7 Stylish New Bathrooms With Low-Curb Showers
See how pros, including one found on Houzz, create welcoming showers with beautiful tile and other fashionable features
A low-curb shower creates a streamlined look that’s easier to configure than a curbless format, which often requires extra construction in the subfloor. Here, design and remodeling pros share details on the materials and other features they used to create captivating low-curb shower designs.
2. Pattern Play
Designers: Cynthia Stafford and Lindi Bolinger of TruDesign
Location: Superior, Colorado
Homeowners’ request. “Like most clients, this homeowner desired a more luxurious experience for their primary bathroom,” designer Cynthia Stafford says. “Unlike most clients, they did not want to accomplish this by utilizing the traditional serenity color palette of soft neutral whites, blues and greens. Our main challenge for this space was to then create a richer experience for this couple that would remain true to the aesthetic we created for the rest of their home.”
The designers used Houzz Pro software for their product proposals to the homeowners.
Low-curb shower details. Geometric porcelain tiles with wood-grain look. Three sides of glass. Custom storage ledges, one of which was placed at a height that allows the user to prop a foot up when needed. “Our overall goal was to deliver a functional experience that also hit the visual marks,” designer Lindi Bolinger says. “We accomplished this by creating an oversize walk-in shower with a dramatic geometric tile and separate shower heads for each of the homeowners.”
Other special features. Floor-to-ceiling wood linen cabinet and two vanities with oversize pipe hardware and oversize pendants.
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to put the shower in the middle of the room,” Stafford says. “It can be the center of attention rather than being pushed into a corner of the room.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The plumbing accessories were back-ordered an additional eight months mid-project,” Bolinger says. “Rather than reselecting and settling for a different look, we installed temporary accessories that were only readily available in a different finish. After months of waiting, we were able to get the correct accessories and finish installed.”
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Designers: Cynthia Stafford and Lindi Bolinger of TruDesign
Location: Superior, Colorado
Homeowners’ request. “Like most clients, this homeowner desired a more luxurious experience for their primary bathroom,” designer Cynthia Stafford says. “Unlike most clients, they did not want to accomplish this by utilizing the traditional serenity color palette of soft neutral whites, blues and greens. Our main challenge for this space was to then create a richer experience for this couple that would remain true to the aesthetic we created for the rest of their home.”
The designers used Houzz Pro software for their product proposals to the homeowners.
Low-curb shower details. Geometric porcelain tiles with wood-grain look. Three sides of glass. Custom storage ledges, one of which was placed at a height that allows the user to prop a foot up when needed. “Our overall goal was to deliver a functional experience that also hit the visual marks,” designer Lindi Bolinger says. “We accomplished this by creating an oversize walk-in shower with a dramatic geometric tile and separate shower heads for each of the homeowners.”
Other special features. Floor-to-ceiling wood linen cabinet and two vanities with oversize pipe hardware and oversize pendants.
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to put the shower in the middle of the room,” Stafford says. “It can be the center of attention rather than being pushed into a corner of the room.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The plumbing accessories were back-ordered an additional eight months mid-project,” Bolinger says. “Rather than reselecting and settling for a different look, we installed temporary accessories that were only readily available in a different finish. After months of waiting, we were able to get the correct accessories and finish installed.”
Find a bathroom designer near you
3. Dressed-Up Drama
Architect: Ryan Marsden of Marsden Architects
Interior designer: Katie Geresy of KTG Design
Builder: Mt. Lincoln Construction
Location: Truckee, California
Size: 55 square feet (5 square meters); 5 by 11 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The main event in this bathroom is the lake view, which isn’t quite seen from this perspective, but we wanted to capture that view from the bathroom while also providing privacy from the outside looking in,” architect Ryan Marsden says. “The higher window was a great way to capture the view and provide privacy and natural light.”
Low-curb shower details. Blue terra-cotta tiles in a vertical pattern line the shower walls, curb and shower entry wall. The flooring is white zellige octagon tile with a black square detail pattern. Concrete-look quartz tops the curb. “Logistics for a curbless shower can get a little more involved with utilizing recessed floor framing to account for the slope and build up,” Marsden says. “In this case, we had a head height issue for the crawlspace access below and collectively, as a project team, decided to embrace the curb and make it a purposeful detail. You can see the wall tile runs continuously under the curb with a slab to match the countertop to finish it off. The end result is a layered look with the contrast between the wall tiles and the floor tiles.”
Other special features. “These particular clients tore down an old family barn and we were able to use the barn wood throughout the home,” designer Katie Geresy says. “The vanity is a fine example of that rustic barn wood in execution. The rest of the materials in the space needed to follow suit and complement the barn wood in a refined barn aesthetic.”
Designer tip. “Don’t overdo it,” Geresy says. “Let the space speak for itself. And use natural materials in a unique way for the fixed goods — tile, cabinets, fixtures — to really create a showstopper of a space.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We had designed another high window in the righthand wall of the shower to create an open corner window look,” Marsden says. “After the home was framed and we walked into the bathroom with the clients, everyone looked at each other with wide eyes. The neighbor’s deck was looking right down into the shower. We didn’t think it would feel so invasive until we stood there to feel it. Despite losing the mountain views to the west, we all agreed removing this window was the right choice to maintain privacy to the neighbor.”
Tile: Architect’s Palette terra-cotta tile in Blueprint, 2 by 12 inches (shower walls) and Zio & Sons + Cle weathered white octagon with charred cedar bouchon, Clé Tile; countertop and curb slab: Rugged Concrete, Caesarstone
Architect: Ryan Marsden of Marsden Architects
Interior designer: Katie Geresy of KTG Design
Builder: Mt. Lincoln Construction
Location: Truckee, California
Size: 55 square feet (5 square meters); 5 by 11 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The main event in this bathroom is the lake view, which isn’t quite seen from this perspective, but we wanted to capture that view from the bathroom while also providing privacy from the outside looking in,” architect Ryan Marsden says. “The higher window was a great way to capture the view and provide privacy and natural light.”
Low-curb shower details. Blue terra-cotta tiles in a vertical pattern line the shower walls, curb and shower entry wall. The flooring is white zellige octagon tile with a black square detail pattern. Concrete-look quartz tops the curb. “Logistics for a curbless shower can get a little more involved with utilizing recessed floor framing to account for the slope and build up,” Marsden says. “In this case, we had a head height issue for the crawlspace access below and collectively, as a project team, decided to embrace the curb and make it a purposeful detail. You can see the wall tile runs continuously under the curb with a slab to match the countertop to finish it off. The end result is a layered look with the contrast between the wall tiles and the floor tiles.”
Other special features. “These particular clients tore down an old family barn and we were able to use the barn wood throughout the home,” designer Katie Geresy says. “The vanity is a fine example of that rustic barn wood in execution. The rest of the materials in the space needed to follow suit and complement the barn wood in a refined barn aesthetic.”
Designer tip. “Don’t overdo it,” Geresy says. “Let the space speak for itself. And use natural materials in a unique way for the fixed goods — tile, cabinets, fixtures — to really create a showstopper of a space.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We had designed another high window in the righthand wall of the shower to create an open corner window look,” Marsden says. “After the home was framed and we walked into the bathroom with the clients, everyone looked at each other with wide eyes. The neighbor’s deck was looking right down into the shower. We didn’t think it would feel so invasive until we stood there to feel it. Despite losing the mountain views to the west, we all agreed removing this window was the right choice to maintain privacy to the neighbor.”
Tile: Architect’s Palette terra-cotta tile in Blueprint, 2 by 12 inches (shower walls) and Zio & Sons + Cle weathered white octagon with charred cedar bouchon, Clé Tile; countertop and curb slab: Rugged Concrete, Caesarstone
4. Chevron Charm
Architectural designer: Danielle DiVittorio of DiVittorio Architecture & Design
Interior designer: Whitney Gelinas of Wit Interiors
Location: Los Altos, California
Size: 94 square feet (8.7 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Their goal was to preserve a good-size shower, get in a double vanity and, if at all possible, have a separate water closet,” says architectural designer Danielle DiVittorio, who collaborated with her clients using Houzz ideabooks. “Because we were preserving a historical house, we did not have the flexibility to add square footage. But just by rearranging the space and utilizing the existing square footage more successfully, we were able to achieve all their wishes.”
Low-curb shower details. Gray marble-look porcelain floor and curb tiles in a chevron pattern. White and off-white 3-by-12-inch fireclay tiles in a vertical pattern for the walls and ceiling. “We designed a low-curb shower because this shower is on a second level of a home and structurally we did not want to cut into the floor joists to make a curbless,” DiVittorio says. “Also, the shower door opens close to the bathroom entrance door. Having a low curb lowers the risk of any water getting out and in this case getting into the bedroom hallway. By using a consistent tile in the bathroom and seamlessly continuing it over the curb and into the shower, the low curb is very discreet.”
Other special features. “This shower is a great example of why hiring an interior designer elevates a project,” DiVittorio says. “Wit Interiors was able to find complementary tiles, spec the gold hardware and make the final design pop.”
Designer tip. “Trust the process,” DiVittorio says. “When hiring a designer or architect, the professional may see the potential of your space more upfront. Work closely with them and ask as many questions as needed, but trust there may be a design you never thought of.”
Shower tile: Calcite and White Wash, 3 by 12 inches, Fireclay Tile; floor tile: Vertuo in Bravura chevron, Daltile; shower trim: Levoir in Luxe Gold, Brizo; wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
Architectural designer: Danielle DiVittorio of DiVittorio Architecture & Design
Interior designer: Whitney Gelinas of Wit Interiors
Location: Los Altos, California
Size: 94 square feet (8.7 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Their goal was to preserve a good-size shower, get in a double vanity and, if at all possible, have a separate water closet,” says architectural designer Danielle DiVittorio, who collaborated with her clients using Houzz ideabooks. “Because we were preserving a historical house, we did not have the flexibility to add square footage. But just by rearranging the space and utilizing the existing square footage more successfully, we were able to achieve all their wishes.”
Low-curb shower details. Gray marble-look porcelain floor and curb tiles in a chevron pattern. White and off-white 3-by-12-inch fireclay tiles in a vertical pattern for the walls and ceiling. “We designed a low-curb shower because this shower is on a second level of a home and structurally we did not want to cut into the floor joists to make a curbless,” DiVittorio says. “Also, the shower door opens close to the bathroom entrance door. Having a low curb lowers the risk of any water getting out and in this case getting into the bedroom hallway. By using a consistent tile in the bathroom and seamlessly continuing it over the curb and into the shower, the low curb is very discreet.”
Other special features. “This shower is a great example of why hiring an interior designer elevates a project,” DiVittorio says. “Wit Interiors was able to find complementary tiles, spec the gold hardware and make the final design pop.”
Designer tip. “Trust the process,” DiVittorio says. “When hiring a designer or architect, the professional may see the potential of your space more upfront. Work closely with them and ask as many questions as needed, but trust there may be a design you never thought of.”
Shower tile: Calcite and White Wash, 3 by 12 inches, Fireclay Tile; floor tile: Vertuo in Bravura chevron, Daltile; shower trim: Levoir in Luxe Gold, Brizo; wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
5. Textured Treasure
Designer: Christie May of Rockwell Interiors
Location: Solana Beach, California
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters)
Homeowner’s request. “We came up with this modern look for our client’s guest bathroom and took inspiration from the idea of making it look like a chic hotel for his guests,” designer Christie May says.
Low-curb shower details. Textured wall tile. Dark gray slate floor tile. “I always prefer a low or no curb in modern designs,” May says. “It’s cleaner and more sleek.”
Other special features. Marble countertop with exaggerated mitered edges. Walnut floating vanity. “The marble ties it all together and the brass accents give it a touch of glam,” May says.
Designer tip. “I always use sapphire glass on my shower enclosures,” May says. “It’s a bit pricier, but the glass is more clear and less green.”
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Designer: Christie May of Rockwell Interiors
Location: Solana Beach, California
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters)
Homeowner’s request. “We came up with this modern look for our client’s guest bathroom and took inspiration from the idea of making it look like a chic hotel for his guests,” designer Christie May says.
Low-curb shower details. Textured wall tile. Dark gray slate floor tile. “I always prefer a low or no curb in modern designs,” May says. “It’s cleaner and more sleek.”
Other special features. Marble countertop with exaggerated mitered edges. Walnut floating vanity. “The marble ties it all together and the brass accents give it a touch of glam,” May says.
Designer tip. “I always use sapphire glass on my shower enclosures,” May says. “It’s a bit pricier, but the glass is more clear and less green.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
6. Tile Takeover
Designer: Adina Hall Design
General contractor: A&M General Contracting
Location: Chicago
Size: 42½ square feet (4 square meters); 5 by 8½ feet
Homeowners’ request. A couple with two young boys wanted to transform their dated basement into a multipurpose space with room to entertain, a playroom for the kids and a guest bedroom and bathroom for the grandparents and other guests. “The family wanted to convert the tub into a shower space and modernize the bathroom with finishes that would be easy to maintain,” designer Adina Hall says.
Low-curb shower details. Glazed white ceramic mosaic tile in a herringbone pattern covers the shower floor and back wall. White 8-by-20-inch marble tile covers the left shower wall. Light blue glossy 4-by-16-inch porcelain tiles with a fluted surface cover the right-side shower and vanity wall. A piece of quartz tops the curb. “The low-curb shower is our preferred detail when it comes to maintenance, as it does the best job of containing the water,” Hall says. “It’s also a less expensive design strategy than a curbless shower, which has a more high-end aesthetic due to the flat planes but requires the entire bathroom to be treated as a wet room with a moisture barrier and drainage throughout.”
Other special features. Natural oak vanity with a white stone countertop and black steel details. Black faucet, lighting and other details. The main flooring is brown carpet-look 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles.
Designer tip. “We saved cost on the shower glass by selecting a partial glass panel rather than a panel with a door system,” Hall says. “This also creates a more open feel in the bathroom by eliminating the need for a swinging door. And I always recommend built-in shower niches big enough to house the products that you use on a daily basis. This way you can avoid unsightly wire racks hanging from the shower head or products left on the floor that create soap scum. I always use a flat quartz or tile as the shelf area of the niche to avoid mold in the grout lines from water dripping from the products.”
Vanity light: Somerset in black, Hinkley; wall paint: Toque White, Sherwin-Williams
Designer: Adina Hall Design
General contractor: A&M General Contracting
Location: Chicago
Size: 42½ square feet (4 square meters); 5 by 8½ feet
Homeowners’ request. A couple with two young boys wanted to transform their dated basement into a multipurpose space with room to entertain, a playroom for the kids and a guest bedroom and bathroom for the grandparents and other guests. “The family wanted to convert the tub into a shower space and modernize the bathroom with finishes that would be easy to maintain,” designer Adina Hall says.
Low-curb shower details. Glazed white ceramic mosaic tile in a herringbone pattern covers the shower floor and back wall. White 8-by-20-inch marble tile covers the left shower wall. Light blue glossy 4-by-16-inch porcelain tiles with a fluted surface cover the right-side shower and vanity wall. A piece of quartz tops the curb. “The low-curb shower is our preferred detail when it comes to maintenance, as it does the best job of containing the water,” Hall says. “It’s also a less expensive design strategy than a curbless shower, which has a more high-end aesthetic due to the flat planes but requires the entire bathroom to be treated as a wet room with a moisture barrier and drainage throughout.”
Other special features. Natural oak vanity with a white stone countertop and black steel details. Black faucet, lighting and other details. The main flooring is brown carpet-look 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles.
Designer tip. “We saved cost on the shower glass by selecting a partial glass panel rather than a panel with a door system,” Hall says. “This also creates a more open feel in the bathroom by eliminating the need for a swinging door. And I always recommend built-in shower niches big enough to house the products that you use on a daily basis. This way you can avoid unsightly wire racks hanging from the shower head or products left on the floor that create soap scum. I always use a flat quartz or tile as the shelf area of the niche to avoid mold in the grout lines from water dripping from the products.”
Vanity light: Somerset in black, Hinkley; wall paint: Toque White, Sherwin-Williams
7. Soft Serenity
Designers: Mary Johnston and Ray Johnston of Johnston Architects
Location: Winthrop, Washington
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters); 10 by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The owners wanted a light and airy bathroom with a stronger connection to the outdoors,” architect Ray Johnston says. “We made large windows in the shower a focal point with transparent glass doors to let nature shine through the space.”
Low-curb shower details. “We generally work to achieve curbless or low-curb showers for several reasons,” Johnston says. “First, we think they just look great and flow better. Second, should anyone have mobility challenges, a curbless or low-curb shower is the way to go. We used beautiful tile work to help create a light and somewhat ephemeral quality in this bathroom.”
Other special features. Custom cabinet with marble countertop.
Designer tip. “Where privacy can be maintained, we always like to connect interior spaces to the outdoors,” Johnston says. “In this case, the house is in the spectacular Methow Valley in Washington state. Outside the bathroom is a beautiful and private garden with the slopes of Sunny Jim Butte beyond. What a great way to begin the day.”
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Designers: Mary Johnston and Ray Johnston of Johnston Architects
Location: Winthrop, Washington
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters); 10 by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The owners wanted a light and airy bathroom with a stronger connection to the outdoors,” architect Ray Johnston says. “We made large windows in the shower a focal point with transparent glass doors to let nature shine through the space.”
Low-curb shower details. “We generally work to achieve curbless or low-curb showers for several reasons,” Johnston says. “First, we think they just look great and flow better. Second, should anyone have mobility challenges, a curbless or low-curb shower is the way to go. We used beautiful tile work to help create a light and somewhat ephemeral quality in this bathroom.”
Other special features. Custom cabinet with marble countertop.
Designer tip. “Where privacy can be maintained, we always like to connect interior spaces to the outdoors,” Johnston says. “In this case, the house is in the spectacular Methow Valley in Washington state. Outside the bathroom is a beautiful and private garden with the slopes of Sunny Jim Butte beyond. What a great way to begin the day.”
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for your bathroom
Designer: Chris Chumbley of USI Design & Remodeling
Location: Southlake, Texas
Size: 45 square feet (4 square meters); 5 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. “One of the homeowners stated he uses this secondary bathroom to get ready every day and wanted the tub converted to a shower,” designer Chris Chumbley says. “Also, due to proximity to the family room and guest bedroom, the couple wanted small details for a finished look. The home is traditional and in a traditional-home community, so the design theme we employed is ‘quiet luxury.’ ”
The homeowners found Chumbley and USI Design & Remodeling on Houzz.
Low-curb shower details. 12-by-24-inch Iceberg marble floor tiles and curb transition to 3-inch Iceberg marble hex tiles for the shower floor and 4-by-8-inch Iceberg marble tiles for the shower walls, ceiling and bench. “Curbs allow for mistake-free water management,” Chumbley says. “That’s particularly important in a shower with a small footprint and multiple water ports — in this case, a hand shower and wall shower head.”
Other special features. Marble mosaic accent wall tile. Whitewashed walnut vanity.
Designer tip. “Small rooms need more wall development,” Chumbley says. “In this case, the mosaic tile accent wall, sconces and cased window are part of the layering.”
Vanity: Chicago in whitewashed walnut with Carrara marble top, James Martin Furniture; tile: Iceberg marble, 3-inch hex (shower floor), 4 by 8 inches (shower walls) and 12 by 24 inches (main floor), and Madison Polished Dolomite marble mosaic, 12 by 12 inches (accent wall), Floor & Decor; wall paint: Pale Oak, Benjamin Moore
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