After closing on a new home, buyers often discover a few surprises. Sometimes they’re delightful—like a garden blooming in spring, summer, and fall. Other times… not so much. For my clients, Emily and Bobby Esposito, it was the latter.

“Of course, I was home alone,” Emily laughed. “Bob was away on business. We’d only been in the house for about two weeks. I had just finished showering when I went downstairs and heard that sound no homeowner wants to hear—the unmistakable pitter-patter of water hitting the kitchen tile floor.”

Emily described a scene many homeowners know all too well: water dripping down through a recessed light into the room below. And so, this was the case for Emily.

“We had a leak!” she said. “We had planned on renovating the bathroom anyway—but not for a while.”

That late-night drip turned out to be the start of something beautiful: the leak would lead to a luxurious bathroom remodel.

The Before

The existing bathroom had most likely been renovated in the 1990s. The dark, beigy-brown tile, oversized soaking tub, and cavernous shower—complete with more body sprays and showerheads than anyone could ever use—were once the height of luxury.

But by today’s tastes and standards, it was dated and in need of a fresh vision.

Before Photos

Getting Started

Because I was the Espositos’ Realtor for the purchase of their James Rd home, I already knew both the property and their style. I had also sold their previous house, so I had a strong sense of their aesthetic.

What surprised me, though, was just how much their taste had evolved—from the black-and-white modern farmhouse style of their last home to a more refined transitional design that felt both classic and elevated.

The Inspired Goal

The goal was to honor the home’s Tudor character while giving it a fresh, modern interpretation through color, materials, and layout. We wanted to complement the tones already found throughout the home while allowing the bathroom to establish its own identity.

It wasn’t long before we locked in our inspiration: handcrafted, imperfect-looking blue tiles for the shower walls, a graphite gray herringbone tile floor, a warm wood-stained vanity, chrome and glass pendant lighting, and a marble-look penny tile for the shower floor.

Photos chosen as Inspiration

The Design Direction

Welcoming the time-honored square tile design historically seen in Tudor-era bathrooms, the couple opted for a modern spin by setting the tiles in a diamond pattern. This twist gave the vintage shape a fresh, updated look. The soft blue hues introduced a contemporary feel, while the handcrafted, slightly “imperfect” surface—paired with a warm wood-stained vanity and graphite slate tile laid in a time-worn herringbone pattern—paid homage to the home’s Tudor roots.

The result? A space that will feel classic yet current, timeless yet fresh—an elegant nod to the home’s history with a serene, spa-like sensibility.

Starting the Selection Process

Once the design direction was set, the selections came easily. We found the “imperfect” perfect blue square tiles for the shower walls and a gray, slate-look tile for the bathroom floor. But the real treat came when discovering a penny tile that featured a subtle diamond accent, perfectly tying together the diamond motif from the shower wall.

Tile Selection

Follow Along

Follow along to see how the design unfolds—from the demo, to installations, to the final reveal.

This transformation is proof that sometimes, even an unexpected leak can open the [shower] door to something truly beautiful.