Fed up with crouching and squeezing into their cramped bathroom, Rennai Hoefer and her husband got creative.
It wasn’t that the footprint was too small. But the unnecessarily tight dimensions in the couple’s Chandler, Arizona ensuite made it dysfunctional for the five-foot-nine lifestyle photographer and her six-foot husband: “We were squatting on the floor to get to our sink,” remembers Hoefer of the 30-inch-high vanity. The old shower was equally flawed: “When I was pregnant, I couldn’t shave my legs in there because I was unable to bend over to reach them. It was like being in a phone booth.”
Without changing the layout at all, the duo cleverly reconfigured the space, swapping out outdated finishes like golden oak cabinets and plastic-like countertops in the process to give the space a fresh, neutral look that would both attract future buyers and satisfy Hoefer’s discerning eye.
Fitting In
Hoefer’s new vanity of choice is actually two IKEA Godmorgon units combined to appear like a single piece—the couple also hung it higher at 36 inches to accommodate their height. The double set of deep drawers are topped with a custom concrete countertop with integrated sinks to offer plenty of surface area.
To make room for a larger shower, Hoefer knocked down a thick pony wall and swapped in a free-standing tub on the other side, which allowed her to add extra inches to the shower. A product niche now adds plenty of space for shampoo bottles and body wash, a luxury the previous booth did not provide, while a built-in bench supplies a welcoming seat (and a more comfortable shaving setup).
Designing to Sell
The couple doesn’t envision staying in the house forever, so they had to design with selling in mind. For the more permanent elements, Hoefer went with timeless, universal finishes like white, vertically stacked wall tile, sandstone-like flooring, and matte black faucets. “I wanted something that would appeal to a greater audience, especially since we live in the suburbs,” she explains. “I chose more basic options that could be incorporated into any type of style.”
As a photographer, Hoefer is attracted to pale hues herself. She’s attuned with the quality of light in a room, so a neutral backdrop is ideal. “When I’m getting ready and doing my makeup, I don’t want color cast,” she explains
Incorporating Warmth
Hoefer strategically peppered her personal taste into the space with features that are easier to trade out, like natural wood Impression Tahoe panels. “I love that Semihandmade fronts come in so many different styles, so I can switch them out for a very little amount of money,” she says.
Rounded edges and brass found in the pulls, mirrors, and sconces soften the decor, as does the ceramic lamp, original farmland print, and vintage-style rug. “I wanted to add layers so it wouldn’t feel too cool or too sterile,” Hoefer explains. The balance is just right.
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Comments (13)
OMG that vanity and floor tile is exactly what I have right now 😑 any info on the budget?
Hi Maggie, the vanity is actually two IKEA Godmorgon units combined to appear like a single piece topped with a custom concrete countertop with integrated sinks and Semihandmade Impression Tahoe fronts. We don’t have the exact budget. Hope this helps!
Hi! I see that you mentioned it was two Godmorgan’s… Can you explain how the designer incoprorated the side panel to match? I would like to do the same and would love to know how to best order the product to make that happen.
I have been search for that tile in the shower for my kitchen back splash!! Can I get the tile info.
Hi Binh Hua, I believe the tile is from Bredrosians: https://www.instagram.com/bedrosianstile/
Hope this helps!
Beautiful transformation. Are sources and pricing available?
Hi Lori, You can find some brand sources on Rennai’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CI6jr_cnBoO/. Unfortunately, we don’t have information on the pricing other than Semihandmade products.
can you give a source for the vanity light fixtures?
Hi Christa, The vanity light fixtures are from Hudson Valley Lighting: https://www.instagram.com/hudsonvalleylighting/
I love this bathroom! Do you have info on where the countertop with integrated sinks was made? And the mirrors?
Many thanks!
Hi I would really love to find out what the bathroom flooring is and who makes it ? it’s gorgeous with the cloe tile in the shower . It looks like it’s 12 x 24 as well ?
Gorgeous! Can you share what pulls these are?
How did the vanity edges get matched to the Oak Fronts? My understanding is that Ikea never sold this vanity with an oak finish…