This transitional Bellevue, Washington primary bathroom remodel is the perfect balance of sleek and modern, yet classic and versatile.

Most importantly, its functional features were carefully selected to meet the unique needs of our clients.

With a keen eye for detail and extensive bathroom design experience, Kimithy Nagel, CKBD, Seattle Design Consultant at Neil Kelly, led this project. Taking into account the challenges of the space while keeping the clients’ goals, concerns, and priorities in mind, she drew up a concept that checked all the boxes. Find before-and-after photos and a detailed breakdown of this Seattle area bathroom update below.

Design Objectives and Client Wishlist

Nagel worked closely with the owners of this Bellevue home to come up with a bathroom design that met all their needs and then some.

A Clutter-Free Space

• More under-the-sink storage
• Additional cabinets throughout
• In-drawer organization features
• Additional space for laundry

Functional, Personalized Bathing

• Eliminate unused bathtub
• Extra-large shower to accommodate two people

Design Challenges

No renovation is without its challenges, especially when it comes to multi-use spaces with plumbing, like bathrooms and kitchens. The main feat with this project was staying within the existing footprint. With limited square footage, Nagel had to make sure there was enough space to meet all the clients’ objectives. While removing the bathtub freed up some room, it took a bit of creative thinking to come up with a design that worked.

Additionally, she wanted to find a way to keep the window to allow for natural light. However, it was still important to ensure the clients had plenty of privacy.

Design Solutions

In the end, Nagel’s solutions for this bathroom renovation project met all components of the clients’ wishlist while addressing its various challenges.

Space and Functionality

• Removed bathtub to provide room for an extra-large walk-in shower
• Removed linen closet and wall separating the vanity area from the shower to create more space and an open feel
• Created ample below-sink cabinetry and drawer space with a hot-tool organization component to hide clutter
• Created a medicine cabinet-style countertop component for additional storage
• Included built-in laundry area with a pull-out double hamper

“Removing the framed linen closet and taking down the wall that separated the vanity and shower really opened up the space,” says Nagel.

Personalization, Enhancements, and Special Features

• Implemented dual-headed shower design, allowing two people to bathe at once
• Installed an additional goose-neck head and a bench in the shower
• Kept dual-sink vanity design but replaced the wall-size mirror with two mirrors, four sconces, individual towel hooks, and a tile backsplash
• Included multiple tile colors and designs, including black herringbone and gray offset (brick pattern) tiles in the shower and gray straight-set backsplash over the sinks
• Installed simple large tiles for the floors in an offset pattern and quartz counters, both in a simple off-white hue
• Installed a heating system under the floors for added warmth and comfort
• Selected neutral off-black painted cabinets with chrome knobs and draw pulls to complement the gray and black tiles and chrome fixtures in the shower

“Herringbone tile is a bold statement on a large wall,” says Nagel. “The colors are neutral but bold, and the herringbone pattern is being requested more by the consumer.”

Key Suppliers and Manufacturers

To complete this project, Nagel and the Neil Kelly team selected materials from a variety of leading manufacturers and suppliers. We used Decor cabinets, Mirabella sinks, an ARC curbless shower pan, Moen shower fixtures, Delta faucets, Pental counters, Daltile tile, a Panasonic fan, and a Nuheat floor heating system.