The Challenge
No existing rough-ins. No slab penetrations. Nothing to work from. That meant the entire bathroom construction had to start from zero — plumbing, drainage, electrical, and waterproofing all had to be designed and installed before a single tile went up. The client also had a clear aesthetic direction: clean lines, warm neutral tones, nothing dark or heavy. Basement bathrooms have a reputation for feeling cramped and cave-like, and this one had to prove the opposite.
Space was tight. The footprint had to accommodate a full walk-in shower, a toilet compartment, and a vanity - and still feel open when you walked in.
What We Did
We opened the concrete slab to run new sewer lines and water supply, then re-poured and waterproofed before any framing or tile work began. The shower got large-format porcelain with a stone-look finish — the kind of tile that reads as high-end without being loud about it. For the floor inside the shower, we went with a natural pebble mosaic, which handles pitch and drainage better than large slabs and adds that organic texture the client was after.
The rain head is wall-mounted on an extended arm, paired with a single-handle valve — simple to operate, clean to look at. We framed and tiled a recessed niche directly into the shower wall with metallic trim that ties into the chrome hardware throughout. No soap dish. No corner caddy. Just a built-in shelf that looks like it was always supposed to be there.
Outside the shower, a floating white sink keeps the floor plane open and the sightlines long. The frameless glass enclosure pulls the whole thing together. When the door swings open, you see tile, not hardware. The toilet sits in its own alcove with polished porcelain floor tile that runs continuous through the rest of the room.
We also handled the mechanical side: GFCI-protected outlets, an exhaust fan sized for the square footage, and recessed lighting inside the shower.
The Result
Warm grays on the walls, natural stone texture underfoot, chrome fixtures, white cabinetry — the palette is tight and intentional. Nothing competing. The floating vanity and glass enclosure keep the room from closing in on itself, which matters a lot when you're working with a basement footprint. The client now has a guest suite that actually functions as one: private bathroom, no trips upstairs, no compromises.
If you're planning a bathroom addition or finishing out a basement in Alexandria, Arlington, or the surrounding Northern Virginia area — NextDay Remodeling handles the full scope, from slab work to final grout.