This post is sponsored by Kohler
There are a lot of things that I research for hours, days, even weeks when it comes to a renovation project in our home. But when it comes to the plumbing? I’ve found my knight in shining armor. And that knight is Kohler’s Artifacts Collection in Polished Nickel. No one does Polished Nickel like Kohler—it’s an incredibly warm silver that’s both shiny and durable. It seriously doesn’t tarnish, and the color just looks stunning against our tile. I’ve used the Artifacts line in several homes now, and it feels like it just epitomizes my design style—it’s moody, modern, traditional in all of the best ways. *Swoon.*
I’ve spent four years in this home with the original fixtures—it’s the last bathroom we’re renovating in the house, and I had to save the best for last. I can’t wait to show you how we mixed in some fun tones for our new sinks and bathtub to perfectly balance out the fresh paint and those beautiful shiny fixtures. And stick around, because I’m sharing one simple addition that will completely transform your shower experience. Let’s dive in!
Our New Bathroom Fixtures
Sinks: I love the clean lines of an undermount sink, and clean up is always a breeze. We chose Kohler’s rectangular Memoirs 20″ undermount bathroom sink in the color “Biscuit.” This creamy ivory is becoming a more popular alternative to stark white—it feels a little more timeless and less clinical. We added the Artifacts column sink faucet and Artifacts Lever faucet handles. This is our first time using a sink-mounted faucet instead of wall-mounted faucet in our primary bathroom renovation. It kind of feels like a more mature design choice to me. I just love how these vintage-inspired faucet and handles look so timeless against the more modern undermount.
Tub: The tub is framed all the way down the bathroom hallway — a big statement, a grand entrance. We chose a freestanding tub with an Iron Black painted finish. It’s so moody! The smooth enameled interior is in the same “Biscuit” color as the sinks. We went with the Artifacts 66-1/4″ x 32-1/2″ freestanding bath and bath base. The tub has the Artifacts floor-mount bath filler trim with hand shower—against the tub, it adds this very visually interesting heritage-inspired element.
All of the Shower Details
Showerhead: We chose the polished nickel Artifacts showerhead with 2.5 gpm water pressure, which is that almost therapeutic experience that makes you feel both clean and relaxed.
Valves: So here it goes, my must-have shower trick: If you’re switching your plumbing, add a thermostatic valve. That allows you to set your preferred water temperature on that valve, so when you turn the water on and off with the other valves, you’re only controlling pressure. Perfect temp, every time! The MasterShower temperature control valve and trim with cross handle can be added with the volume control valve. We also strategically placed the controls so we can turn on the shower without having to step inside. It’s the little things that I wish more home design firms would think of during bathroom installs!
Hand Shower: We also included an Artifacts hand shower in the same 2.5 gpm pressure. I only wash my hair every few days, so this makes it easier to wash off after the gym.
Steam Shower: Chris loves to use a steam shower every time he showers, but I don’t wash my hair as often, so I don’t always want the steam. For the steam shower, you typically need a completely closed-off space, so we added a lever to open a vent at the top of the shower door to let the steam out (or keep it in). We went with the Invigoration Series steam generator kit—it has the shower steamy in a record 60 seconds and you can control the temperature for the most serene, spa-like experience.
The Toilet’s Tricks
We loved the first smart toilet we got from Kohler so much that we decided to “rinse and repeat” with that fixture as well! This time, we ordered the Veil Smart Toilet. It’s like a luxury hotel experience: There’s a heated seat, a bidet with multiple settings, and a sensor that automatically opens and closes the lid. It also has a built-in light. The only thing better would be if it was self-cleaning, right? Well, IT IS! It’s an investment, but if your budget allows, it’s an incredible addition to your water closet.
This bathroom has been a long time coming, but seeing these pieces in place means we’re almost at the finished line! There are just a few final details to get the bathroom ready for its big reveal. It already feels like the ultimate retreat I hoped it would!
I’ve seen some detail on your shower tile being around 7 profiles and read all of the comments look for some specifics. Do you have the exact sizes you used? I just love the picture frame molding looking that you did in here.
How tall is your shower ceiling? We are considering putting in a steam shower when we renovate, but I’m worried that our ceilings are too high. How would you deal with that problem?
Ours are 10ft. In the shower as well, minus a few inches. We just have our rotating glass window to trap the steam or vent it. We also have a vent in the shower, we just have to keep it turned off while the steamer runs but we kick it on the help dry things out quicker.
Could you share where the toilet paper holder is from??
Got it on Amazon here!
Good pep talk
Julia, this space is stunning. I love he classic sand on the walls. It’s such a dreamy color. We plan on using this color in our master bathroom as well. Our current vanity is Escape Gray (a mid gray with a green undertone), do you think this color would work with this vanity? our floors are white marble!
Thank you and Happy Holidays!
This paint color is actually Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster, but I do think warm pink and cool gray balance each other out depending on the lighting in the room. See how you like the sample and go from there!