Basement Bathroom Reveal

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comHappy Tuesday, friends. I’m hoping this post will brighten your day a little! I’m finally ready to share our finished basement bathroom renovation. We’ve been working on this project since January and I’m really proud of how it came together. Working with a small, tight, short space (in a dark & cool basement) had a LOT of challenges…. from designing to photographing, this was simply a tough room. The ceiling is only 81″ tall (I can actually touch it!) and this space gets zero natural light. My goal was to make the basement bathroom feel clean, cozy (thanks to heated floors & a fancy towel warmer), luxurious, and more functional. I’m getting into the nitty gritty details in this post and am sharing all the angles & close-ups. Click through for the complete tour and my design thoughts.

*This post is sponsored by Lowe’s. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow us to create unique content while featuring products we actually use & enjoy!

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comEvery good reveal begins with a before & after image! Remember where we started?! If you want the complete before tour (icky carpet and all), click here. Ready for the after image? This is what the space looks like today…

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comWe swapped the dated bathtub for a marble shower to make the room feel larger, lighter, and taller. Below you’ll also notice, we traded out the 90’s oak vanity for an updated version with a thick, carrara countertop. It’s pretty dreamy! Keep scrolling…

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comThe footprint of this room is six feet by eight feet, so it’s on the smaller side for a bathroom (it’s roughly the same size as the bath in our previous home). We decided to keep the plumbing footprint the same, since the layout was functional and it would be more cost effective. Therefore, the renovation was really just a matter of replacing everything, updating the finishes, adding millwork, and swapping the bathtub for a shower.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comThe aesthetic I was shooting for in this tiny room was luxe, cozy, and semi-traditional. I wanted to keep things pretty neutral, bright, and classic since it’s a small windowless room with a low ceiling. I actually have a post coming to the blog later, that shares my tips for making a tiny bathroom look larger than it actually is. Stay tuned!

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comI opted for matching plumbing fixtures from the Moen Weymouth collection available at Lowe’s. They feel very timeless- especially in the polished nickel finish.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comYou guys know I love mixing metals, so of course I had to throw in a couple brass finishes as well. Since the ceiling is short, it made sense to drop a brass semi flush mount globe fixture above the beveled mirror, rather than a hanging pendant light. We just didn’t have much height to work with down here, but I still wanted to create a balanced and beautiful vignette above the vanity.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comSpeaking of the vanity- I opted for this blueish gray Silkroad Exclusives 36-inch vanity because it’s not only gorgeous, but it comes ready to install. It includes the thick carrara marble countertop, and the under mount sink. You basically just add a faucet, hook up the plumbing, and you’re ready to roll! I also liked that it had both open and closed storage.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comSince we have a guest bedroom in our basement, this is a bath that is used by our friends and family who stay overnight with us. However, more often than that- Emmett and I use this space for easy access to a restroom since we hangout in our basement media room all the time. We’ve been watching a lot of movies and TV lately while social distancing. I wanted to make sure it was equipped with essential items and toiletries for guests, but could also be streamlined for the day-to-day.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comLet’s talk about my favorite feature… the Warmrails towel warmer! It’s really quite hot. I’m the kind of gal who appreciates these luxuries and I’m looking forward to testing the shower down here, just to have a hot towel afterwards… it’s an amenity I’m not used to. It has multiple options for installation- complete with instructions (for hard & soft wiring). You can either plug it into an outlet, hardwire the warmer, or use a combination of both (which was our easiest, best looking option). The warmer even came with the matching electrical plate to hide the wiring / plug, so the installation looks nice and clean.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comI bought new herringbone woven Turkish towels that are super soft to accompany my new towel warmer. I also added a small piece of gilded art to balance the wall.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comThe shower is small, but it honestly feels larger than the previous bathtub. I knew I wanted to keep the shower feeling open with glass for the majority of the enclosure, with a half wall on the bottom section- for privacy and comfort. It was really the best option for our basement bath.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comI can’t say enough good things about the Moen Weymouth plumbing fixtures we installed. They are really beautiful in person and that giant shower head works like a dream!

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comFor the shower, we used the Schluter Systems Kerdi Shower Kit to make installation a thousand times easier. I’m serious- when the time comes to renovate our master shower, we’ll definitely be using this product again. I opted for Anatolia Tile Nero Hex for the shower floor to add traction, which perfectly sloped to the shape of the drain. It’s beautiful, cohesive, a fun surprise on the shower floor, and is safer in a shower setting since it has lots of grout lines for anti-slipping.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comWhile we’re on the subject of tile… we installed 12″ x 24″ polished white carrara on the walls of the shower and the surrounding enclosure. The large format tile was easy to install, will be a breeze to clean, and makes the shower feel larger than it actually is. Would you guys like to see a marble maintenance post? I know marble in a bathroom setting can be intimidating.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comRather than installing a shower niche, I designed a streamlined ledge that wraps under the shower control. It’s the perfect place to rest toiletries, shampoo, soaps, etc. Emmett did an amazing job fabricating the ledges for me! They create a tailored look and are super functional.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comAs you already know, we installed DIY heated flooring throughout which was really easy thanks to this handy heated floor kit. I can’t even begin to explain how incredible having a heated floor has been- especially in a chilly basement setting. The dogs actually go into the space just to sprawl out and enjoy the warmth… it’s so nice! Emmett and I actually decided that instead of replacing the carpet throughout our basement, we’d like to install heated floor tile instead. That’s how much we’re loving it!

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comDid you notice my shower lever, pictured above? It’s comes with both English and French buttons to choose from. French felt like a fun choice in this room! Ready to see one last before and after image?! That carpet gets me every time. Yikes. I was so happy to see that go!

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comIt feels so happy in here now! I also have to address the conversation that happened on Instagram Stories (thanks to Emmett) a few weeks ago. It’s saved in my basement bathroom highlight, if you missed it. Out of nowhere, he made the comment that the bathroom looked “beachy”. Mind you- we didn’t even have the lights hooked up and working at the time, so the space was flooded with our cool blue construction lights. I’m not sure if the vanity made him say that or the odd lighting, but I took serious offense (haha!!). That was NOT at all the look I wanted to achieve, as we live nowhere close to the ocean. I’m happy I stuck with my gut and followed my initial design plan, because here we are… at the end of the project, and I can confidently say- this room does not look the slightest bit “beachy” or coastal. I’d like to think the vanity is more of a muted and moody French blue.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comPer usual, I’m sharing all of the sources below! If you’re curious about something that isn’t linked in the collage, you can find it on this page!

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.com01: craft made state house vintage brass light fixture // 02: the better bevel frameless wall mirror // 03: warmrails towel warmer // 04: moen weymouth nickel faucet // 05: silkroad exclusive 36-inch vanity // 06: kohler memoirs toilet // 07: giagni vernon toilet brush // 08: amerock knob hardware // 09: momeni shalimar beige handcrafted rug (size 2×3) // 10: giagni vernon metal wastebasket // 11: della torre fiona black and white tile // 12: moen weymouth shower trim // 13: emser bianco gioia marble tile // 14: moen weymouth hook // 15: moen weymouth towel ring // 16: moen weymouth toilet paper holder // 17: anatolia tile nero hex tile // *not pictured: kohler tank tray // *paint color: kilim beige by HGTV home by Sherwin-Willaims @ Lowe’s

This was another renovation where pretty much everything came from Lowe’s.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comYou know I’m a fan of customizing and modifying readymade vanities, but this time around I didn’t really have to do much. I did swap the long bar pull the vanity came with for petite knobs in an effort to make the hardware feel more traditional. I landed on these Amerock black knobs that have a nice profile. It’s the same brand of hardware we used in our kitchen. Their products are nice and heavy and have beautiful finishes (again- available at Lowe’s)!

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comThe toilet probably also looks familiar. It’s the same exact model we used in our upstairs guest bathroom. It’s the Kohler Memoirs toilet and it also has a clean, traditional look. The tank tray, that the candle is resting upon, is also Kohler brand from Lowe’s.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comI snagged a matching Giagni Vernon waste basket and toilet brush the last time I was at my local store from the bath section. I just tucked them in between the vanity and the toilet for easy use- plus they’re nice and hidden.

Basement Bathroom Reveal - roomfortuesday.comThere you have it… the finished basement bathroom! I’m planning to share a few more posts surrounding this space- including How To Make a Basement Bathroom Feel Cozy and How to Make a Tiny Bathroom Feel Larger. Those are both on my must-draft list as we speak. I can’t wait to share more designer tricks with you on those subjects. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the space! Do you like the way it turned out? Does it feel like it’s in a basement? Is it what you expected? I’m very happy with this space and can’t wait to put it to good use… especially now that we’re social distancing and spending tons of time at home!

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54 Comments

  1. Simply stunning. This space looks so warm and inviting (and not at all beachy!!). Thank you for helping me take my mind off of the pandemic for a few minutes. :)

    1. Thank you, Rebecca! More than happy to help with that :) Hope you have a good day and are able to find little bright pockets like this. Hugs!

  2. Wow! This is your basement bathroom! So luxe. Love!
    Would you please share more on how the shower came together? Like is the glass custom? How did it come together with the pony wall ?(not sure if it’s called that)
    I think your design could be a great way for me to save money on my shower.
    Thanks!

    1. I’m also interested in how you did the shower glass! We have a corner shower in our master that will need a nomal-height glass wall with a door on one side, and partial-height wall above a pony wall on the other.

      1. Since the room is so small, we actually had to have the glass custom cut for us (standard size wouldn’t fit). We just used a local company for cutting and installation. They used brackets and silicone for the glass.

    2. Thank you, Traci! Happy to share more on the shower… we framed it out, tiled, and once that was complete- we actually had to turn to a local company for custom glass (since the room is so small & short). They cut the glass to size and installed it for us (using brackets and silicone). After watching the process- we both agreed we probably could’ve done it ourselves, but cutting the glass to size was the big issue.

  3. It’s so beautiful Sarah.

  4. So very pretty Sarah! Wow 😍 It feels so fancy…….So many beautiful details and I love the polished nickel fixtures. Ooh la la! The bathroom tile looks incredible and adds such a sweet touch of whimsy. And the vanity looks fabulous too! Heated floors must be amazing…….especially in a basement which tends to feel cold. As usual everything is above and beyond ✨ Have a super terrific day! And enjoy that gorgeous bathroom!

    1. Thank you so much, Colleen! I’m also really digging the polished nickel finishes. They’re beautiful in person. We are LOVING the heated floors (the dogs included). Hope you have a great day too. Stay safe out there! xo

  5. Standing ovation!! Everything looks just beautiful, but the tile has got me swooning. Henceforth, all baseboards should be marble. And I say all floors should be heated tile. Even though it turned out not to be smoked, I adore the way the ribbed globe plays with the mirror- just so pretty. Of course you went the extra mile and installed picture frame moulding (is that what it’s called?)- such a classy touch. I even like the neutral wall color.😉 That vanity seems amazing for a stock option; I’m glad you kept that lovely smokey blue. Did it come with those detailed marble side splashes, or did Emmett work some magic with the tile saw? So delicate. Speaking of marble, the shower is stunning! I love every detail. I’d say you nailed a petite luxurious bath in a Parisian boutique hotel. Magnifique! (Also, how did you manage such wonderful photos in that tight space?) 💖👏

    1. Ahhh thanks Peggi!! The tile was a ton of work, but I LOVE how it all came together (baseboards included). They’re really the icing on the cake. The light fixture was a happy surprise… nothing like the photo, but really good. Yes- I call it panel moulding, but lots of people say picture frame moulding :) The marble side splashes actually came from Amazon. I wanted something with a little radius or curve. “Petite Luxurious Bath in a Parisian Boutique Hotel” …. you win my heart with that comment! Best compliment- thank you!! Photo taking was a challenge to say the least. Hope you’re keeping busy and enjoying Joe cuddles at home. xo

  6. Absolutely gorgeous, and *not* beachy at all! Construction lights can really mess with your eyes (hence why I have a green laundry room)!

    I noticed the french details immediately, and I’m obsessed. Such a fun little nod to culture. I’m obsessed with this entire space, incredible job on both of your parts. All of this millwork is making me long for a more traditional house. If I had it my way, every room would be full of built-ins and heavy millwork. Someday!

    The beige and that smoky french blue are doing amazing things for each other as well. In love with the whole thing!

    I hope you guys are staying safe amidst this craziness! It’s a perfect time for home projects and lots of baking (if you can find any flour in the grocery stores that is!) Great job once again, and enjoy the gorgeous new space!

    P.S. where is that towel basket at the bottom of the vanity from?

    1. Haha! I’m glad to hear that Carly! Construction lights (and husbands) can definitely play tricks on the mind. lol! I can’t believe I was so worried about it. Emmett was not on board with my millwork plan, but he eventually came around. I think it really helps the space feel more interesting, despite being in the basement. I love the warm / cool combo from the marble and paint color. Thanks for your sweet words- so appreciate them! This is definitely the time for home projects and baking. Stay safe and healthy out there! Oh- and linking the towel basket for you. xo

  7. Wow that is an awesome bathroom reno. Love all the marble and the nero marble floor. Great job as usual! Karen

  8. Pretty classy there, Sarah! I follow all your renovations and I have a question. I notice you often paint your doors and, since your rooms are not all the same color, how do you make the transition in the doorway from one color of paint to another? Where does the paint begin and end on the door frame so the transition is smooth?

    1. Thank you, Linda! Great question- it really depends on the room. One thing that remains true- I keep the door the same color as the casing and millwork surrounding it. Our basement bathroom door is white (to match the surrounding door casing), but an opposite example would be our previous master bedroom… I painted the door blue because we had contrast trim throughout. Each side of the door can be different colors- it should match the room it is facing. Hope that makes sense!

  9. WOW. I am seriously always amazed by your work and the amount of time you guys complete it in. It looks stunning. We are currently redoing our guest bathroom and we picked the same type of faucet and black hex tile! Great minds think alike, and now I know my decision was a good one! Wonderful job guys!

    1. Aw thank you, Katie! Great minds :) Your guest bath sounds like it’s going to be beautiful! Have a good day. xo

  10. Holy wow!!! This post got me so excited this morning!! It was the first email in my box and if I wasn’t quite awake when I opened it, I sure am now!! You and Emmett did a wonderful job!! I love the way the blue and beige play together so elegantly, and definitely NOT in a beach way! Haha! The mirror, with the beautiful brass flush mount is probably my favorite detail in the space. I’m adoring the moulding and millwork details that give so much more of that traditional feel in the space. Very last detail in here is stunning! Emmett’s ledges are so useful and functional in the shower; it’s definitely something unexpected that would be easy to incorporate, and makes a whole lot of sense! What a truly amazing reveal Sarah! You certainly lifted my spirits and for the fire moving for my own bath refresh!

    1. So happy to hear that, Lauren!! :) Thank you very much for your kind words. Emmett really did an amazing job with those ledges! Glad to have lifted your spirits! xo

  11. Wow, another beautiful bathroom! 8×6….it looks bigger than that! Love all the marble and tile! I love the marble as baseboards…great idea! The ledge…you really thought it out! I really like the millwork on the walls. Horse pictures are a nice touch!
    You and Emmett did a wonderful job!

    1. Thank you, Danna! I tried to photograph it and capture everything with my wide lens so it was easier to see the entire space. Shooting in a tiny, short room was challenging. Haha! I’m glad the images turned out ok. I was a little nervous there for a minute. xo

  12. It’s beautiful! I love the shower door and shower door handle but didn’t see them linked?

  13. So pretty! I’d love some details about how you decided on the placement of the millwork.

  14. This turned out beautifully! So well designed. It does look French with those particular shades of blue and beige, and the old world details.

    1. Thank you so much, Julie! I love hearing that :) Hope you’re having a good day and are staying healthy out there. xo

  15. Looks awesome! I have been following you for quite some time and love your style and the spunk you put into all your designs. So inspiring! Can you tell me what grout color you chose for the floors? It’s just perfect.

    1. Thank you, Miranda! I really appreciate that. I used Mapei Charcoal (#47) for the floor grout.

  16. Sarah What a Beautiful & functional bathroom. Love all the details….Heated floor,Heated towel bar, Vanity & all the millwork are my faves. Might Have to steal this design. LOL. Recently put crown molding in both my upstairs bathrooms. They went from Plain Jane to Luxurious Hotel Chic overnight. Thanks for the great ideas

    1. Thank you so much, Susan! It’s amazing what millwork can do to spice up a room! It definitely has a luxury look :) xo

  17. As I was reading this whole thing I had on my mind Emmett’s comment you mentioned a while ago and kept thinking he’s crazy, it doesn’t look anything like that, I wonder if he changed his mind- then you addressed it 😂 Totally feel you though with significant others saying just the wrong thing to make you doubt yourself, mine has a talent for that too. Apparently everything I own is penis shaped or creepy 🤷‍♀️

    1. I think he’s wishing he never would’ve said that. Haha!! He admitted that it definitely doesn’t have that feel anymore, once it was totally finished. I had to laugh! Our significant others definitely have a way of getting inside our heads. I’m cracking up that everything you own is apparently penis shaped or creepy. HAHAH!!

  18. You stayed true to your vision of a bath inspired by your Amsterdam vacation… a petite, traditional-with-the-Sarah twist, classic bath appointed with all the details that make getting ready enjoyable and luxurious. Well done! 2baths down…now is it 2.5 to go?! 😅

    1. Thank you so much, Lori! I’m so pleased with how everything came together. 2 baths to go!! Eventually we’ll fully renovate the powder room (but it’s getting a mini makeover for now), and our GIANT master bath- which will be a beast of a project someday. xo

  19. Beth Stansell says:

    So very lovely–attention to every detail–you and Emmett are truly amazing with your talents!
    My very favorite it the tile–I am going to snag a few ideas for my new bathroom. Is the marble tile on the floor polished and slippery? I am sure it’s not but I have been avoiding polished surfaces on floors due to risk of slippage. Please do a marble maintenance post–so lovely but would love to know for sure how to care for it.
    Enjoy your stunning bath–thank you for sharing !! xoxo

    1. Thank you so much, Beth! The tile is really beautiful in person. The marble floor tile isn’t slippery at all because of the size. The grout lines make it super safe and great for traction- even when wet. I’ll work on a marble maintenance post :) Have a great day! xo

  20. How did you decide to continue the shower tile to the floor on the outer facing portion rather than using the baseboard under the threshold and across that wall?
    This may be my favorite renovation in your new house! Thanks for sharing it all with us!

  21. Beautiful! Where is the under cabinet storage crate from? Can you link it? Thanks!

  22. Dalid Seda says:

    Love this tile even more now, Taking for sharing this transformation… I just wish Lowes re-stock this tile soon!

    1. Thank you, Dalid! Fingers crossed :)

  23. yvette tablada says:

    Hello Sarah

    Can you please tell me the color grout you opted for in this bathroom for the flooring?
    Best
    Yvette

    1. We used Mapei kericolor in “charcoal”.

  24. sharon dibenedetto says:

    I’m in the middle of a bathroom renovation and was excited to find your blog. I’m finding picking out grout is a bit tricky! What color did you use for your marble tile on the walls? Thank you!

  25. Hello Sarah ~ we start demo tomorrow on our 5×7 bath, which is laid out exactly like yours. Although we don’t have as much space you did to work with, I think we can accomplish our goal. I like the shelf you had designed under your water control valve. How deep is it (3″?) and rather than it being a “shelf” it looks like you ran the outside edge all the way to the floor. Looks very slick. I can only hope ours turns out half as nice as yours did :) Greeting from Key Largo!

  26. Looks great! I’m curious – how is the black hex tile holding up? According to Lowe’s these tiles are not for floors and some of the reviews show them getting scratched up pretty easily. Other black marble rated for floors is significantly more expensive but I love the look! We’re looking to use these in a powder room.
    Best,
    Chris

    1. Sarah Gibson says:

      Thanks, Chris! The tile is holding up beautifully… no issues with it being on the floor. I’d definitely recommend for the price and aesthetic. Hope that helps!