NE Portland Ensuite Bathroom Remodel on Liberty Street
Date: May 2025
This project focused on remodeling an existing ensuite bathroom in an early-1900s home in the Woodlawn neighborhood of NE Portland. While the bathroom had been added to the home years after its original construction, it felt disconnected from the rest of the space and lacked both functionality and privacy.
The layout was unconventional and inefficient. A partial-height dividing wall separated the bathroom from the bedroom but stopped short of the ceiling, leaving the space feeling open and exposed. Inside the bathroom, a corner vanity sat directly at the entry, followed by a compact toilet and a large jetted bathtub that occupied nearly half the usable space. There was no dedicated shower, and the finishes felt dated and pieced together over time. A large skylight above the vanity brought in natural light, but the rest of the space did not take full advantage of it.
Before Photos:
Our Bathroom Remodel Plan
Layout and Structural Reconfiguration
The primary goal of this remodel was to create a more functional and private ensuite bathroom while introducing a clean, modern layout.
One of the most important changes involved relocating the bathroom door approximately three feet. Because the bathroom is in an attic, the ceiling slopes significantly, which affects usable height. By shifting the door, we were able to position the new shower in an area with more consistent ceiling height, allowing for proper showerhead placement and a more comfortable overall experience.
This adjustment also aligned the new shower with the existing skylight. Instead of lighting only the vanity area, natural light now fills the entire shower, creating a more open, elevated feel in the space.
The original partial-height wall was extended to full height, creating a clear separation between the bedroom and bathroom. This change significantly improved privacy while making the space feel more intentional and complete.
Shower Design and Tile Work
The shower became the focal point of the project.
We installed handmade Italian tiles in a deep, dark teal tone. The slight variation and imperfections in each tile create a sense of movement and craftsmanship, giving the shower a distinct visual identity. Against the neutral flooring, this contrast adds depth and a more custom, high-end feel.
To maximize the skylight's impact, we recommended a custom glass shower enclosure rather than a full-height wall. This allows natural light to pass through the entire bathroom rather than being confined to the shower area, creating a brighter, more cohesive space.
Vanity and Material Integration
For the vanity, we selected a walnut wood finish paired with a white engineered marble countertop.
The walnut tones tie into other wood elements throughout the home and introduce warmth that balances the lighter surfaces in the bathroom. This contrast helps ground the space and creates a more cohesive connection to the rest of the house..
Space Planning and Layout Decisions
We reworked the layout to improve circulation and usability within the existing footprint. The vanity and toilet were placed along the same wall, opening up one side of the bathroom and creating a more comfortable pathway through the space. While the homeowners initially wanted a double vanity, the available wall width and ceiling constraints limited the usable space to about 50 inches. We recommended a 48-inch single vanity, which allowed for more countertop space, better storage, and a cleaner overall layout while avoiding unnecessary plumbing complexity.
Flooring and Base Finishes
The design direction focused on creating a space that felt both elevated and cohesive with the rest of the home, while taking advantage of the skylight's natural light. For the flooring, we recommended large-format tiles in a neutral tone. These tiles reduce grout lines and visual noise, helping the bathroom feel larger and more open. The selected tile also included subtle texture and variation, adding depth without overwhelming the space. Moreover, these larger tiles were quick to install, which helped the owners save on labor and keep the bathroom renovation cost low.
The Final Result
This bathroom remodel transformed a poorly configured and partially enclosed bathroom into a space that feels intentional, functional, and connected to the rest of the home. By addressing layout inefficiencies, improving privacy, and carefully coordinating materials, the new bathroom not only meets the homeowners’ needs but also enhances the overall experience of the primary suite. The result is a bathroom that makes better use of its space, captures natural light more effectively, and delivers a more refined and cohesive design.
