These are the plans for the third and final bathroom in the Palm Springs house: the guest bathroom. Located off the hallway that leads to the main bedroom and guest room, this small space has big potential. My goal is to introduce moody, dramatic color and rich materials to make it feel special.
The Color Palette
I’m excited to bring deep wine and eggplant tones into this home — shades we didn’t use in our LA house. The shower will feature an eggplant zellige tile chosen for its saturated, jewel-like quality.
Those deep purples will be balanced with a range of pinks and warm wood tones that run through the house, plus brass and crystal accents for a bit of glamour.
For the floor, we’ll reuse a blush pink zellige that was ordered for a different project but never installed. It feels like the perfect complement to the darker shower tile and will help brighten the floor plane.
Below you can see the bathroom as renovations began:
Converting a Vintage Sideboard into a Vanity
I wanted a wood vanity but couldn’t find one that felt right, so I tracked down an antique sideboard to convert. It already has a marble top—perfect for cutting a hole for the sink and routing plumbing.
I also scored a vintage faucet with beautiful detailing that will pair nicely with the piece. The sideboard came with a mirror, too, though it may be too large for this wall; if so, we’ll find another spot for it. I love that this will be a one-of-a-kind element in the room.
The Guest Bathroom Design
We’re keeping the existing layout, but as shown in the before and progress images, we rerouted the HVAC vents so we could remove the drop ceiling and reveal more of the original wood above. Opening up the ceiling makes the room feel taller and lets the wood become part of the palette.
Above the antique vanity I’ll hang two vintage pendant lights I found at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. The plan is to suspend them from substantial decorative hooks, though I’m still hunting for the perfect hooks.
A few of the items selected so far are shown below. They help establish the direction—vintage fixtures, brass hardware, and layered pinks and purples.
Vintage lights, an antique sideboard vanity, brass shower hardware, pink velvet accents, eggplant zellige tile, a vintage faucet, brass towel bar, and blush vintage rose zellige floor tile.
I’m still deciding on a wall color—either an eggplant hue to echo the shower or a deep bougainvillea pink to warm the space.
The Shower: Curtain or Glass Door
This has sparked debate, but I’m a fan of a shower curtain. While many designers avoid curtains, I see them as an opportunity to introduce color, texture, and pattern. In the past, the previous owner even used both a door and a curtain at once.
We removed the old sliding glass doors because they were in poor condition—sliders feel cramped and don’t suit this small shower. A traditional glass door would fit but would make the shower feel tighter. Instead, we’re planning a dramatic fabric curtain that can be hooked back against the wall with a decorative hook so the tile can be fully revealed when open.
I’m attracted to bold stripes or a strong pattern for the curtain to add contrast against the tile. If a curtain doesn’t work out practically, we’ll install a glass door, but I hope the curtain lets the tile read as the feature when it’s pushed back.
Photo by Eliza Gran
To Do List
Remaining decisions and tasks:
- Add a window treatment—considering a roman shade for softness and privacy.
- Figure out the hanging solution and hooks for the pendant lights and select a mirror that works with their placement.
- Finalize paint: choose between eggplant or a deep bougainvillea pink to set the mood.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the color, the curtain idea, and any suggestions for pendant hooks or mirror styles.