Featured Finish: Bathroom Bonanza!

Call it a lavatory, the restroom, or the loo—a bathroom adds needed practicality to every basement finish. Since bathroom placement depends in large measure upon the location of existing roughed-in plumbing lines, and windows in a basement are not always in abundance, the basement bathroom often ends up being a room with little-to-no light.

Just because your basement water closet may be smaller and without natural light, you needn’t skimp on style or function! We know how to make the most of smaller spaces, and how to keep them bright and cheerful. Take cues from some of our recent projects to use in your own design plan.

Start by assessing your space to determine what type of bathroom you can include in your basement finish—a full bath (includes a tub/shower), a ¾ bath (shower only), or a powder bath (toilet and sink only—no shower or tub). Including at least a ¾ bath, if possible, gives you the most bang for your investment buck, and adds considerably to the resale value of your home.

Given the importance of using water-resistant materials in a wet setting, tile stands out as a popular installation choice for tub/shower walls and flooring. With virtually endless selections available in color, size, shape, texture, and price-point, tile selection proves a great way to make a personal design statement. Even something as simple as the white subway tile pictured below looks designer chic when paired with the hexagonal black tile of the poured shower pan. Notice how the darker grout used in the installation of the white tile plays off of the light grout used with the black tile.

In this same bathroom, a free-standing cabinet was used for the vanity with a custom deck-mounted vessel sink and single-hole faucet, lending to the spa-like bath ambiance.

Painted bathroom cabinetry also makes a style statement, as shown below in this mostly-neutral setting. The soft grayish-taupe tones set a beautiful backdrop for the stunning blue cabinets with black hardware. Brushed nickel plumbing fixtures add a touch of sophistication, proving that mixing metal finishes adds interest.

Notice the extra-wide, deep tub in this bathroom, with the large built-in bench and Corian seat to accommodate towels, candles, books, toys, or other bath-time necessities.

In another bathroom with an even deeper blue painted vanity cabinet, the shower—though neutral—becomes the focal point. Again, simple white subway tile with darker grout creates a crisp look, especially when paired with the darker finish of the shower door frame.

Notice the clean elegance created by using plain white, wider tile as the shower accent liner, where traditionally a patterned tile is used in this type of application. Keeping the liner tile simple, and in the same color as the rest of the shower tile, preserves the monochromatic vibe throughout the entire room.

Consider installing tile in different directions, as shown in the shower below. The diagonally-set 12″x12″ tile with the mosaic tile accent liner balances well with the top rows of straight-set tile.

Don’t forget to include practical touches such as shower niches for soap and shampoo, and built-in linen shelving. Features such as these prove easy and inexpensive to add if discussed early-on in the design and planning process.

The shelving shown in the bathroom below would have been wasted space if framed into the wall! With aforethought and planning, however, even a small space in a basement bathroom can be put to use.

Finally, flooring choices must also be of the water-resistant variety. While tile proves, again, the most popular choice for bathroom use, many homeowners opt for the high-performing and aesthetically-pleasing LVP (luxury vinyl plank) flooring (also pictured below). LVP comes in a wide variety of colors and textures to mimic the look of stone and wood, is not slippery underfoot, and is virtually impervious to water, making it a great choice for bathroom installation.

If you’re ready to commit to a bold design statement, a striking tile flooring selection gets the job done. The tile used in the basement bath pictured below adds visual interest and textural play to the room as a whole.

When you’re ready to start designing your basement finish, give us a call! We know the ins and outs of building basement bathrooms, lavatories, restrooms, water closets, and yes—even loos. Bring us your ideas and let’s work together to create a basement space you’ll enjoy for many years to come. Contact us today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.