Small bathrooms leave no room for wasted space. In an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), the bathroom has to hold everything a full home bathroom does, often in a fraction of the footprint. This ADU in Austin’s Zilker neighborhood is the same unit where we remodeled the kitchen, and the bathroom needed just as much help.
Before: a pedestal sink and not much else
The old bathroom was as basic as it gets: a pedestal sink with no cabinetry, a toilet and a tub. There was nowhere to put towels, toiletries or cleaning supplies, and the room needed far better lighting.
The bathroom was part of a much bigger project. We took the entire ADU down to the studs and rebuilt it, including new insulation, a new roof, new windows and new doors. With the walls open, we could change the bathroom’s layout and plumbing instead of just replacing what was there.
The goal: storage, light and a bathroom that stands out
The owner wanted a bathroom that stood out, with a lot more storage, an open feel and much better lighting so it would be easy to see and use. The challenge was adding storage without making a small room feel crowded.
What we changed
- Custom vanity cabinetry. The pedestal sink came out and a custom vanity went in, giving the bathroom real drawer and cabinet storage for the first time.
- A full-height linen closet. We removed the old closet and built a custom, full-height linen cabinet in its place. It holds towels and supplies from floor to ceiling without eating into the room.
- A new tub and shower combo. We removed the old tub, reworked the plumbing and installed a new tub and shower combination.
- Frameless glass. A frameless glass panel keeps water in while letting light through, so the room feels open instead of closed off by a shower curtain.
- New lighting. New recessed can lights and vanity lights brighten the whole room and light the mirror properly.
White vertical tile with a contrasting accent band, a tiled shower niche, brass fixtures and a gold-framed mirror give the bathroom the standout look the owner was after, while the light finishes keep it bright.
Timeline, permits and budget
The bathroom took about 6 weeks as part of the larger whole-unit remodel. Because the plumbing was reworked and the unit was rebuilt from the studs, the project was fully permitted. When a bathroom project needs blueprints or permits, we handle the drawings and permit expediting for you. This bathroom came in at about $30,000. Small bathroom upgrades start around $5K, and full bathroom remodels typically start around $25K. Many bathroom projects take as little as 5 business days, and they usually run no more than 6 weeks.
The result
The finished bathroom has the storage, light and open feel the owner asked for, and it looks nothing like the bare room it replaced. The owner was very happy with the design and the finished bathroom. Together with the new kitchen, it turned a tired unit into a comfortable place to live.
See how we handled the kitchen in the same unit in our Zilker ADU kitchen remodel story. If you’re planning a new unit or a gut remodel, visit our ADU and room additions page.
Making a small bathroom work
- Trade open floor for tall storage. A full-height linen cabinet holds far more than a short closet or open shelves, and it uses wall space you’d otherwise waste.
- Replace a pedestal sink with a vanity. A vanity gives you drawers and a countertop without taking much more floor space.
- Light the room and the mirror. Recessed cans light the room, and vanity lights at the mirror make everyday tasks easier.
- Use glass instead of a curtain. A frameless glass panel lets light reach the whole room and makes a small bathroom feel bigger.
Thinking about your own project? Visit our bathroom remodeling in Austin page for project photos, pricing guidance and answers to common questions.
