Designing a Bathroom You’ll Love at Every Age
I designed my own bathroom ten years ago. At the time, I thought it was perfect — elegant, timeless, serene. And it still is, mostly. But here’s the truth: I didn’t include a bathtub. Back then, I never had the time for long soaks, and honestly, I didn’t think I needed one. Fast forward a decade and my eyesight isn’t what it used to be, my pace has (thankfully) slowed, and I’ve learned that sometimes a warm bath is exactly what helps me sleep at night. Who would have guessed that what once felt unnecessary would one day feel essential?
That’s the thing about design, we evolve, and our spaces need to evolve with us. How we live, move, and take care of ourselves changes as we do. The best spaces anticipate that evolution, even when we can’t. Designing a bathroom that truly stands the test of time isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about honesty. Not the “perfect look” kind of honesty, but the kind that asks how you really live, what you need, and how you’ll care for yourself ten years from now.
As a designer, I’m always balancing beauty and function. Where every detail feels intentional but also deeply personal. It’s not about trends; it’s about what resonates with the heart of your home and your soul. I love to layer in luxurious materials like stone that feels soft underfoot, tiles that still make you smile a decade later, a statement tub that invites both ritual and rest, and lighting that serves both the morning rush and the nighttime wind-down.
But the real art lies in designing for every stage of adulthood — not just the present. That might mean incorporating a curbless shower that looks sleek now but becomes invaluable later, or a built-in bench that offers support during recovery from surgery (or simply a place to exhale at the end of the day). It could mean easy-to-grip fixtures, layered lighting, or a vanity height that supports comfort and accessibility without sacrificing design integrity. These aren’t compromises — they’re truths about how good design honors the body and the years.
It could also mean thinking about family, including picking finishes that can withstand the chaos of kids who never quite remember to turn on the fan (mine are guilty as charged). I now wish our fan turned on automatically with the light in both our bathrooms! Or consider storage that keeps clutter hidden and routines seamless: medicine cabinets with accessible mirrors, lots of drawers in the vanity, and heated flooring for those cold early mornings. There might be some sticker shock at first, but it’s nothing compared to the cost and frustration of tearing out a shower or vanity years later because of something that could have been anticipated from the start. I can’t tell you how many bathrooms we’ve redone for that very reason. If only a little truth-telling had happened early on.
When we design from a place of truth and not denial, or fear, our spaces become more soulful and enduring. They tell a story of living beautifully, fully, and authentically, at every age. The bathrooms that age gracefully with their homeowners are always the most beautiful ones, in my opinion.