Before and After: 3 Dreamy White-and-Wood Bathroom Makeovers
See how this winning material combination transforms bland bathrooms into bright, natural beauties
Merging the rustic charm of wood with the fresh, clean look of white is a tried-and-true design recipe. In these three bathroom makeovers, designers and remodelers transformed bland and gloomy spaces with a mix of white, wood and other stylish materials. Check out the before-and-after photos of these dreamy bathrooms, then let us know if you think white and wood is a winning combination.
After: Spruill’s new layout created space for a roomy shower stall at the end of the room. He doubled the size of the window and used a clear glass shower enclosure for an airier feel.
The room style is a transitional balance between traditional and modern. In addition to the layout, the contractor also designed the cabinetry. The homeowners opted for the white oak finish.
Spruill suggested a large floor-to-ceiling set of cabinets to serve as a linen closet. It has hamper pullouts on the bottom, drawers in the middle and shelves on top.
The room style is a transitional balance between traditional and modern. In addition to the layout, the contractor also designed the cabinetry. The homeowners opted for the white oak finish.
Spruill suggested a large floor-to-ceiling set of cabinets to serve as a linen closet. It has hamper pullouts on the bottom, drawers in the middle and shelves on top.
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The cabinet facings and floating style bring in modern lines, while the marble-like quartz countertop adds a classic element to the space. The homeowners chose brass hardware wrapped in leather.
The arched vanity mirrors add curves to the room. The faucets have clean, streamlined profiles that ride the line between traditional and modern. Their Champagne bronze finish adds warmth.
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The arched vanity mirrors add curves to the room. The faucets have clean, streamlined profiles that ride the line between traditional and modern. Their Champagne bronze finish adds warmth.
See more of this bathroom remodel
Shop for a bathroom mirror
2. Bubbles and Bookend Vanities
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Denver
Size: 390 square feet (36 square meters)
Designer: Kate Bendewald Interior Design
Before: These young newlyweds loved some of the old-world architectural details of their Tudor-style home in Denver, but they knew there were rooms that needed major updating, especially the primary bathroom.
The room featured a massive jetted tub with a tiled, angled surround that ate up much of the floor space. Dated beige tile and beige countertops did little to elevate the vibe. Designer Kate Bendewald helped the couple create a brighter and fresher bathroom with a white-and-wood palette, a spa-like feel and a few Mediterranean-inspired details that reflect the homeowners’ heritage.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Denver
Size: 390 square feet (36 square meters)
Designer: Kate Bendewald Interior Design
Before: These young newlyweds loved some of the old-world architectural details of their Tudor-style home in Denver, but they knew there were rooms that needed major updating, especially the primary bathroom.
The room featured a massive jetted tub with a tiled, angled surround that ate up much of the floor space. Dated beige tile and beige countertops did little to elevate the vibe. Designer Kate Bendewald helped the couple create a brighter and fresher bathroom with a white-and-wood palette, a spa-like feel and a few Mediterranean-inspired details that reflect the homeowners’ heritage.
After: Bendewald kept the basic layout, with a bathtub in the middle of the room flanked by single vanities, but the new material selections make a dramatic difference. She removed the jetted tub and replaced it with a white, oval freestanding acrylic tub.
“The old tub felt boxy,” she says. “We liked this tub because it was dramatic. We spent lots of time playing with many options of how to do the bathroom layout, but we stayed with the location of the existing plumbing to keep costs down.”
To brighten the space, the designer had the walls painted a warm off-white (Wind’s Breath by Benjamin Moore). “We were trying to avoid anything that would feel too yellow but wanted something that would still feel warm,” she says.
Other standout features include arabesque-style mirror frames and marble floor tile. “We liked the warmth of the honed marble and the veining,” Bendewald says. “It has the timeless, classic appeal we were going for.”
“The old tub felt boxy,” she says. “We liked this tub because it was dramatic. We spent lots of time playing with many options of how to do the bathroom layout, but we stayed with the location of the existing plumbing to keep costs down.”
To brighten the space, the designer had the walls painted a warm off-white (Wind’s Breath by Benjamin Moore). “We were trying to avoid anything that would feel too yellow but wanted something that would still feel warm,” she says.
Other standout features include arabesque-style mirror frames and marble floor tile. “We liked the warmth of the honed marble and the veining,” Bendewald says. “It has the timeless, classic appeal we were going for.”
The two custom 48-inch-wide white oak vanities add warmth to the bathroom and feature honed marble countertops and backsplashes that coordinate with the floor tile.
Matte black hardware on the vanities coordinates with the black and aged brass sconces. A vintage-look indoor-outdoor rug provides comfort, as does the heated floor.
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Matte black hardware on the vanities coordinates with the black and aged brass sconces. A vintage-look indoor-outdoor rug provides comfort, as does the heated floor.
See more of this bathroom remodel
3. Industrial Chic
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Preston and Brittany Munsch and their three kids
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Size: 98 square feet (9 square meters)
Designer: Megan Tennant of Forte Design Studios
Before: The cramped main bathroom and its laminate countertops and salmon-brown walls didn’t fit the idea of a welcoming space for these Colorado homeowners.
As part of a renovation of their early-2000s Craftsman ranch house, the couple worked with designer Megan Tennant to take down divider walls, remove an oversize corner tub and create a more open layout with a spacious new shower. A reclaimed-wood ceiling and large hickory double vanity add warmth and modern farmhouse style, while a shower enclosure of black steel and glass and other black accents deliver a bit of an industrial vibe.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Preston and Brittany Munsch and their three kids
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Size: 98 square feet (9 square meters)
Designer: Megan Tennant of Forte Design Studios
Before: The cramped main bathroom and its laminate countertops and salmon-brown walls didn’t fit the idea of a welcoming space for these Colorado homeowners.
As part of a renovation of their early-2000s Craftsman ranch house, the couple worked with designer Megan Tennant to take down divider walls, remove an oversize corner tub and create a more open layout with a spacious new shower. A reclaimed-wood ceiling and large hickory double vanity add warmth and modern farmhouse style, while a shower enclosure of black steel and glass and other black accents deliver a bit of an industrial vibe.
After: Tennant scooped out everything, including the water closet, and created a simpler, more open layout in a straightforward rectangular form.
Ditching the bathtub allowed her to create a 4-by-7-foot steam shower behind an enclosure of black steel and glass. The shower also features a built-in bench, two shower heads and two new operable windows that offer light, ventilation and views of the backyard.
The double vanity features hickory cabinets and drawers in a custom stain. The countertop is polished gray quartz, which also tops the shower bench. White hexagonal tile covers the shower ceiling and floor, creating a classic mix of white and wood that feels fresh and rustic.
Ditching the bathtub allowed her to create a 4-by-7-foot steam shower behind an enclosure of black steel and glass. The shower also features a built-in bench, two shower heads and two new operable windows that offer light, ventilation and views of the backyard.
The double vanity features hickory cabinets and drawers in a custom stain. The countertop is polished gray quartz, which also tops the shower bench. White hexagonal tile covers the shower ceiling and floor, creating a classic mix of white and wood that feels fresh and rustic.
White ceramic 4-by-12-inch picket tiles cover the vanity wall and shower walls. “We covered a lot of square feet, so we wanted to save some money with those tiles,” Tennant says.
Black faucets, black cage-shade lighting and a black outlet complement the black-framed shower enclosure.
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Black faucets, black cage-shade lighting and a black outlet complement the black-framed shower enclosure.
See more of this bathroom remodel
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a local bathroom remodeler
Browse vanities in the Houzz Shop
Shop for your bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Dallas
Size: 80 square feet (7.4 square meters)
Contractor: Brandon Spruill of Spruill Remodel
Before: This Dallas couple’s former bathroom had a tub, a small shower stall and a vanity. The layout was cramped and the shower stall was dark. General contractor Brandon Spruill came up with a plan to ditch the former built-in bathtub and replace it with a new vanity area, making the room feel larger and gaining space for a more open and bright shower.
There’s also a new wall of built-in cabinets that provides plenty of storage. “These clients had a great eye — they picked all the finishes themselves,” Spruill says. The result is a sophisticated mix of wood, white and stone-like porcelain.
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