a bathroom and more like a room that happens to have a tub!

    Regarding a rug, have you considered using a round one for better balance? Your Rosemarie collection has so many lovely ones. It would provide a juxtaposition to all of the rectangular shapes in the room, cover less of the floor (so may feel less busy), and also anchor the center of the space.

    1. Oh, I love the idea of a round rug in there! It really does look beautiful, but I know that I wouldn't like to live in it without a rug. I know the floors are heated so all that tile wouldn't be cold, but I can hear the echoes all the way across the country. ;-) The rug would absorb the sound and add some cozy. Brilliant, JL!

  18. It's beautiful! I can see so clearly your vision of cool + warm! It's so layered and lovely. The wood & tile. The black fixtures with the brass accents. And then your gallery wall is the perfect cozy feel that just pulls it all together. I would love to see you dip your toe into beginner houseplant and let a snake plant bask in that beautiful tub window. hahaha! Just a wee nod to your CB2 talk yesterday. Great job guys!

  19. What a truly spectacular space. I knew it was going to be good, but I didn’t expect it to be this good! The gallery wall takes my breath away. Excellent work!

  20. Well done you two. It’s a privilege to watch your home become your own. This bathroom has been a lesson in layering from the ground up. Your dedication to excellence with each finish/fixture/frame paid off. Just look at what you created! Truly stunning. No pressure, but I can’t wait to see what you do in your kitchen.

  21. Went back and looked at your previous master bath- I love how some of your style choices have remained consistent from your previous home to this one, like the mirrors, the sconces next to the mirror, the drawer shapes and brass pulls, how the faucets are mounted, wallpaper in the water closet, etc. I think it's so fun to see how you have evolved but also that you have clearly figured out your style!

  22. Beautiful, just beautiful. I LOVE how you used the same tile throughout in different shapes. Will keep that in mind if/when we redo our bathroom!

  23. I love this bathroom - taking major inspiration from your shower (but I wonder why the door doesn't go the other way so you don't have to walk in to turn the valves?)! A few months ago I went on the hunt for antique frames and hung a gallery wall mix of vintage paintings and prints in my kitchen. Much like around your tub, it was just what the room needed to bring in a sense of "me" and add warmth. Well done as always!

      1. Michelle, did you mean placing the door knob on the left instead of the right (hinges on the right instead of the left)? I could see it feeling a bit crowded with the door entering the bathroom and the shower door potentially swinging into each other if they went with that swing direction.

      2. We had the option of either direction, but in the end, we wanted to be able to swing the door open and easily grab towels.

  24. Absolutely stunning. Every time you show us a new piece of your home I am absolutely amazed at just how you all have been able to completely transform a space. We aren’t just talking changing out some cabinets and windows and a fresh coat of paint. Everything is so different that I can’t even imagine how it used to be. All the way down to the arched doorways and the layout. Your bathroom is absolutely gorgeous!

  25. Beautiful! I loved both versions of the tub area with curtains, but this gallery wall feels like the perfect fit for your style. I love watching the process and seeing the final result.

  26. I feel like this is a turning point for you. The room that made you a legit designer and not just a home design enthusiast. And that is not meant to be comment with underlying shade AT ALL. I’ve been a fan of everything you do for years and it is really awesome to see you grow and come in to your true style. This room feels on par with Amber Interiors and Studio McGee and that is a HUGE compliment. The way you physically changed the layout and the finishes you chose, down to the creative genius of adding a gallery wall (nook?) with those pieces that all go together. This is the work of a high end designer, not a DIY blogger. (That’s also not a judgment, diy bloggers do great work!) You should feel SO proud. It’s incredible. Yay Julia!!!

    1. Yes! You put my thoughts into words! You did an amazing job, Julia. I honestly can't wait for you to one day publish an interior design book! I'm gonna click that preorder button so fast, haha! Enjoy your new space. :)

  27. Wow! Yes! Losing the curtains and adding the gallery wall was the missing piece! Good work! That shower is the stuff of dreaaaaams. So happy for you that it’s finally done.

  28. It is soooo gorgeous! Those cabinets are the star of the show for me especially with the brass hardwear, and this is coming from someone who couldn't stand wooden cupboard previously. I also love that you managed to get an arch into the bathroom. It makes the room reflect the rest of your house so nicely!
    You have such amazing taste I think I love everything you do, the vision you have is amazing!

  29. I’ll admit, early on I wasn’t loving where the bathroom was heading. It was a lot of marble and just felt kind of cold to me. Oh how wrong I was! It’s amazing how much warmth those vanities add. And that gallery wall is GORGEOUS. Also love how cozy the paneled ceiling makes the room feel. Really beautiful work.

  30. The bathroom reveal is beautiful and fits the aesthetic of your home so well! I especially love the custom vanities and wash closet! Two random questions - did you have the artwork and frames on hand for the gallery wall, or did you source specifically for the bathroom? And just curious why there are hooks above the light switches in the last photo? Thanks for sharing your home with us! xx

      1. OH! Those are just extra for towels. Like if we get out of the shower and are getting ready, it's easy to just hook it right there.

  31. Bathroom is amazing and I’m so happy for you to enjoy it.
    On Chris’s vanity. Where are the faux floral hydrangeas from?
    Thanks for this blog - it’s a bright spot in my day!

  32. WOW! WOW! WOW! How much can I pay for rent to live in your bathroom?!! Reminds me of Pretty Women when she says "his bathroom is bigger than the Blue Banana!" Haha! Literally the only thing I'd add is a real plant by the tub. Well done!

  33. The art around the tub really does bring everything together! The perfect finishing touch.

    Also, I thought there was a plate of food sitting on the little stool by the tub and I really appreciated that. ???? I realize now it's NOT food, but a relaxing bath and a plate of snacks sounds like a great evening to me. Haha!

    1. I too processed that scrubber as some sort of nut-encrusted pastry and I was like, "dang, they really thought of everything."

  34. YES to the art gallery wall around the tub! It was seriously the missing piece and now I want to figure out where I can incorporate one in our upcoming bathroom remodel ;-)

      1. Thank you! Sometimes it is hard to determine the scale just from pictures! I love it centered in the room across from the centered tub and hope it still gives you plenty of space in that gorgeous shower.

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