Elevated Primary Bathroom Sanctuary Case Study
Featuring a Custom Vanity, Wet Room Clad in Stone, Architectural Details, and Subtle Asian Influence
Miss Alice Designs
Some projects stay with you long after they’re complete. This is one of them.
From the beginning, my clients placed an incredible amount of trust in me—giving me full creative freedom to design and manage every detail from start to finish. That kind of trust is rare, and it allowed me to do my best work. What we created together is a home that feels deeply personal—layered with meaning, intention, and refinement. Somewhere along the way, my clients also became a friend.
But the story didn’t begin there.
Project History
This project has quite a history. It began in 2016 with another interior designer, but the initial plans the designer created were not approved by the city due to the scope of structural and seismic work required to extend the primary bathroom by three feet, which necessitated a licensed architect’s stamp. After years of revisions and challenges in securing a permit, the previous designer eventually consulted with an architect to review, revise, and stamp the drawings. The city ultimately approved the plans, and the project was able to move forward.
It’s important to note that for projects involving additions, extensions, decks, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs), I recommend engaging a licensed architect, structural engineer, or both. While there is often overlap between architecture and interior design—particularly in areas like space planning, projects of this scale are best supported by the combined expertise of both.
My Role: Interior Design + Project Oversight
I joined the project in 2021 after the clients decided to part ways with the previous designer. They were looking for a more collaborative, hands-on approach—someone to accompany them to showrooms and thoughtfully guide them through the many design decisions required for a whole-home renovation of this level of detail.
The primary goal was to enlarge the bathroom and transform it into a calm, spa-like retreat. The space was extended three feet outward, and the layout—originally developed by the previous designer—was reimagined to better support both function and flow. A washer and dryer were thoughtfully integrated into the former water closet location. The original wet room design was kept, with the existing tub and shower enclosed behind glass, creating a sense of openness while maintaining practicality. The water closet was relocated adjacent to the wet room to improve both privacy and circulation.
While my primary role centered on selecting materials and finishes and overseeing construction, I also developed detailed elevations and 3D renderings to help the clients clearly envision the completed bathroom prior to construction.
Miss Alice Designs - 3D Render of Bathroom
Stepping into a project already underway with a previous designer required a thoughtful and strategic plan. Here’s how I approached it.
Design Challenge & Direction
Upon first visiting the home, I immediately noticed how dark and outdated the bathroom felt. It featured a large single vanity with an integrated makeup area, along with a pony wall connecting the vanity space to the wet room. The space lacked cohesion and did not comfortably support shared daily use.
At the same time, I was drawn to the clients’ existing collection, which became the starting point for the design. It included a few Japanese tansu pieces, a bamboo dining set sourced from Asia, a Marcel Breuer Wassily leather lounge chair, artwork from SFMOMA, and textiles in red—a color rich with cultural significance. Across many Asian cultures, red symbolizes luck, prosperity, happiness, protection, and vitality, while also holding personal meaning for the clients.
Together with the home’s architectural details, these elements informed the overall design direction.
Because the clients’ furnishings and accessories carried such deep personal and cultural significance, the challenge was not simply to select materials and finishes, but to create a space that felt elevated and cohesive while preserving that sense of identity.
Material Palette & Design Resolution
A subtle layer of Asian influence was woven throughout the design, inspired by the homeowners’ Japanese tansu collection. Sleek wall sconces with handcrafted steel bands in an oil-rubbed bronze finish, paired with gently curved bronze hardware, echo one another—resulting in a cohesive, quietly refined aesthetic.
A floating custom double vanity in rich mahogany anchors the space, adding warmth and contrast against the natural cherry pocket doors with frosted glass panels. Frameless recessed medicine cabinets provide streamlined storage, keeping the overall look clean, uncluttered, and focused on simplicity—allowing the rest of the design to take center stage.
One of the client’s main priorities was to keep their existing tub while minimizing grout lines. To achieve this, we used quartz slabs that mimic Calacatta marble for the walls, tub deck, and apron—offering both beauty, visual appeal, and ease of maintenance. The result is clean, seamless, and quietly luxurious.
To ground the space, large-format gray porcelain floor tiles provide a nice contrast to the crisp white wainscoting, tying the design back to the home’s classic architectural details. The richness of the contrasting wood tones adds warmth and visual interest, while a mix of polished nickel plumbing fixtures and oil-rubbed bronze accents introduces depth without overwhelming the palette. The wainscoting, in particular, brings a classic layer that balances the more modern elements.
One of my favorite and interesting details is the swinging butler door to the water closet, in natural cherry with a frosted glass panel. The clients chose not to include a lock—this space was designed entirely for them, with guests directed to a secondary guest bathroom. It’s a small detail, but one that speaks to how personal and intentional the design truly is.
An antique rug that the homeowners owned—believed to be a Caucasian Kazak was restored and incorporated in the bathroom adding color, history, texture, and warmth. Soft gray walls with green undertones create a calming backdrop, allowing the materials and finishes to remain the focus while reinforcing a spa-like bathroom sanctuary.
Miss Alice Designs
Whole-Home Interior Design Scope
Beyond the bathroom, I worked closely with the homeowners throughout much of the house including but not limited to the following:
Selecting fabrics in vibrant reds and blues for pillows, cushions, and bar stools
Selecting fabrics for window treatments in a neutral palette
Redesigning the fireplace in a modern classic aesthetic
Selecting marble slabs for the kitchen countertops and backsplash
Choosing interior and exterior paint colors
Specifying engineered wood flooring throughout
Designing a custom tansu-inspired media console
Reconfiguring the recessed lighting layout
Designing the exterior gates
Selecting large oversized custom sliding doors
Choosing materials and finishes for the guest bathroom
Selecting materials and finishes for the lower-level unit
The clients had a strong appreciation for mid-century modern and Scandinavian design, with several existing pieces from Design Within Reach. With thoughtful guidance, they selected a leather sectional with an exposed solid wood frame, paired with a round glass coffee table featuring walnut and brass legs by Chris Hardy. An antique Joshagan rug in rust, navy, and muted tones completes the space, adding color, depth, and texture, while red accents introduce a subtle layer of Asian cultural influence.
Miss Alice Designs
Construction began in the winter of 2022. Over the next two years, we navigated the many complexities that come with a project of this scale—extensive coordination, problem-solving, and navigating unforeseen challenges. It was also marked by significant personal moments, including the loss of my client’s spouse—bringing an added layer of care, sensitivity, and meaning to the work.
And yet, through it all, we saw it through to completion.
A Luxury Home Rooted in Culture, Faith, and Personal History
Today, what remains is more than a finished home. It is a space shaped by resilience, care, and intention—grounded in authenticity, deeply personal, and quietly luxurious. Above all, it feels like coming home to oneself for my clients, reflecting their deep faith, cultural heritage, and personal history.
For me, it’s a reminder that the most meaningful projects are never defined by aesthetics alone, but by the people behind them—the trust, the vision, and the way a space ultimately supports how they live.
See more pictures of this residence here.
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