As part of a larger renovation of this Bucks County home, we transformed the upstairs hall bathroom into a brighter, more refined space designed to feel at home with the traditional character of the house.
The larger project included a complete kitchen renovation, new hardwood flooring throughout the first floor, an updated staircase and railing, and a remodeled powder room. Upstairs, the hall bathroom presented a different opportunity. Its existing footprint worked well, so rather than making unnecessary structural changes, we focused on making better use of the space that was already there.
The original bathroom had pale blue walls, sheet flooring, a small wood vanity with a laminate countertop, and a basic tiled tub surround. The layout was functional, but the finishes felt dated and the room offered relatively little storage or visual interest.
A Better Bathroom Within the Existing Footprint
Keeping the basic layout allowed us to concentrate the renovation budget where it would have the greatest impact: better materials, improved storage, updated lighting and plumbing fixtures, and a more carefully detailed tub and shower area.
The original vanity was replaced with a larger Dura Supreme Chapel Hill Classic vanity in Cappuccino-finished cherry. The deeper wood tone brings warmth to a room otherwise defined by pale stone and soft neutral colors. A polished Taj Mahal quartz countertop, undermount sink and Kingston Brass American Classic widespread faucet in polished nickel complete the vanity.
Above it, a simple frameless rectangular mirror is flanked by a pair of Eleanor bath sconces, replacing the original overhead vanity lighting. The arrangement provides a more balanced light at the mirror while giving the vanity wall a much stronger sense of symmetry.
Marble Tile and a Rebuilt Tub Surround
The tub and shower became the primary architectural feature of the renovated bathroom.
The original square tile surround was replaced with Carrara White 2 x 8 brushed marble subway tile, carried high around the bathing area to create a continuous field of natural stone. Subtle differences in color and veining from piece to piece give the walls texture without introducing a competing pattern.
A large recessed niche was incorporated into the back wall and trimmed in marble, creating generous storage for bath and shower essentials without relying on surface-mounted organizers.
The new tub and shower are paired with a Delta Bowery Monitor 14 Series pressure-balanced tub and shower system in polished nickel, coordinating with the faucet, lighting and bathroom accessories throughout the room.
Pattern Underfoot
On the floor, Twine Asian Statuary 1 x 2 honed marble mosaic tile introduces a smaller-scale geometric pattern. The mosaic combines varying tones of white and gray stone, providing enough movement to distinguish the floor from the Carrara subway tile while maintaining a cohesive material palette.
Using marble in two different formats allowed the room to have both pattern and variation without requiring multiple competing colors or decorative finishes.
Warm Wood, Natural Stone and Polished Nickel
The finished bathroom is intentionally restrained. White and gray marble establish a light backdrop, polished nickel adds a traditional metallic finish, and the cherry vanity prevents the palette from becoming overly cool.
The result is a hall bathroom that feels substantially different without requiring a larger footprint or a dramatically altered floor plan. By improving the materials, storage, lighting and detailing within the existing space, we were able to turn a straightforward family bathroom into a room that feels considered and connected to the rest of the renovated home.
Featured Materials & Fixtures
- Dura Supreme Chapel Hill Classic vanity — Cappuccino on cherry
- Polished Taj Mahal quartz vanity countertop
- Kingston Brass American Classic widespread bathroom faucet — polished nickel
- Delta Bowery Monitor 14 Series tub and shower system — polished nickel
- Carrara White 2 x 8 brushed marble subway tile
- Twine Asian Statuary 1 x 2 honed marble mosaic floor tile
- Updated Traditional frameless rectangular mirror
- Eleanor one-light bath sconces
