Porcelain Shower with a Bench and Brass Fixtures in Pennsauken, NJ

Joanne wanted a bathroom that would be easier to use as the years went on, and climbing over the side of a tub was getting harder. She asked us to take the tub out and give her a shower that’s easy to get in and out of.

Demo day brought a surprise that had nothing to do with the bathroom. When the water to the house was shut off, the water meter in the basement started spraying. We got the water utility out the same day. Water was still moving through the pipes, which makes soldering copper nearly impossible, so we worked around it to make the plumbing connections and set the new valve without falling behind schedule.

Out came the simple all-in-one acrylic tub surround. With the bathroom’s 9-foot ceilings, the new porcelain slab walls run tall and make the space feel generous. We built it on a Schluter waterproofing system and added a half wall and a triangular corner bench, capping the bench, the shelf and the curb in white quartz.

The floor is Buxy Select, a dark gray slab that hides everyday wear and will age well. A modern Delta system in champagne bronze warms up the room. Joanne chose to skip a glass door entirely, so the shower stays wide open for easy access, whether it’s for her, a caregiver down the road, or the dog’s bath day. The whole job took about a week.