Orangevale Tub-to-Shower Remodel: Before & After

Name: Oakwood Remodeling Group
Address: Rocklin, CA, 95677, US
Telephone: (916) 907-8782
Price range: $$-$$$

Project at a Glance

Location: Orangevale, CA
Project type: Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Key materials: Large-format stone-look porcelain tile; Fold-down teak shower seat; Brushed gold grab bars, handheld and trim
Contractor: Oakwood Remodeling Group, Rocklin, CA (Lic #1125321)
Permit authority for Orangevale: Sacramento County Building Permits & Inspection

Before & After

BEFORE

Before: tub with white grid-tile surround and gold-framed sliding doors — Grid-tile tub surround behind gold-framed sliders.

Before: tub and grid-tile surround seen with the sliding door open — The tub and surround with the door open.

AFTER

After: fold-down teak seat and brushed gold grab bar inside the shower — A fold-down teak seat with a grab bar beside it.

After: light oak vanity with new countertop and brushed gold faucet — The new light oak vanity.

After: brushed gold handheld shower on the porcelain wall — Brushed gold handheld and trim.

The Challenge

This Orangevale bathroom was original to the house: a tub with a white grid-tile surround, gold-framed sliding doors, a cultured marble vanity with a tile backsplash and a Hollywood light bar. The homeowners no longer used the tub and wanted a shower they could step into easily, with somewhere to sit and grab bars that did not look clinical.

Our Solution

The tub, surround and sliders came out and a low-threshold walk-in shower took their place. The walls are large-format stone-look porcelain with two recessed niches, a fold-down teak seat, and brushed gold grab bars, handheld and trim that read as a design choice rather than a safety add-on. A frameless glass enclosure with brushed gold hardware encloses the shower. The vanity was replaced with a light oak cabinet, new top, faucet and mirror.

Scope of Work

1Remove tub, grid-tile surround and gold-framed sliding doors
2Build low-threshold walk-in shower with tiled pan
3Tile walls in large-format stone-look porcelain
4Build two recessed niches
5Install fold-down teak seat and brushed gold grab bars
6Install brushed gold handheld shower and trim
7Install frameless glass enclosure with brushed gold hardware
8Install light oak vanity with new top, faucet and mirror

Materials Used

✓Large-format stone-look porcelain tile
✓Fold-down teak shower seat
✓Brushed gold grab bars, handheld and trim
✓Frameless tempered glass with brushed gold hardware
✓Light oak vanity with new countertop

Key Features

✓Low-threshold walk-in entry
✓Two recessed niches
✓Fold-down teak seat
✓Brushed gold grab bars
✓Matching brushed gold fixtures
✓New oak vanity

Questions About This Orangevale Project

Can grab bars look good in a shower?

Yes. In this Orangevale shower the grab bars, handheld and door hardware are all the same brushed gold finish, so the bars read as part of the fixture set rather than a medical add-on. They are still anchored into blocking and rated as grab bars.

What is a low-threshold shower?

A shower whose curb is only an inch or two high, low enough to step over easily and to roll a shower chair over. It needs a properly sloped pan and waterproofing so water stays inside without a tall curb.