When we first met our clients, Heather and Brian, we knew it would be such a wonderful experience working with them! They were truly excited about having a fresh take on their bathroom and really willing to trust the process of design.

In reviewing their bathroom with them, we noted some key elements that needed change: 1) it was outdated; 2) the shower was way too small; 3) there was a lack of storage; and 4) the bathroom had absolutely no personality. After discussing some of the hopes and needs, we went to work on planning a stunning at-home spa experience for these well-deserving clients!

Given the details our clients shared with us, we leaned into a modern farmhouse aesthetic for the bathroom. Here’s the design board we created to envision a new retreat for our clients. The design feels grounded, clean, and just a little bit indulgent.

YOU CAN SHOP THIS DESIGN BOARD HERE

The Bold Move: Swapping the Tub for a Luxury Walk-In

The centerpiece of this renovation is the massive walk-in shower. We said goodbye to the barely used tub area and cramped shower and hello to a custom tiled sanctuary.

Here is the before of a cramped shower and not so very big tub. Both really not accommodating for this family.

And here is the transformation. Oversized shower with simple but thoughtfully designed storage cabinet.

• The Setup: We installed two overhead showerheads (because why fight for the warm water?) and a built-in bench seat for that true spa experience.

• The Vibe: The entire space is encased in a black paned shower enclosure. It provides that “industrial edge” that keeps the farmhouse look from feeling too “country.”

• The Execution: To really embody the luxury feel for this bathroom, we paired deep gray tiles with dark grout with the black shower fixtures – all within the stunning paned shower enclosure. Together, these really create an elevated and luxury feel.

Storage That Doesn’t Look Like… Storage

One of the biggest pain points in any bathroom is clutter. We solved this with two strategic moves:

1. The Arched Cabinet: Tucked right next to the shower, this adds architectural interest while housing fresh towels and a few “just for looks” decor pieces.

2. The Hidden Gems: We swapped standard mirrors for round medicine cabinet mirrors. You get the sleek, circular look that breaks up the sharp lines of the tile, plus a secret spot for your toothpaste and skincare.

Warmth Meets Industrial: The Vanity & Tile

To keep the black accents and deep grays from feeling too cold, we brought in a rustic wood double vanity. The soft brown tones provide that “organic” feel that is essential to a modern farmhouse.

We also took the tile work up a notch, literally. We tiled the floor in a grounding gray with clean lines and then ran white subway tile halfway up the walls on three sides of the bathroom. It’s a classic design trick that protects your walls and makes the room feel significantly more expensive than it actually was.

When working with a palette of black, warm white, and deep gray, texture is your best friend. The wood grain in the vanity is what makes this room feel like a home rather than a hotel.

pro tip from the funcycled design team

Shop the Look

Love the pieces we used? You can source the exact items (or our favorite alternatives) for your own home below:

Ready for Your Own Transformation?

Whether you are staring at a 1990s honey-oak vanity or a tub you haven’t used since 2012, we’re here to help. Our team doesn’t just dream up the design, we work with you to help bring the vision to life!

To get started, schedule a design consultation so we can create a plan for your home. Click the link below to book an appointment.

Did you know? Project Management is Just as Important

At FunCycled, we can also project manage your design project. Whether you are renovating your bathroom, updating your kitchen, or adding on to a part of house, there are so many details that need to be considered and properly managed to assure your project goes according to plan and executed well! Communication and detail management are key to accomplishing this, and FunCycled can do this for you. That is exactly what FunCycled did for this project, and can do for your project as well.

As project managers, we ensure your project stays on schedule. These are the details we will ensure: smooth communication with your contractor and any vendors required for your project, ensure proper layout and installation, coordinate details for deliveries, take care of ordering products to mitigate incorrect products, and provide oversight to the full scope of the project.

Final Thoughts

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture at the top of this page. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, I only recommend products I genuinely love and trust.

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ; )

Because home is where peace begins.

A Black & Rust Bathroom Makeover That Transforms Flat to Fabulous

This bathroom had great potential, filled with ample and charming built-ins, but the all-white color scheme left the space feeling sterile and unfinished. Our goal? To inject personality, warmth, and modern edge using a bold palette and intentional design moves. From geometric tile to warm rust paint, this bold bathroom makeover tells a story of elevated style through contrast, color, and texture.

This is how the bathroom looked BEFORE.

This is the DESIGN BOARD I created for this bathroom project. I love the mix of colors and textures!

And here is out it turned out AFTER!

Adding Depth with Black Accents

We also wanted to incorporate other dark features around the room to carry elegance and drama throughout the space. The combination of the black tile in the shower niche alongside the painted storage nooks and feature wall provide a gorgeous statement that grounds the space and accomplishes and elevated design for our client.

Black accents, whether a feature wall, accompanying tile, or select piece of furniture, bring elegance to any space. It provides a timeless and elevated look that always looks polished and ready to make a statement.

Pro tip from the funcycled design team

Here is the black color we chose to use for this design.

Black Beauty by Benjamin Moore

A Warm Vanity Anchors the Bathroom Design

Our design suggested a light to medium warm wood tone vanity to add warmth to the room. We love the lighter vanity ultimately selected for this project. The curved drawers mimic the arc shapes found in the wallpaper.

This curved vanity is nice for a compact space, just 24″ wide. Plus, I love that it has clearance below the base so it helps maintain a open feel in a smaller bathroom.

If you prefer a more traditional look with square lines, this option is also great. It is the one we originally sourced for our design board.

Built-In Shelves with Bold Wallpaper

When a bathroom (old, new, compact, or large) includes storage solutions, we are quick to check off the practical box, knowing we have “in room” storage. Super convenient! And, while I absolutely agree that ticking this box is a huge win, I like to imagine these areas as opportunities for design moments!

In this bathroom, situated on both sides of the shower are two such spaces. Recessed nooks that provide both open and closed storage solutions. As you can see in the before photo, these nooks are certainly providing function for our clients, but they are what I would say is lackluster. They serve only functional outcomes and entirely miss out on providing a great design outcome as well. What a missed opportunity for something amazing!

To address this missed moment, the design incorporated painting these storage zones in a deep black color and then adding a bold patterned wallpaper to the back provide a backdrop for adding style and beauty to the room.

Here is how it turned out!

This is a close up of the wallpaper we used. The bold geometric pattern combines rich tones with strong shapes that still carry a soft flow with curved lines. It is linked up so you can get this look for your home, too.

What I love about this selection is that it adds so much whether it is an entire wall or just a small section inside a cubby!

Rust-Toned Storage Nook Makes a Statement

This part is a little hard to see in our photos, but this built in storage closet was totally transformed simply by changing the boring and dated white color with basic wooden knobs to a deep and rich rust tone outfitted with statement hardware.

Here is the BEFORE photo.

And here is the AFTER photo. Can you believe what a difference?!

We selected Audobon Russet for the rust paint color.

Audobon Russet by Benjamin Moore

Next to these gorgeous finishes, the whole design really pops!

These black and chrome handles add a luxurious and high end look to the rich rust paint color of the built-ins.

This tiered pendant is a great option to keep things elevated without overwhelming a bathroom. Shop below.

And, of course, the shower curtain supports the rich black paint and accent tile and echos the classic pattern of the floor tiling. Shop it below.

Final Thoughts

Creating a style that is unique to you is part of the interior design process. If you would like some additional inspiration and want to see examples and tips for other areas of your home, check out these other blog posts, linked below.

Mid Century Modern Basement Design

Design Trends to try in 2025

Mid Century Living Room Update

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture at the top of this page. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ; )

Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and I may earn from any qualifying purchases.