Project Lotus: Bathroom Renovation
We kept this Winnipeg bathroom's practical layout and gave it a brighter, warmer finish with white tile, a navy vanity, and matte black fixtures.
Georgia Home Design
Winnipeg, MB
Project Lotus is proof that a bathroom does not need a brand-new floor plan to feel completely different. The existing layout already worked for our clients, so we kept the tub, toilet, and vanity in the same general positions and focused the renovation budget where it would make daily life better. With Task Reno completing the build, we gave every major surface a fresh purpose and made the room brighter, warmer, and much easier to use. The physical space stayed put. What filled it changed.
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A good layout worth keeping
Before the renovation, the bathroom had a standard alcove tub with a moulded white surround, a dark brown vanity with a speckled counter, and small square flooring in mixed tan tones. Grey-taupe walls and a narrow mirror made the compact room feel darker, while shower supplies had to live on racks hung inside the tub.
The basic room sequence made sense. The tub filled the end wall, the toilet sat beside it, and the vanity fit neatly on the short wall by the door. Moving all that plumbing would have used a large part of the budget without giving our clients a more useful room. We chose to keep the footprint and put our attention into storage, light, and finishes that could handle family life.
Before and after
A brighter place to start the day
We carried white subway tile from the tub edge right up to the ceiling, which immediately made the bathing area feel taller and cleaner. A long recessed niche spans much of the back wall and gives bottles a proper home without another rack taking up space. We kept the tub because it suits the way this family uses the room, then added a matte black showerhead, handheld wand, controls, tub spout, and curtain rod to give the white surround a crisp outline.
A clear glass panel protects the vanity side from spray without visually closing in the tub. From the doorway, you can still see the full width of the alcove, and that openness makes a real difference in a small bathroom.
A more useful vanity wall
The deep navy vanity is our favourite bit of colour in the room. Its three broad drawers keep smaller bathroom items easy to reach, which is much more useful than losing everything at the back of a deep cabinet. An integrated white sink keeps the top simple, while a matte black faucet and round black-framed mirror carry the shower finish across the room. The round mirror also softens all the straight lines in the tile and cabinetry.
A short white tile backsplash protects the sink wall and finishes with a fine black edge. Above the toilet, a white wall cabinet adds closed storage so the compact counter can stay clear. We wanted everything the family reaches for each morning to have an easy, sensible place.
Light wood-look plank flooring replaces the old tan grid underfoot. Its warm grain keeps the white, navy, and black palette from feeling cold and draws the eye from the doorway toward the tub.
Why this renovation feels so different
Project Lotus gave our clients what they really needed: a cleaner wet area, better lighting, storage that is easy to reach, and finishes that feel happy together. By respecting the layout that already worked, we could make those everyday improvements count.
The finished room still fits the same footprint, but it no longer feels like the same bathroom. It has a generous shower niche, practical vanity drawers, a brighter tub surround, and a calm mix of navy, warm wood, white, and black. It feels fresh without being fussy, and comfortable enough for the family to enjoy every day.