Space of the Week: This Bathroom Makeover Feels Bright and Airy After a Few Style Shifts

So long jacuzzi tub, hello sanctuary.

Ashley Clark, the owner and principal at Skout Interior Design, has nothing but high praise for the mother who resides in this Newport Beach, California home. "She’s the GOAT of moms—she truly does it all," Clark says. "She cooks incredible meals, crafts projects for school, attends all the sports activities . . . she truly is one busy woman."

When Clark met this family, which includes three active boys, they lived on a picturesque tree-lined street inside a home that wasn’t as inviting. "It was very dark and very dated," Clark remembers. "It felt heavy."

Considering that the home was originally constructed in a Spanish style, Clark aimed to honor many of those features by sticking to cozy wood tones and architectural details. However, she did want to modernize the surroundings by brightening and streamlining the layout. Most importantly, when it came to the primary bathroom, Clark sought to give the GOAT a place to unwind.

"We aimed to create a space where she could enjoy her alone time each night," Clark says. "It had to be interesting, so we sought out a lot of art and found objects, too. Ultimately, we wanted her bathroom to be unique and a place she looked forward to relaxing in."

The existing bathroom had a generous size, but its dark wood vanity and enclosed jacuzzi made it feel small. The shower was set into an afterthought-esque corner, and while the vanity adjoining the two sinks was nice, it also felt unnecessarily oversized. Clark decided to hold on to the existing footprint, but made some clever changes to increase the feeling of airiness. It started with removing the jacuzzi.

“Once we took the jacuzzi out, we added this beautiful freestanding tub and that really opened up the space,” Clark says. “Then we installed a beautiful arch above the tub to match some of the other arches that we added throughout the house.” She kept the position of the two sinks and adjoining vanity on a nearby wall, but outfitted everything in a refreshing white oak to offset the custom checkerboard cement tile on the floor. Gray and white tiles surrounding the tub match those around the dual mirrors, and vintage finds were sourced for that one-of-a-kind factor Clark was hoping to achieve. Wicker pendant lights and brass fixtures bring in warmth and shimmer. “This bathroom is pretty neutral, but it’s still loaded with texture,” Clark says.

The entire home renovation was delayed by pandemic-related shipping woes, but wrapped up completely in about six months. In all, Clark gave this hardworking mom a sanctuary and was grateful to have figured out a stress-melting space. “We are always mindful of functionality,” she says. "This room was already pretty functional, but we made a few tweaks to improve the feel."

Get the Look:

Brass Fixtures

Brass fixtures maintain a vintage-inspired feel in the bathroom. Opt for an old-fashioned design to lend a sense of history to the space.

Golden Light

A chandelier brightens any space. The gold color lets off a warm glow to keep the bathroom feeling cozy.

Simple Stool

Relaxing is made easier with a vanity perch that is both fun and functional. A shearling stool gives the space a rustic feel, while acrylic legs keep it modern.