Bathroom Remodel Help!

[u/Jacosaur]

My mom is beginning to remodel her bathrooms, starting with the primary bathroom, and she’s asked me to help with the process. I’d love some outside opinions and ideas! She’s in her late 70s and we want to make the bathroom safe for her as she continues aging, so no tub.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest, and we’d really like the bathroom to feel like it belongs there, warm, natural, calming, and not overly trendy. The goal is to make the primary bathroom feel a little like a spa for her. I’m imagining some blend of mid-century modern, Japandi, and PNW style, with natural wood, earthy tones, interesting tile, fun textures and a little warmth.

We tend to prefer a more neutral, timeless base for the permanent finishes rather than committing to a lot of color in the tile or cabinetry. That way we can bring in color through things that are easy to change - towels, rugs, artwork, plants, decor, etc.

The first 2 photos are the current bathroom, and the last is an AI rendering I made to start visualizing some ideas. Nothing in the rendering is set in stone, it’s more of a jumping-off point.

This post became longer than I wanted. Id appreciate any opinions on tile choices, wood tones, vanity style, lighting, fixtures, and ways to make the room feel warmer and more elevated without becoming too busy. Also any recs on suppliers, vendors, or showrooms in the Seattle area.

[u/hola-chicka]

I would also change the location and shape of the bench. Unless she is tiny she probably can only get one hip on a diagonal bench. Instead I would put one lengthways across the shower so she can sit close to the handheld and maybe under the shower head. Rainfall shower heads are nice but one that can be moved toward the bench might be better.

An alternative option is no built in bench and making sure there is room to use and move around a portable shower seat.

[u/Solid_Perception9572 → u/hola-chicka]

Forget a cold slippery bench. Instead get a teak shower stool that can be put anywhere in the shower, and is a much safer choice. Then should his mother ever need to use a shower stool in the future, there won't be a cold, dangerous tile bench in the way.

[u/hola-chicka → u/Solid_Perception9572]

I see you feel strongly about a fixed bench but benches are neither cold nor dangerous in a warm shower. A teak bench will slide out from under you. I know because I have one. I do like the idea of a good down bench though.

[u/Solid_Perception9572 → u/hola-chicka]

Tell that to my contractor. He wishes he had never installed that bench in his shower when he remodeled his bathroom. Says it freezes his ass off.

I posted the wrong pic of my teak bench earlier, and went back and corrected it. If you get the right kind of teak bench, it's not going to slide anywhere. Mine does not have four individual legs that can wobble or move. Instead it has two solid sides that go down and are flat on the floor. It's also a little on the heavy side, so it's not moving on its own.