A 1970s bath is transformed into a modern yet welcoming space

Lori Graham integrated the tub and shower for efficient use of available space.

During Lori Graham’s renovation of an entire house in Arlington, the 1970s master bath in particular was a cry for help. Not only was it poorly proportioned, it was also “unworkable,” with a small prefab shower and an eight-person whirlpool tub placed only inches away from an exposed toilet and bidet. Tiny windows denied the owners  views of the surrounding woods.

The integrated "wet room" allows the children to bathe with a minimum of mess.

Graham reconfigured the bath, creating a modern yet welcoming space with a luxurious tub and glass-enclosed shower, generous windows and a separate water closet. “An exposed toilet,” she says, “is a cardinal sin in a master suite.”

The vanity countertops are thick, poured concrete.

Integrating the tub and shower not only makes efficient use of available space, but the “wet room” approach allows the homeowners to bathe their young children “without splattering water in every direction,” says the designer, principal of Lori Graham Design. Amenities include a rain shower, a standard shower and a handheld showerhead in the tub that also reaches the shower. 

Soft colors create a relaxing vibe, from the Waterworks honed limestone tiles on the walls to the French Blue stone floors from Ann Sacks. A custom vanity in high-gloss pewter is topped with a thick poured-concrete surface. A mirrored wall behind the vanity makes the space feel larger.

“The backsplash, the seamless look of the tile and the natural light,” says Graham, “all create glam in a simple, understated way.”