What Did The Bathroom Look Like Before?
The client was starting with a late-90s Minto home located in Kanata, on the north side of Ottawa. It’s a detached home with a large upstairs master bathroom. The bathroom was a four-piece layout with a huge corner drop-in tub on a tiled deck, a much smaller enclosed shower with acrylic walls, and no ventilation whatsoever. The toilet was positioned right in the middle between the tub and the shower.
There was a very long vanity with many doors but almost no drawers, which meant poor storage. The finishes and colors were dated, and while large tiles were used, there was very little actual design intention behind them. Overall, the space felt cold, dated, and even moldy. The bathroom had size, but no clarity or purpose. The client wasn’t using the tub at all and described themselves as shower people, so they wanted real change.
What Was The Client Trying To Achieve?
The client wanted a new bathroom that reflected how they actually live. They didn’t use the tub and said that if they wanted a tub experience, they already had a hot tub. The main goal was to remove the tub entirely and create an open shower, the ultimate double shower.
A major request was relocating the toilet out of the center and into the corner. This required jumping joists, which is always challenging. We opened the ceiling and wall downstairs and worked closely with our plumber to properly relocate the toilet with its own drain and venting. That relocation allowed the space to fully open up and function the way it should.
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The Minimalist Design
The biggest design decision was creating a large walk-in shower with minimal grout lines and minimal corners. We used oversized 24×48 porcelain tiles, which visually exaggerate the size of the space. Even though the wall-mounted vanity looks compact in photos, it’s actually a 60-inch vanity with 16-inch linen towers. The room is simply that large.
The shower features dual shower heads with independent temperature control, an oversized centered niche for storage, and a tucked-in built-in shower bench that is almost invisible. There is no shower door—just a glass enclosure—allowing light to travel through the space. While it may appear that the toilet is inside the shower, the entire room is waterproofed and tiled consistently, creating an intentional visual illusion.
Warm tones and brushed gold fixtures were chosen throughout. The beige, coffee-cream tile color pairs naturally with the brushed gold finishes and keeps the space calm and cohesive.
Were There Any Challenges?
Truthfully, our team did run into some challenges. The biggest technical challenge was designing the shower around the maximum glass size available. With no shower door and dual shower heads, spacing had to be precise to prevent overspray. Valve placement, niche spacing, and shower head positioning all had to be carefully calculated.
We installed an oversized custom glass panel measuring approximately 84 by 96 inches, the largest the manufacturer could produce. It required removing the bathroom door and several people to bring it upstairs. While the shower could have been larger, glass limitations defined the final dimensions.
Relocating the toilet was initially challenging, but our plumber was able to do it at the end. The real challenge was alignment, symmetry, and preparation. Everything had to line up perfectly, and it does. The shower was built using oversized Schluter components, resulting in one truly large, cohesive shower.
The Result
The bathroom feels huge. Even though photos exaggerate the scale, the space genuinely feels large when you’re inside. It’s likely the biggest bathroom we’ve completed. The large-format tiles, wall-mounted vanity, open floor space, and clear glass allow light to move freely.
There are no bulkheads or visual barriers. The space feels airy, spacious, hotel-like, yet warm and inviting. The client absolutely loves it. It was a labour of love, and the result is clean, simple, and incredibly satisfying.
The Inspiration You’ve Been Searching For
This type of open, minimalist bathroom renovation requires space. It works best in larger layouts—roughly 10 by 12 feet. While smaller bathrooms can still be beautiful, they won’t achieve this same openness. This design is ideal for homeowners who value simplicity, minimalism, and low maintenance. It’s also a strong long-term investment. In 10 or 15 years, this style will still feel relevant.
It’s also an excellent example of an accessible bathroom. With the addition of grab bars and minor adjustments to vanity height, it would serve perfectly for someone with mobility or accessibility needs.
The iBathrooms Philosophy
At iBathrooms, we believe truth lies in simplicity. The most beautiful designs are often the simplest ones. We let function guide form, allowing the space and the client’s needs to dictate the design. In this bathroom, calm features like large tiles, minimal grout lines, and matched finishes create visual quiet. Tile edges, shelves, and accessories were intentionally matched in color rather than highlighted. Everything blends together. Function precedes form. Simplicity and cleanness guide every decision. This is our philosophy for this bathroom and for all the bathrooms we build.
If this is the minimalist bathroom design and aesthetic, what you’ve been searching for, contact iBathrooms and get a virtual quote instantly!