Primary Bathroom Design Reveal

You don’t know how excited I am that our mid century modern bathroom renovation is complete and that I can finally share the design with you! We started our project back in September and although we hoped we would be done by Thanksgiving, we finally finished in time for my birthday in January. I knew from the moment we pulled together the mood board that our bathroom was going to be so beautiful, it would just require a lot of patience on my part. This project is a dream come true and it wouldn’t be possible without the amazing brands that made it a reality. Alan and I wanted to create a serene and modern bathroom that felt like a luxe hotel, but at home.

A little background on our project. Our home is a beautiful 1959 mid century modern ranch in Pasadena, CA. We purchased from the original owners and have been slowly updating the home over the years. In the 70s, the original owners of the home added a rec room complete with avocado shag carpeting above the garage which we decided to convert into a master suite: bedroom, bathroom, closet and office nook. It’s a 600sf space so we really wanted to maximize the space and create a nice little sanctuary for ourselves.

Mid Century Modern Bathroom Renovation

It all started with the tile. I knew I wanted to play with colors and patterns and Fireclay Tile delivers on both. I first discovered them when we needed the perfect backsplash for our kitchen. When it came time to developing the design, my friend Dee and I looked through all of the options that Fireclay offers and immediately fell in love. Since I’m a print lover a simple tile even in an interesting cut wasn’t going to be enough. I love the two tone print of Uni Mountain and that it mimics serene ocean waves. I was drawn to the San Gabriel Brick because it would add a bit of interest as opposed to a standard tile. The San Gabriel Brick is actually Alan’s favorite color, so when I saw it, I knew it was the perfect choice for the walls. He thought I had picked a simple white subway tile and when he saw the brick, he was elated. I was a bit annoyed that he thought I’d pick something so simple for the. master. bathroom but it’s fine and it was only 1 of 3 times I was totally annoyed with him during the whole process which is a big win!

This project was a marriage of great design and finishes and the vanity is one of the pieces that really brought the whole bathroom together. Signature Hardware is gold when it comes to bathroom vanities. I found the teak vanity and selected a black marquina marble top which I knew would complement and balance out the pattern on the floor and the textured brick on the wall. The vanity has a solid teak frame which I know will last. The tapered feet and sleek hardware add to the luxe feel we wanted for the bathroom. I can literally stare at this beauty all day long (and I do when I’m taking a bath!)

For some reason, lighting and hardware seem to be an afterthought when I chat with friends. I think some people get so tired of making decisions they just go with any choice. On the contrary, these are such important design decisions for me. I feel like bad lighting and the wrong finish hardware will ruin a perfectly nice bathroom. I always use to Build.com as they have the best selection of products and the pricing is just right (trust me, every dollar counts during a renovation!) For the lighting, I wanted something that was a good mix of mid century modern and Scandinavian modern. I let out a loud “woo hoo!” at 2am after I found these sconces. The best ideas and products seem to come up at the most reasonable hour of the day, right? I was extra excited when I found that there was a ceiling light in the same collection.

mid century modern bathroom remodel ideas

Build.com has knowledgeable project experts who help answer questions and provide details on products so you can buy knowing it’s the right product for your renovation. I had a ton of questions about faucets and they helped me pick a top quality faucet. Alan and I chose the Pfister Contempra line in Brushed Gold since it has a great modern look which is perfect for our mid century modern home. Want to know something? Not all brass and gold is created equal! Although other brands have brass or brushed gold options, the finish either looks yellow or champagne, but not Pfister’s brushed brass – it’s the perfect brushed gold tone!

There you have it! Our master bathroom reveal is finally here. I hope you love and are just as obsessed as I am with the design. We set out to create a sanctuary and I’m proud to say we accomplished it!

Pictures by Bethany Nauert