This retired empty nester loves living solo in her single-story San Jose, California, home. But her primary bathroom was a puzzle gone wrong. The chopped-up layout had a small white vanity opposite a walled-off space that included the toilet and a cramped shower. A lack of storage, paired with outdated finishes — such as plain white square tiles on the shower walls and floor — added to the uninspired feel.
The homeowner turned to design-build firm May Construction, bringing along an ideabook of Houzz photos for inspiration. The team removed the walls around the shower and toilet, tore out the old fixtures and combined the spaces into one open, serene layout. The result is a generously sized shower, a custom walnut vanity with tower storage and a soothing neutral palette that transforms the bathroom into the calm, private retreat the owner had been dreaming of.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired empty nester
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 63 square feet (5.9 square meters)
Design-build firm: May Construction
Before: The basic bathroom had a vinyl floor and a white vanity coated in three layers of paint, with barely any storage. The homeowner resorted to wire shelves on one wall for her makeup and other small items, and added a freestanding cabinet by the vanity for extra storage. “She had a desire to go to a custom cabinetmaker because of her need for storage,” says Donna Gutto, designer at May Construction.