The primary bathroom in a Cardiff, California, house was dark and overdone with builder-grade finishes, outdated fixtures, and zero personality. Terramar Interiors’ Katie Smith’s clients were eager to make it a serene and functional retreat.
“They wanted a space that was both calming and uplifting—a true retreat from their busy days of working and raising their family,” Katie explains.
Charlotte Lea
Staying on budget was also important to the clients, so they prioritized the big-ticket features, like the steam shower, custom vanity, and tub, and paired them with cost-conscious items elsewhere in the space. Katie says the result feels elevated and bespoke, without compromising on function or style.
Inspiration for the bathroom’s new design came from a variety of sources: ocean photography, Japandi and Mediterranean architecture, and imagery that the client had collected over time.
Charlotte Lea
“The existing shower was reimagined as a full steam shower—an ultimate luxury that elevates the daily routine into a restorative experience,” Katie says. “We introduced new downlighting for consistent ambient light, paired with decorative fixtures at the vanity and above the tub to add warmth and intimacy. The custom vanity was thoughtfully designed to support the family’s busy lifestyle, with an integrated outlet to keep countertops mess-free while allowing easy charging of toothbrushes or styling tools, as well as a hidden pull-out trash can to eliminate clutter. Together, these updates created a bathroom that not only feels soulful and calming but also works seamlessly for real family life.”
Charlotte Lea
Katie also installed a sculptural freestanding tub that anchors the space. It was kind of a project of its own—made-to-order with a 10- to 12-week lead time and a weight of over 700 pounds.
“It took several men from our contractor’s team to carefully maneuver and set it in place,” Katie adds. “Once installed, though, it became the true anchor of the room—a sculptural focal point that immediately makes the bathroom feel like a spa retreat. Totally worth the wait!”
Charlotte Lea
The tub is set against a wall of hand-glazed zellige tile with ocean-inspired blues. The tile continues onto the floor of the steam shower.
“The zellige tile we selected for the feature wall and steam shower is a small-batch, handcrafted product that’s only sold by the kiln load—it would not be produced again,” explains Katie. “This meant availability was limited and each batch carried slight variations in tone. Our client (and we) fell absolutely in love with it, so we worked closely with our vendor to secure enough tile from the same run before stock depleted, and carefully planned installation so the natural shifts in color felt intentional.”
Charlotte Lea
With its coastal, earthy, and organic look, the newly remodeled bathroom is a truly relaxing escape.
“We are wowed every time we walk into our bathroom,” the owners say. “We wanted something that felt like a sanctuary but still had vibrance; that was serene but somehow incorporated our love of color and different textures/elements. Katie delivered on all of that. Her creativity with the tile is so stunning!”
Stylist: En Shell Space
Builder: Trafficanda Design & Build
