Modern Bathroom Remodel Ideas + Reveal

Modern Bathroom Remodel Ideas & Reveal

While I was in the planning stages of my guest bathroom remodel (see the completed bathroom renovation here) realized that it had been years since I renovated my master bathroom, and I never shared the process or my modern bathroom remodel ideas! Maybe because it was anything but glamorous. Or perhaps because seeing the old photos reminded me of all the sleepless nights.  Either way, it was definitely a daunting process since it was the first time I ever remodeled anything in my life. But looking back now, I realize just how much I’ve learned from remodeling various rooms in my house and actually get excited whenever I think of other rooms that I want to remodel.

 I had posted a few of my bathroom inspiration ideas for my master and guest bathroom in this post; and like my kitchen remodel, I decided to go with a white and grey marble theme.  But enough about that.  Let’s start from the very beginning of my master bathroom remodel, shall we?

My Modern Bathroom Remodel: Before & After

BEFORE

One word… yikes. 

This is a photo of my original master bathroom. This room had to be fixed first due to the horrible state it was in and the neglected water damage from the previous owner. The wallpaper had just been removed… sorry you had to miss that monstrosity. Then there were the Linoleum floors, super low vanity, and outdated showerhead.  I think it’s safe to say that this bathroom was in desperate need of some modern bathroom remodel ideas!

AFTER

All new everything. Custom vanity lifted ceiling in the shower, shower head raised to 7 feet, glass shower door installed ad all new brushed nickel fixtures.  I think to really appreciate the finished product, you have to see the work it took to get to this point. So here’s the step-by-step process of the incredible modern bathroom remodel ideas coming to life.

Stripping Down My Bathroom

First, the master bathroom was ripped down to the studs. I just about had a heart attack seeing it like this and felt like the work would never end.

Tile Installation

Next, I installed 10 x 14 inch Carrara ceramic wall tile from Home Depot. They have a decent selection for the basics, but if you’d like something more custom as I did for my kitchen, then go to a tile supplier. I liked Imperial Tile in the valley. Before I began this particular phase of the renovation, I spent hours on Pinterest pinning photos to my modern bathroom remodel ideas inspiration board, printing photos, showing them to my contractor, picking out tile, and picking up fixtures to match. (All from Home Depot by the way.) I decided to do clean lines (not use bullnose tile) on the edges.

For my next modern bathroom remodel idea I decided to install Grey Carrera ceramic mosaic tile on the shower floor. Note: Smaller tile on the floor allows for better grip while in the shower since your foot will be in contact with more grout in between the tiles. And as for the iPhone photos. I honestly never expected to blog about this, but here we are.

Flooring

The tile on the bathroom floor looks like grey wood planks, a modern bathroom remodel idea I love, but it is actually dabble grey porcelain tile– which is waterproof (with the right grout in between), unlike wood. The texture also makes it less slippery than marble.

*Note: Placing the tile running the long way down the bathroom (from the door to the shower door) gives the illusion that the bathroom is longer than if you were to place it running horizontally (wall to wall.)

I went with a classic white, grey theme. A few people at one point were concerned that this modern bathroom remodel idea of mine was “too much grey”.  But I didn’t stray from my vision and it came out just the way I imagined.

Eventually, the bathroom began to take shape as the tile was installed.  As much as I would have loved to have gone with my first choice on everything (tile, fixtures, etc) I knew I wanted to spend money fixing other things in the house so I went with less expensive options on almost everything purchased. The one modern bathroom remodel idea I did splurge on, was the shower door. It makes the bathroom feel larger since you can see through to the back of the shower.

My building was built in 1964 and I guess the style back then was to put a lowered ceiling above the shower. (see photo above.) Don’t ask me why. I hated it.  So I had the hanging ceiling cut to match the higher bathroom ceiling; making the room seem much larger overall.

Installing the Countertop

After that, was the countertop.  I was able to find mine on clearance at a slab yard for $350.  Then I had the cabinet custom built-in downtown Los Angeles. It’s 36 inches high (37 1/2 inches with the countertop) so that I don’t have to bend over a short vanity.   It came unpainted with self-closing drawers (such a nice touch.) I screwed the knobs in myself. You should see me with a drill- I’ve gotten pretty good after 4 years of being a DIY homeowner.  Especially with all the modern bathroom remodel ideas I did for this particular renovation project!

Much Needed Shower Updates

When it comes to my shower, one other important thing to note is that I had the shower head raised from 6 feet to 7 feet. This not only makes it easier for tall people to shower but also makes the room look taller.  I had one shelf put in the shower but honestly should have had two.  Either one right on top of one another or one in each corner of the shower because half my shower products are stuck on the shower floor due to lack of space.

Modern Bathroom Accessories

Now for the accessories.  One of my favorite modern bathroom remodel ideas was adding a Framebridge photo. See my entire Framebridge living room gallery wall here.

Next is the towel ring from Home Depot and the Mirrored tray + dish are from Home Goods.

Last is this mirror from Home Goods.  It currently lays against the wall instead of being hung up because we couldn’t move the light fixture up 3 inches to mount the mirror on the wall.

Overall, with materials + labor, I spent about $10,000 on this bathroom. I was originally quoted $15,000.  Luckily, I had help from a friend with laying the tile; and that saved me a bit of money. But, if you’re short on time, or have patience, I highly recommend hiring a good contractor to carry out your own modern bathroom remodel ideas.

Bonus: If you’re looking to transform your basement into a functional living space, one essential step is learning how to install a shower. Whether you’re planning a guest suite or simply expanding your bathroom options, this guide will walk you through the process. Check out our comprehensive guide on installing a shower to get started on your basement renovation journey.

My Next Remodel:

Check out my post on how to update a bathroom for under $150 here!

Now for my next remodel project: here is a photo of my guest bathroom. I’ve started pinning bathroom inspiration photos on my Pinterest board. 

We are going to tear up the laminate flooring, once again remove the portion of the ceiling that is lower above the tub, and replace the tub with one similar to a glass wall as you see below. I could save money and go with a shower curtain instead. However, I want this bathroom to feel much larger like mine does with an upscale glass shower wall.

We’ll tear out the old tile behind the tub for something more modern and sleek. Replace the sink vanity with one slightly taller or a stand-alone sink. Remove the towel rack above the toilet and move it to the other wall once we remove the in-wall heater and replace it with a heated ceiling fan.

Looking forward to getting another remodel project under my belt.

Thanks again for stopping by! If you have any questions about this modern bathroom remodel or my kitchen please feel free to leave me a comment below!

xoxo,

Laura

SHOP THESE MODERN BATHROOM REMODEL IDEAS:

Donna Karen rug + mirror, and countertop items via Home Goods // Paint Color: Behr “Bakers Box” in Satin // Light fixture: Home Depot // Cabinet knobs // Bathroom Floor tile // shower Wall Tile // Shower Floor Tile

Photos by Taylor Lynn Photo + myself