A Budget-Friendly Marble-Inspired Ensuite Bathroom
By Kylie
January 27, 2026
I love marble, especially when I can get its high-end look on a budget. Along with navy blue, Doug my dog, Ryan Reynolds (or Gosling), and area rugs, marble is definitely one of my addictions – one that I have yet to explore in my own home but have had tons of fun exploring with my clients.
My client, Laura, was looking to build her dream bathroom…on a budget. Well, she came to the right gal. When it comes to getting some bang for buck (not street-corner style), I know where to spend and where to save – even on a luxury product like marble.
Laura’s bathroom has a great footprint. With approx. In 125 sq ft, we fit in the loo, a double vanity, a walk-in shower, and a free-standing tub. After that, it was just a matter of choosing products that would be budget-friendly and high-impact.
THE BEST MARBLE-LOOK COUNTERTOP
We chose Calacatta Marble 180FX by Formica, which is a laminate countertop. Not only does it LOOK like the real thing, but it’s also more durable and drastically more affordable!
The New Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock
THE HEXAGON, TIMELESS MARBLE TILE BACKSPLASH
Oh, this backsplash. Love is not the word for it; I think infatuation makes more sense. And no, that’s not a puddle of shower water; that’s my drool…
Hexagon marble backsplash from City Tile
The backsplash (bathroom or kitchen) is a great way to add personality to your space without breaking the bank (if you shop smart).
4 Tips & Ideas to Jazz Up a Simple Subway Tile
THE DARK GRAY VANITY & STORAGE/LINEN TOWERS
There’s more than enough space in this bathroom for the 3 Big T’s (towels, TP, tampons), and we created a beautiful foundation by painting the vanity and storage towers in Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, a lovely, grounded dark charcoal gray paint color.
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray
Chelsea Gray isn’t the only gorgeous dark gray cabinet color – I’ve got a few more beauties here: The Best Dark Gray Cabinet Colors
The wall paint color is Benjamin Moore Oxford White, a relatively ‘clean’ white with little undertone. Don’t you just love the gentle curve and texture of the braided metal pipe? Just joking; I’ve drunk too much wine tonight; ignore me.
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Oxford White…
THE FREE-STANDING BATHTUB
While I’m personally a fan of built-in bathtubs, many of you love the look of a free-wheeling, free-standing tub…
I am not a photographer, so this is the best shot I could get of the tub – damn that window!
I know I’m happy, and it’s all about me – right? Okay, Laura is happy too, and that’s what really matters!
SUMMARY OF A BUDGET-FRIENDLY MARBLE-INSPIRED BATHROOM
- To save money on the countertop, we chose Formica laminate countertops that look like marble (Calacatta Marble 180FX).
- The mosaic, hexagon marble tile backsplash behind the vanity has less square footage and offers a great bang for buck.
- We installed an acrylic shower pan in the walk-in shower rather than tiling the shower floor.
READ MORE
A Marble-Inspired, Timeless Bathroom Design
3 Ideas to Add Style to a Small Bathroom
8 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas
Get the best paint color & home update advice with Kylie M’s Online Paint Color Consulting Services.
Updated with cleaned-up images and links in 2026
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Homeowner’s Guide: White Kitchen Cabinets
This isn’t another ’10 Best Cabinet Colors’ list, because there is no SINGLE best white for every home and every kitchen.
Learn how to choose a white cabinet paint color that works with your countertops, backsplash, flooring, trim, lighting, and home—so you can rule out the wrong whites, sample fewer colors, and choose with confidence.
158-page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95Accent Colors – And How to Use Them
This isn’t about plastering your home in the ‘Color of the Year’ or following the latest trends (unless you really want to).
It’s about finding accent colors that work with YOUR home, YOUR style, and YOUR comfort level.
Because the best accent color isn’t one you love on a paint chip, it’s one that makes everything around it look better.
118-Page PDF – Instant Download
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Homeowner’s Guide: Exterior Paint Colors
Painting your home’s exterior is a BIG investment and choosing a color based on a tiny paint chip, a trend or the house down the street can be an expensive mistake.
Learn how to look at YOUR roof, YOUR windows, YOUR brick (or stone) and YOUR home as a whole so you can understand what colors make sense.
The goal? Less guessing, fewer samples and a lot more confidence before gallons of paint go on your home.
206-page PDF – Digital Download
$44.95Exterior Trim Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of ‘the best trim colors’, although you’ll get a ton of links to great shades!
You’ll learn how to look at your home and understand whether it needs contrast, repetition, connection, or a little visual peacekeeping to pull it all together.
Because trim might seem like a small detail…but spread it around all four sides of your home on multiple surfaces and it suddenly has a pretty big job.
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Comments
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Can you tell me where you got the vanity cabinets?
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Hi Terri, thank you for asking! They were actually made by a cabinet manufacturer in Surrey, where the builder gets a good discount 🙂
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Love how everything looks! Can you tell me what size is the hexagon backsplash? Is it 2″ or larger”
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Hi Lisa, I think it was a 2″ hexagon, thanks for asking!
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Hello,
beautiful shower! Could you please share the brand/manufacturer and color of the 12×24 shower/floor tile? Thank you!-
Hi Karen, unfortunately it was a while ago and I don’t have the records on that product – sorry!
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Do your remember what the finish was on the counter top? Etching or gloss?
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Oooo, I’m going to say it was the etched finish….
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Beautiful design. I’m starting to think I need an interior designer to help me with my bathroom:) Is the glass shower frame custom made?
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Hi Anna! Yes, it was custom 🙂
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do you have the complete length of the vanity including both cabinets on the end … this is exactly what i want but it looks kind of long zzz
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I’m sorry Andrea, I don’t! I’d phone the owners and ask them to measure it, but they’ve since sold it!
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Beautiful remodel! Do you remember the manufacturer and name of the shower head?
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I’m sorry Erin, I don’t!
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Where did you get the raised beveled mirrors
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Hi Steve! It was several years ago, but I’m sure it was HOme Sense…
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BEAUTIFUL I am trying to redesign a bathroom for a house we are buying and love this look!! I have two questions for you! How do you think the marble would look in the same room as ship-lap? maybe a white ship-lap wall? we have an entire house of tongue and groove pine boards to re purpose! Also The counter top, did you order it as a counter of was it made out of the sheets of laminate? Im trying to figure out how to do the edge if it s made from the sheets. Thats where I ended up when I followed your links! I love the skinny look of it but want the edge to look like that 🙂
Thank you! I will be stalking your blog more!-
Hi Chelsie! Yes, I think the marble could look cool with shiplap. I mean it all depends on tile size/application, but generally speaking it can be pretty. As for the laminate, it’s a pre-fabricated product from Formica with the square wrap front, so there aren’t any seams, it just softly rolls over (without being rounded…)
I hope that helps!
~Kylie
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Kylie,
I am in the middle of a master bathroom remodel and am heavily considering the laminate countertops. I love the project that you completed. Do you remember which finish you chose? Gloss Finish Code 90 or Etching Finish Code 46?
Thank you,
Joe-
Ooo, I can’t remember, but I almost ALWAYS choose the Etching finish…
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Kylie, This is amazing! Can you please tell me what kind of knobs those are and who makes them. I want to purchase for my bathroom! Thanks!
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Hi Brigitte, I’m sorry it was a few years ago and those were the homeowners choice – I’m sorry I can’t help, but I do know that Build.com has some AWESOME selection!
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How are the edges done? My husband and I are planning on installing this ourself. Do you know of a tutorial on how to do the edge so like those in ur pic? The bathroom looks awesome
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Hi Jennifer! I’m not totally sure which edges you’re referring to, but if it’s in the shower, that’s a metal schluter edge you can see, which is a homeowner friendly product!
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Hi Kylie,
We love this bathroom and now your blog! Is the trim paint color also Oxford White? If not, do you recall the color even though it was a few years ago?
Thanks!
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Ooo Alicia, I don’t remember, but I would say that’s a ‘reasonable’ guess, even though I’m not a HUGE user of Oxford (it could also just be BM White – plain ole white!).
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I’d love to know what the shower base is, please. Is that an acrylic shower base? If so do you know the brand/model please? Thank you!
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Hi Marcie! That is an acrylic base, but it was provided by the builder, so I’m not sure of the make! It looks like it could be a Kohler based on the drain style https://www.google.com/search?q=acrylic+shower+base+with+center+drain&sxsrf=ACYBGNS5pSWBLWIah4a9ad53O1xn7VcDBg:1574129884829&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwipgPbkmvXlAhV6GDQIHZDpC_0Q_AUoAnoECA4QBA&biw=1920&bih=888#imgrc=JIRBQMjT3_dz4M:
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Grout color on hex please? 😍
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I’m sorry, it was several years ago and I don’t remember at all!
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I absolutely adore your website. Thank you! I see the Calcutta countertop paired here with a warm paint color. Does that mean the laminate countertop is a warm shade as well? Slash, can we assume it is safe to pair with a warm color? Thank you!
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