Bathroom of the Week: American Desert Meets Scandinavian Modern
A design-build firm updates a primary bathroom with nature-inspired minimalist style
Redesigning bathrooms to appeal to a wide variety of potential homeowners is an important part of renovating an investment property for resale. But this doesn’t mean sacrificing style or sticking to one formula. In this home in Scottsdale, Arizona, interior designer Kaitlyn Wolfe of Iconic Design+Build transformed a bland 1990s primary bathroom into a serene and inviting space. She gave the bathroom style inspired by Scandinavian minimalism with a pleasing palette that references the surrounding desert. The natural, earthy materials contrasted with white provide a calming atmosphere.
After: “We kept beige, but we made it much more modern,” Wolfe says. The home’s desert surroundings inspired a richly layered mix of natural materials and colors. Ceramic tiles in a variety of warm desert hues create a striking accent wall. The floors are an earthy polished concrete and the vanity is natural oak with a clear stain.
“While this bathroom has a minimalist aesthetic, the natural materials have wide appeal,” Wolfe says. “People want warm and inviting. And it’s simple enough that homeowners can put their own mark on it with accessories like the Persian runner we used.”
The footprint of the room and the locations of the plumbing fixtures remained the same, which helped keep costs in check. A separate water closet is located just out of view across from the vanity.
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“While this bathroom has a minimalist aesthetic, the natural materials have wide appeal,” Wolfe says. “People want warm and inviting. And it’s simple enough that homeowners can put their own mark on it with accessories like the Persian runner we used.”
The footprint of the room and the locations of the plumbing fixtures remained the same, which helped keep costs in check. A separate water closet is located just out of view across from the vanity.
Find a local design-build firm on Houzz
The Scandinavian minimalist influence comes in through simplified lines and the contrast between crisp white and earth tones. The tub has a simple curved silhouette. Rather than having separate tub and shower niches, Wolfe designed one long bump-out that forms a shelf. It extends across the wall to serve both areas.
Browse white freestanding bathtubs
Browse white freestanding bathtubs
Wolfe wrapped the shelf in wall tile. This integrates it into the wall rather than breaking up the expanse of floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall tile. The shelf design is a pleasingly simple minimalist element. She also kept the plumbing fixtures streamlined and simple.
“The tile is a glazed ceramic that is made to look handmade, so there are variations in the color and surface,” Wolfe says. “But it’s low-maintenance because it’s not porous.”
“The tile is a glazed ceramic that is made to look handmade, so there are variations in the color and surface,” Wolfe says. “But it’s low-maintenance because it’s not porous.”
The designer also wrapped the shower curb in the tile. Plants add another natural touch.
Find a local tile professional
Find a local tile professional
The shower floor is composed of white penny rounds. Wolfe chose tiles with distressed edges because they work well with the natural materials in the room.
“We used natural oak with a clear stain for the vanity to keep the material as natural as possible,” Wolfe says. “We added a lip around the drawers to add a little detail of an edge around them.” Brass handles complement the warmth of the wood. “Mixing brass and chrome was an eclectic touch that gives the room a more custom feel,” she says.
Another element adding to the custom feel are the towel rings. They’re brass, affixed to the wall with leather straps. “The leather adds another layer of texture,” Wolfe says.
One thing that wasn’t worth busting the budget over was redoing the existing textured walls. “We used white paint with an eggshell finish. This hides the texture the best,” Wolfe says.
Browse wall-mounted faucets
One thing that wasn’t worth busting the budget over was redoing the existing textured walls. “We used white paint with an eggshell finish. This hides the texture the best,” Wolfe says.
Browse wall-mounted faucets
The countertops are a plain white quartz, ¾ of an inch thick. This created a slim edge, another Scandinavian minimalist touch.
The wall-mounted faucets were an aesthetic and functional choice. “They maintain the minimalism while freeing up counter space,” Wolfe says. “And they make cleaning the countertops easier.”
Takeaways
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The wall-mounted faucets were an aesthetic and functional choice. “They maintain the minimalism while freeing up counter space,” Wolfe says. “And they make cleaning the countertops easier.”
Takeaways
- Warm, natural materials create an inviting space.
- Contrasting natural materials with crisp white provides appealing contrast.
- One long shelf bump-out is a simple, minimalist alternative to niches.
- Smaller accessories like rugs and towel rings are a good way to personalize a space.
- Wall-mounted faucets make countertop cleaning easier.
- Tone down a textured wall by using paint with an eggshell finish.
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer
Hire a cabinet pro
Shop for your bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: This was an investment property flip designed to appeal to a wide variety of home buyers.
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Iconic Design+Build
Before: At 120 square feet, the bathroom was expansive. But the garden tub with a large deck around it, the framed translucent glass shower enclosure, and the lighting and plumbing fixtures gave it a dated look.