Ask A Designer™
Ask A Designer™: Best Advice For Renovating A Principal Bathroom
Published on June 4, 2026
In this edition of Ask A Designer™, Gillian Atkins, senior designer at Lynda Reeves Design Studio (LRDS), shares advice for renovating a principal bathroom.
Q: We just bought our first house and this is the principal bathroom. We know we have to start from scratch, but we want to make sure we get the new layout right.
The laundry is moving out and, ideally, we’d love to have a separate toilet, freestanding tub and shower. The space is 15 feet by 10 feet. What do you recommend? — M.F., Enfield, Ont.
A: You have lots of space to work with so you can easily achieve your wish list. First, gut the entire room. Place the toilet and shower at one end — this gives you a large shower and allows room for the door swings. Tile around the window frame in the shower so it’s watertight, frost the glass, and add a glass wall and door.
On the long wall, install a double vanity in a warm wood like walnut and add a large rectangular mirror above. This arrangement leaves plenty of room for a freestanding tub across from the vanity. Use a large porcelain tile on the floors and shower walls. It’s also nice to tile behind the tub; tile 36 inches up from the floor if you don’t want to tile the whole room. And, if your budget allows for large slabs, go for it.
Add a long sconce above the vanity and recessed lighting, and opt for simple plumbing faucets and hardware in chrome throughout. Feel free to add colour with your wall paint, tile, accessories and towels, but leave the coral in the past!
1. Trinsic Monitor 17 Series shower kit with stops in Chrome by Delta, $943. Splashes Bath & Kitchen. 2. 55″ Framed Wood mirror in Walnut Oak Veneer, $685. Veneto Bath. 3. Trinsic Floor-mount Freestanding tub filler in Chrome by Delta, $1,332. Splashes Bath & Kitchen. 4. 32″ x 59″ Tosca Centre Drain Freestanding tub in Matte White by Maax, $2,016. Splashes Bath & Kitchen.
4. Extra-large Lochdale vanity sconce in Burnished Nickel by Visual Comfort, $377. Robinson Lighting & Bath. 5. 72″ Freestanding Wood vanity in Walnut Oak Veneer with Marble Counter, $5,635. Veneto Bath. 7. Trinsic Single Hole Bathroom faucet in Chrome by Delta, $333. Splashes Bath & Kitchen.
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