Oftentimes, clients come to HDR Remodeling for a full bathroom overhaul, complete with redesign and rebuild, but sometimes, a bathroom refresh is simply what our clients need. We recently wrapped up this Oakland guest bathroom refresh and are excited to give you the scoop on how we got it done.

The Challenge

Our clients wanted to refresh their guest bathroom with a contemporary design. They loved the charm of their 1920s-era house, but felt that the dated fixtures and finishes had served their purpose and were looking for inspiration to breathe new life into the space. To start, the bathroom layout with the placement of the toilet, front and center as guests approached the bathroom, made the space look unpleasant and took away from the flow of the bathroom. 

The Solution

Responding to the existing architectural details of the house while adding a touch of our client’s personal style became the driving factor in our design. With close collaboration with our clients, we became familiar with their sense of style—a blend of modern and vintage, with an appreciation for unique handmade, natural materials. The organic form of wood and tile materials gave us our direction for the project and provided our original design with a focal point.

Because our goal was to remain within the footprint of the existing bathroom, we had to get creative with the space we had. Changing the layout of the fixtures was key to taking back the flow of this space.

We all need a place in a bathtub for soap and shampoo bottles, and with the repurposing and repositioning of the original bathtub, we were able to build in a deep tub ledge to provide plenty of space for bathing necessities as well as a seat into the tub. 

The Outcome

By shifting the layout of the bathroom and using a toilet with a wall-mounted tank, we were able to relocate the toilet behind the door and gain additional square footage for the statement pieces of this bathroom refresh. A custom wood countertop and shelves, sourced from a family member of our clients, Revival Woods of Kapaʻau, Hawaii, became the new centerpiece of the bathroom. A bold patterned tile adds dimension and interest to what would otherwise be a simple, tiled wall.