Big Changes Bring Classic Charm to a Petite 1970s Bathroom

The designer added recesses behind the mirrors complete with glass shelving to optimize storage. “I always find that people use the stuff that they can see the clearest,” says Kathyrn McAdams.

Small but mighty, the primary bathroom is fresh and modern while still honoring the soul of the home.

Although they appear to be doors, the curving side cabinets are actually spacious drawers—a favorite detail of the designer.

Hospitality- and design industry-adjacent homeowners recruited Kathryn McAdams of Meriwether Design Group to transform their 1970s lakefront bungalow into a fairytale second home. Little did they know at the time, they would become so smitten they would soon claim it as their primary residence.

“The previous owners put their stamp on the place, but they were into wow without substance,” says McAdams. “My clients wanted character and charm.” Although the whole home was lovingly reimagined, it’s the primary bathroom that exhibits some of the most dramatic change.

Measuring only 120 square feet, the bathroom presented a handful of challenges from the start. “I had to think, ‘How do we make everything fit and also have enough storage?’” To maximize space, the designer added a custom vanity with pullouts and side cabinet drawers, and transformed the mirrors into medicine cabinets to conceal everyday toiletries. “I actually made the bathroom bigger—which is kind of surprising—but I used space from the nearby powder room,” says McAdams. “It’s an intimate gallery-style space, so we had to make sure it was wider than 4 feet so that the couple could pass by each other comfortably.” When demoing, the flooring in the shower completely dissolved. “Thank goodness we were doing this now because I can’t imagine it was going to last much longer,” jokes McAdams.

Beyond functionality, the designer took inspiration from the storybook surroundings. The home is nestled in a small valley on the lake and even boasts a pond. McAdams incorporated natural colors and materials and muted tones throughout the bathroom to bring the outdoors in. Small but mighty, the primary bathroom is fresh and modern while still honoring the soul of the home.

Resources LIGHTING The Urban Electric Co. MIRROR Mirror Home, retrofitted by Meriwether Design Group VANITY Meriwether Design Group STONE Walker Zanger, fabricated by Stone Solutions of Atlanta TILE Ann Sacks, Fireclay FAUCETRY Kallista SHADES Lutron