Interior Design Blog

If you have an old Jacuzzi tub collecting dust, a step-down shower you no longer love, or a bathroom that technically works but does absolutely nothing for you, you are not alone.

Bathrooms are some of the hardest-working rooms in a home, but they are often the last spaces people update. Maybe the process feels intimidating. Maybe you are worried about living through weeks of construction. Or maybe you have simply learned to ignore the mauve all-in-one tub/shower situation that has been staring back at you for years.

Most of my clients do not come to me saying, “I want to improve my resale value.” Of course, resale is always in the rearview mirror when we make smart design decisions. But the words I hear most often are sanctuary and spa. They want a few quiet moments of escape at the beginning or end of the day. And I happen to think a little bit of spa every day can make a very big difference.

Why More Homeowners Are Choosing to Renovate Instead of Moving

There is another reason we are seeing more homeowners rethink their bathrooms, and often the rest of their homes. As Newsweek recently reported, more homeowners are choosing to stay in their current homes longer and renovate rather than move. With today's mortgage rates and a competitive housing market, that can make a lot of sense, especially here on the Seacoast of New Hampshire.

And if you already love your neighborhood, your property, or the bones of your house, why leave just because the home itself is not working quite the way you want it to? That is where renovation gets exciting.

A bathroom is often the place where clients decide to begin. They want to replace outdated fixtures, rethink an awkward layout, or finally create that spa-like retreat they have been imagining. But once we start looking at the space together, we often uncover opportunities that extend well beyond the bathroom.

Maybe the primary suite could function better. Maybe the lighting throughout the home needs attention. Maybe that fireplace, kitchen, or adjacent bedroom suddenly has a lot more potential than you realized. Sometimes the bathroom is simply where the conversation starts.

A Bathroom Renovation Should Feel Better, Not Just Look New

One of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make is treating a bathroom as purely utilitarian because they think that will save money. Functional does not have to mean boring. In fact, it is entirely possible to spend a lot of money on a bathroom that still feels flat, generic, or disconnected from the rest of the home.

Good bathroom design is about much more than choosing tile and fixtures. It is about understanding how you move through the room, what you need to store, how you want the space to feel, and how every selection works together. A compact bathroom asks a lot of every square inch. That is exactly where a designer’s vision matters most.

Why Hire an Interior Designer for a Bathroom Remodel?

A great contractor is invaluable. Their job is to execute the construction beautifully and safely. My job is different: I create the vision, solve the space, make the decisions before they become emergencies, and give the contractor a clear design to build from.

Sometimes that means moving a shower to gain breathing room. Sometimes it means reconsidering the toilet location so we can fit a better vanity. And sometimes the bathroom opens up a larger conversation: Would borrowing space from the closet improve the primary suite? Could lighting be better throughout the bedroom and bath? Is there an opportunity for a fireplace, built-ins, or furniture that makes the entire space feel more intentional?

At Mandeville Canyon Designs, every project starts with getting to know our clients and how their family lives. From there, our process can include site visits, measurements, scaled drawings for the trades, mood boards, material sourcing, purchasing, coordination of the many moving parts, site oversight, and support throughout the project.

That level of planning is not extra decoration. It is what helps the renovation feel cohesive from the beginning and gives everyone on the project a better roadmap.

How Long Does a Bathroom Renovation Take? The Secret Is in the Prep

A primary bathroom renovation can take about six weeks, while a secondary bathroom may take closer to a month. The secret is in the preparation and scheduling.

The smoother projects are the ones where the layout is resolved, materials are selected, details are documented, and the important decisions are made before demolition begins. No one wants to be choosing grout while the installer is standing in the doorway waiting for an answer.

This is one of the biggest reasons to bring a designer in early. Planning ahead helps reduce surprise decisions, avoid unnecessary delays, and keep the project moving toward the design we agreed on from day one.

Aging in Place: A Bathroom That Ages Beautifully With You

Aging in place is another reason many clients rethink their bathrooms, especially primary baths. The good news is that today’s products and design solutions allow us to plan for comfort, access, and long-term usability without creating a space that looks institutional.

I would much rather consider those needs while we are designing the room than have a client renovate now and tear into beautiful new tile again a few years later.

Aging in place also doesn’t mean giving up on the things you love. We just installed a Japanese soaking tub into a Moroccan-inspired bathroom I designed, and my client told me she is counting down the days to her first soak! And yes, we did talk about aging in place and the response was, "What a lovely way to go!"

Why a Bathroom Remodel Often Leads to a Bigger Renovation

This happens all the time: a client calls us about a bathroom or a kitchen, and once we are in the home, we start talking about the bedroom furniture, lighting, fireplaces, closets, or the flow into the next room.

One thing designers do especially well is hold space for potential. We are looking at the bathroom you want to renovate today, but we are also looking at the home around it and asking what could be better tomorrow.

That does not mean every project needs to become a whole-house renovation overnight. Some work can absolutely be phased. But even when we start small, I want the plan to make sense as part of the larger home. The goal is to avoid making a beautiful decision in one room that limits what you can do in the next.

The Powder Room Deserves a Renovation Too

If there is one room where I will happily encourage a little drama, it is the powder room. You are in there for a short amount of time. Why not have some fun?

In a recent La Quinta whole-home project, I designed a bespoke concrete vanity with arches that echo details throughout the home. The wood-formed poured-concrete sink creates the illusion that you are reaching into the woods to wash your hands. We paired it with bold blue raffia wallpaper woven with silver strands that catch the light, plus handmade floor tile that brings in the Moorish influence running through the rest of the home.

It is a tiny room, but it tells you something about the entire house. That is what makes it such a fun design opportunity.

Bathroom Upgrades That Are Worth the Splurge (and What They Actually Cost)

Yes, there are big splurges, such as steam showers and exotic tile, but some of my favorite upgrades are the smaller ones that deliver a surprisingly big return for both everyday life and resale.

Radiant heat is near the top of my list. We use it in almost every project, even in the desert. It is straightforward for installers to add, and once you have stepped onto a warm bathroom floor first thing in the morning, cold tile is very hard to go back to.

Smart toilets such as Spalet models are another upgrade clients love, with features like heated seats, bidets, and automatic cleaning. I also love putting outlets inside drawers and linen towers so toothbrushes, hair dryers, and other daily necessities can stay plugged in without cluttering the counter.

And I am not ready to give up on the tub in a primary bathroom. If your only reference point is a built-in garden tub in the corner or a jetted tub that would make you scream if you turned it on today, it is worth looking again. A simple soaking tub can completely change the experience of the room.

We recently installed a soaking tub in our Portsmouth, NH home renovation, and let me tell you, I can almost promise that your blood pressure will lower before you even dip your toe into it! That is the kind of experience I want a room to create.

Start With the Bathroom. Design With the Whole Home in Mind.

We do not design cookie-cutter bathrooms. We design rooms that feel personal, beautiful, and connected to the way you actually live.

Sometimes a bathroom renovation is exactly that: one beautifully redesigned room. And sometimes it is the first time a homeowner realizes what is possible elsewhere in the house. Either way, I want to begin with a plan that sees the whole picture.

If you are considering a primary bathroom, guest bathroom, powder room, or whole-home renovation in Exeter, Portsmouth, Rye, or elsewhere on the Seacoast of New Hampshire, bring us in before the demolition starts. We can help you create a space that works now, feels like you, and leaves room for what your home could become next.

Let’s start dreaming up your new bathroom, and maybe a little more.