Modern Vintage French Country Bathroom Renovation

When I dreamed of giving our small bathroom a fresh start, I knew I wanted a cozy, spa-like space with all the charm of the French countryside and the timeless elegance of marble, soft textures, and vintage touches. This French country bathroom renovation brought that vision to life with help from Lowe’s and a few smart design moves.

Let me show you how I transformed this dated little room from the 90s, which also had some issues, into a place of comfort and sophistication, and share tips along the way in case you're planning a bathroom remodel of your own.

French Country Bathroom Renovation with Modern Vintage Charm

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As a long-time bathroom designer and lover of all things cozy, classic and vintage, I approached this project with a plan that blended natural materials, elegant lighting, and smart storage solutions to maximize the space in this small bathroom.

It took just two weeks once demo started (and some help from the pros!) to turn this space into a French country gem.

First, I created a design plan pulling inspiration from Pinterest, shopping on Lowe's website, and placing it all in Canva. Click here to see all my picks from Lowe's on the project.

Once I had completed the design plan, I started ordering everything. Using my Lowe's member app, I ended up with some extra money to spend on plants, terra cotta pots, and other small items.

Lowe's membership is free and worth the time to subscribe and use. I love how you can keep track of your receipts in the app, too.

Now, let's look at all the French country bathroom ideas, starting with the vanity.

Vanity as the Focal Point

Let’s begin with the focal point, the vanity. The original sink was oddly placed to the far right, in the way of the door, making the bathroom feel cramped. So we moved the plumbing and centered the new vanity, and oh, what a difference that made!

We selected a classic white vanity from Lowe’s, featuring a stunning carrera marble top, an undermount sink, and soft-close drawers.

I swapped out the original chrome hardware for champagne bronze pulls on the drawers and reused the crystal knobs from our old cabinet doors. That mix of sparkle and warmth adds the perfect French touch.

Above the vanity, a full-length mirror stretches from the countertop to the ceiling, making the space feel larger and brighter. A three-light Allen + Roth fixture casts a soft glow with its frosted glass shades, ideal for early mornings or winding down at night.

To the side, I styled the countertop with a trio of clear glass canisters for storage filled with Q-tips, cotton balls, and everyday essentials. Pretty and practical, just how I like it.

Tile & Shower That Feels Like a Spa

We kept the bathtub, mainly because it's so comfy, but updated the tile for a whole new look. The floor tile features a faux travertine design, introducing a soft, natural texture and a warm, neutral tone.

The shower was a bit trickier because the walls weren’t perfectly straight. So, I chose oversized subway tile with a wavy texture, kind of like old hand-blown glass windows.

We offset the tile vertically with zero grout lines, which helps disguise any unevenness and adds a charming, handcrafted look. A chair rail tile trim about two-thirds up adds more of that vintage elegance.

Within the shampoo niche, I incorporated a marble hex tile for a luxurious touch that complements the vanity top.

We carried the tile up to the ceiling crown, which visually lifts the room and makes the whole space feel taller.

Fixtures That Feel Like France

All the fixtures are part of the Delta Cassidy collection from Lowe’s, available in champagne bronze, which features an unlacquered brass look that I love. The vanity faucet is widespread with lever handles and a vintage modern charm.

The shower system includes a rain head and a handheld bar. Adding this system elevated the design to the next level, achieving that spa-like feel.

It truly feels like an old-world European spa.

Even the toilet received an upgrade with a sleek new Kohler Cimarron model and a champagne bronze lever to maintain consistency in the finish. It’s the little things!

Soft Layers and French Country Textiles

The walls are painted in Alabaster White, with one accent wall in Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray, both available at Lowe’s. The soft color scheme adds depth and brings in that French countryside vibe.

And for a fun twist, years ago I painted over wallpaper and added lattice stripes to give the look of board and batten. It still looks beautiful, so we decided to keep it!

For the window treatment, I used gingham table napkins hung from oil-rubbed bronze rods with ring clips.

Above the tub are extra-long white linen curtains by Deconovo, cut in half to avoid bulk. And then a shower curtain, also extra long, in a textured tan cotton fabric. These fabrics add natural textures to an otherwise primarily hard-surface space.

French Country Accessories

Now for the accessories – the jewelry of the room! A vintage-style rug from Lowe’s adds softness underfoot.

A thrift store basket tray on the wall brings in warmth and natural texture.

A lavender plant in a whitewashed terracotta pot (painted with chalk paint) sits by the shower.

The windowsill holds a couple of vintage books and a delicate maidenhair fern, also in a whitewashed terracotta pot.

I repeated the same plant in the shower niche for consistency.

A Delta towel bar and wall hooks bring function and finish.

These little touches add the romance and elegance that define French country style.

Final Thoughts

This French country bathroom renovation is one of my favorite makeovers to date. It’s a little slice of France tucked into our home where comfort, style, and function all live happily together.

The layout may be small, but with smart design choices, such as a full-length mirror, vertical tile lines, a centered sink, and ample lighting, this space feels open and welcoming.

Whether you’re seeking French country bathroom design ideas or looking for a way to add elegance to your bathroom remodel, I hope this inspires you.

Want to shop for everything I used? I’ve saved all the pieces in my Lowe’s Storefront so it’s easy to browse and get ideas for your own space.

Are you planning to renovate or decorate your bathroom? I’d love to hear what you’re working on. Drop your ideas or questions in the comments below!

For more bathroom renovation ideas check out:

• Coastal Bathroom Renovation
• Small Bathroom Remodel

Happy Decorating!