Bold Tile Solves a Color Question in a Basement Bath
See this Maryland room’s transformation from dark and unused to bright and high-tech
Before: No one ventured downstairs to use this bathroom, which had previously been flooded and remained unfinished.
After: An updated and finished space makes the bathroom not only usable, but also stylish.
Colors: The rest of the family’s house has black-and-white finishes paired with vibrant colors. At first, the clients weren’t sure if they wanted to bring color into this bathroom. One wanted to keep it black and white, while the other begged to bring in a color.
Then, Cooley and Monahan showed them the yellow tile, and everyone was sold. The designers snagged this moment and never looked back.
Pro Tip: “Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors or metals,” Cooley said. “Just be mindful they’re in the same family of hues. When blending neutral with a pop of color, neutral will always balance out whichever color you may choose.”
Colors: The rest of the family’s house has black-and-white finishes paired with vibrant colors. At first, the clients weren’t sure if they wanted to bring color into this bathroom. One wanted to keep it black and white, while the other begged to bring in a color.
Then, Cooley and Monahan showed them the yellow tile, and everyone was sold. The designers snagged this moment and never looked back.
Pro Tip: “Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors or metals,” Cooley said. “Just be mindful they’re in the same family of hues. When blending neutral with a pop of color, neutral will always balance out whichever color you may choose.”
Vanity: The team got creative when it came to the vanity and came up with a custom design that floats under the new mirror. The vanity is made out of five walnut panels joined at the edges and framed into a box shape. To give the client additional storage space, they added another walnut panel below the main vanity that’s hooked to the walls on two sides. Then they added a thin-gauge metal cable from the corner of the vanity to the corner of the shelf for added stability.
Lighting: During the day, the window provides a lot of natural light. They also updated the light above the vanity and added a recessed light in the shower ceiling.
Vanity: custom made with walnut, Crystal Cabinet Works; browse floating walnut vanities
Lighting: During the day, the window provides a lot of natural light. They also updated the light above the vanity and added a recessed light in the shower ceiling.
Vanity: custom made with walnut, Crystal Cabinet Works; browse floating walnut vanities
Sink: The squared sink and contemporary faucet stay true to the rest of the home’s style.
Sink: Aquamedia, Lacava; faucet: Siderna, Brizo; find a black bathroom faucet
Sink: Aquamedia, Lacava; faucet: Siderna, Brizo; find a black bathroom faucet
Before: The shower area was unfinished and not a usable space for the family.
After: A band of yellow leads you into the new shower, which was expanded about a foot on the right side.
Shower entrance: The yellow tile not only creates a focal point in the bathroom, it also covers a very functional portion of the room. Cooley and Monahan didn’t change the room’s layout, but instead created this yellow-tiled shower entrance to allow them to run plumbing for the shower head to the opposite wall. This solution helped save the client money.
Shower entrance: The yellow tile not only creates a focal point in the bathroom, it also covers a very functional portion of the room. Cooley and Monahan didn’t change the room’s layout, but instead created this yellow-tiled shower entrance to allow them to run plumbing for the shower head to the opposite wall. This solution helped save the client money.
The design team pumped out the walls on all sides of the shower entrance, which gave them space to run pipes and install these long, yellow tiles.
The clients ended up loving the yellow tile so much that they didn’t want to cover it up with a shower curtain or door. That would have taken away from its statement-making abilities, Monahan says. Because it’s 16 inches wide, water doesn’t splash out past the entrance.
Flooring: They chose large black tiles for two reasons: They eliminate grout lines and keep the focus on the show-stopping yellow tile.
Flooring: porcelain tile, Architectural Ceramics
The clients ended up loving the yellow tile so much that they didn’t want to cover it up with a shower curtain or door. That would have taken away from its statement-making abilities, Monahan says. Because it’s 16 inches wide, water doesn’t splash out past the entrance.
Flooring: They chose large black tiles for two reasons: They eliminate grout lines and keep the focus on the show-stopping yellow tile.
Flooring: porcelain tile, Architectural Ceramics
Shower system: Inside the shower, they have a stationary shower head, a handheld shower head and sprayers that shoot water out from the walls and ceiling.
In the age of technology, the design team knew they could enhance the shower experience. The white panel on the yellow tile is called a Digital Thermostatic Valve, or DTV. This remote is used to operate your shower heads and sprayers, eliminating manual handles, and allows you to control the water’s temperature, set a timer or pause the water.
Shower head: HydroRail-S, Kohler; body sprayers: WaterTile, Kohler; digital showering system: DTV Prompt, Kohler
In the age of technology, the design team knew they could enhance the shower experience. The white panel on the yellow tile is called a Digital Thermostatic Valve, or DTV. This remote is used to operate your shower heads and sprayers, eliminating manual handles, and allows you to control the water’s temperature, set a timer or pause the water.
Shower head: HydroRail-S, Kohler; body sprayers: WaterTile, Kohler; digital showering system: DTV Prompt, Kohler
Shower tile: The design team decided to use larger white tiles in a stacked pattern for the inside of the shower. The yellow tiles were also installed in a stacked fashion and are the exact width of the shower entrance. The flooring is made up of smaller squares in the same color as the main flooring outside the shower.
Flooring: porcelain tile, Architectural Ceramics; shower walls: ceramic tile, Architectural Ceramics
Flooring: porcelain tile, Architectural Ceramics; shower walls: ceramic tile, Architectural Ceramics
Seat: A fold-up shower seat provides function without taking up a ton of space.
Result: This six-month project changed not only the look of this family’s downstairs bathroom, but also the family’s personal habits. Since the renovation, the family says they routinely choose to shower in the basement instead of the other bathrooms in the home.
Shower seat: teak folding shower seat, Signature Hardware; browse shower benches and seats
More
7 Tips for a Sensational Yellow Bathroom
Trending Now: The Top 10 New Bathrooms on Houzz
Find a local professional to help with your next bathroom remodel
Result: This six-month project changed not only the look of this family’s downstairs bathroom, but also the family’s personal habits. Since the renovation, the family says they routinely choose to shower in the basement instead of the other bathrooms in the home.
Shower seat: teak folding shower seat, Signature Hardware; browse shower benches and seats
More
7 Tips for a Sensational Yellow Bathroom
Trending Now: The Top 10 New Bathrooms on Houzz
Find a local professional to help with your next bathroom remodel
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two kids
Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Size: 45 square feet (4.1 square meters)
Design team: interior designer Melissa Cooley and project developer TJ Monahan of Case Design/Remodeling
The backstory: The mostly unfinished basement had a rarely used bathroom. The Maryland family wanted to change that and decided to take on a basement remodel.
Scope of work: Cooley and Monahan helped the family turn this unused space into a fully functioning bathroom. The project took about six months and included a custom vanity and a vibrantly tiled shower.