From Boring to Bold - Littleton ¾ Bathroom Remodel
The rest of the house is transitional and mid-century modern in neutral tones. She knew that. She also knew this bathroom remodel was going to be different.
The brief was simple: break the rules.
Denver Design Group designed the entire room around a single tile she fell in love with. Start with what matters most. Let everything else answer to it. When one element is strong enough to set the direction, every subsequent decision becomes cleaner. The tile chose the palette. The palette chose the wallpaper. The wallpaper chose the vanity finish. Nothing was arbitrary.
Before - Predictable and Forgettable
Honey oak vanity, copper vessel sink, dated tile, a dark mirror. Nothing wrong with it. Nothing right about it either.
The Fireclay Tile - Where It All Started
The deep forest green handmade tile from Fireclay came first. Everything else in this bathroom remodel organized around it. The 2×8 tile is installed vertically in the shower, drawing the eye upward and adding perceived height to a compact space. The artisanal glaze varies subtly across each piece – a shimmering, rhythmic texture that feels both grounded and alive. Handmade tile behaves differently than manufactured tile. The slight variation in color and surface catches light in a way that uniform tile never does, and in a small room that movement matters. It keeps the space from feeling static.
The Wallpaper - Bold Pattern, Deliberate Choice
To balance the deep green of the shower, the wallpaper had to hold its own without overwhelming. A bold pattern in terracotta, dark green, and linen from Spoonflower does exactly that. The colorway picks up the green from the tile and introduces warmth through the terracotta – two strong elements in conversation rather than competition. In a ¾ bath where every surface is visible at once, pattern has to be chosen with precision. Too much and the room collapses. Too little and the tile reads as a mistake rather than a statement. This wallpaper earns its place.
The Vanity and Mirror - Warmth to Anchor the Bold
Against the pattern and depth of the tile and wallpaper, the custom walnut floating vanity and matching oval walnut-framed mirror provide organic warmth. Wood grounds the room without softening its edge. The floating mount keeps the floor plane visible, which matters in a smaller bathroom – it preserves the sense of space while adding the visual weight of a substantial, custom-built piece. The oval mirror was chosen deliberately over a rectangular one. In a room with strong vertical tile lines and a bold geometric wallpaper pattern, the curve provides necessary relief.
The Lighting - Functional Art
A contemporary multi-light pendant inspired by traditional Japanese lanterns hangs as the final layer. Lighting in a small bathroom is often treated as an afterthought – a practical necessity rather than a design decision. Here it functions as punctuation. The fixture draws the eye upward, reinforcing the verticality established by the tile installation, and adds a layer of warmth that balances the cooler tones of the green and the brightness of the white fixtures. It earns its place as a design element, not just a light source.
Same client. Same house. Completely different room.
When a client gives you permission to break the rules, the responsibility is to break them with intention. Every decision in this Littleton bathroom remodel traces back to that first tile. That’s what makes it work – not boldness for its own sake, but boldness with a clear through-line from start to finish.
~ Denver Design Group
Denver Design Group is a full-service interior design studio based in Colorado, serving homeowners throughout the Denver Metro area including Littleton, Greenwood Village, Centennial, Lone Tree, Englewood, Wash Park, Park Hill, Highlands Ranch, and Castle Rock.