Small Bathroom Remodeling
Modern Small Bathroom Remodel — Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
About This Project
Project Overview
This small Chicago bathroom carried its original materials: repaired floor tile, a vanity with almost no storage, a single overhead fixture leaving the mirror poorly lit, and a tub surround on borrowed time. Fairway executed a complete renovation — everything removed, everything new. The brief: maximize every inch, and create a space that feels intentional. Matte black fixtures, a custom wood vanity with drawer storage, large-format tile, and a frameless glass shower enclosure were all part of the plan before demolition began.
The bathroom before renovation — dated tile, limited storage, and fixtures past their useful life
Project Details
Project Type
Small Bathroom Remodeling
Location
Chicago, IL
BEFORE  | AFTER  |
The Challenge
What We Were Up Against
Working within a fixed small footprint while delivering a result that feels meaningfully larger is one of the most demanding challenges in residential remodeling. Every decision carries more weight — a vanity at the wrong size, a tile that fragments the room visually, or hardware in a mismatched finish are all permanently visible. The original vanity was undersized with minimal drawer storage. The tile had aged poorly throughout. Lighting was a third area requiring complete attention: the single overhead fixture left the mirror poorly illuminated every morning.
The existing vanity — undersized, minimal storage, no usable counter space
Existing floor tile and tub surround — worn grout lines past their serviceable life
Our Solution
How We Solved It
Large-format tile on the floor and shower walls means fewer grout lines — the eye reads the surface as a continuous plane, measurably increasing the perceived size of the room. The custom wood vanity delivers maximum storage within the available footprint: deep drawer sections, a warm natural oak finish that introduces the room’s only warm material note against cool grey tile and matte black metal.
Matte black was specified consistently across every fixture — faucet, vanity bar, towel bars, shower trim. Hardware finish consistency is one of the highest-return design decisions in a bathroom: when every metal element uses the same finish, the room reads as designed. A frameless glass shower enclosure replaced the tub surround, opening the visual field of the room.
Scope of Work
What We Did
The renovation was executed in correct sequence. Every element in the room was removed and replaced.
The original bathroom layout before demolition began
- Complete demolition — tub, vanity, toilet, flooring, all wall tile removed
- Subfloor inspection, preparation, and full floor leveling
- Waterproofing membrane — shower floor, walls, and all transitions
- Sloped mortar shower bed — fully waterproofed
- Electrical rough-in — vanity light bar, GFCI protection, humidity-sensing fan
- Large-format floor tile — full room coverage
- Shower wall tile — vertical format, floor to ceiling
- Custom wood vanity installation with supply and drain connections
- Frameless glass shower enclosure — templated to field dimensions, matte black hardware
- Vanity light bar, mirror, and matte black hardware throughout
Materials & Finishes
What We Used
- Large-format grey porcelain floor tile — rectified edge, full room coverage
- Vertical-format porcelain wall tile — shower walls, floor to ceiling
- Waterproofing membrane and sloped mortar shower pan
- Custom wood vanity — natural oak, undermount sink, soft-close drawers and doors
- Single-hole matte black faucet with deck plate
- Pressure-balanced shower valve — matte black trim kit
- Frameless glass shower enclosure — custom-fit, matte black hardware
- Four-light matte black vanity light bar and humidity-sensing fan
- Matte black towel bar, toilet paper holder, and robe hook
The Result
Delivered
The most immediate impression entering the finished bathroom is its openness. Large-format tile runs continuously across the full floor, and the frameless glass shower enclosure allows the eye to pass through to the shower wall tile beyond, creating depth that makes the room feel significantly larger than its actual square footage.
The finished bathroom — custom wood vanity, large-format tile floor, matte black fixtures throughout
The custom oak vanity is the design anchor: warm wood against cool grey tile, and the deep drawer configuration resolved the storage problem from day one. The matte black hardware consistency — carried across every metal element — creates the sense of intentional design that mixed finishes simply cannot achieve.
Frameless glass shower enclosure with low-iron glass panels and matte black hardware
BEFORE
Before Gallery
AFTER
After Gallery
Ready to Transform Your Home?
Whether you're planning a full renovation or need a targeted repair, Fairway Home Remodeling delivers premium craftsmanship and clean results — on time, every time.
Or call us at (224) 333-1883