Marble Bathtub Surround in Northbrook — Willowbrook
This bathtub surround is in a primary bathroom in the Willowbrook neighborhood of Northbrook, set against a window wall with plantation shutters. Large-format Calacatta marble-look porcelain wraps the tub deck and three walls, continuing onto the built-up platform that raises the tub above the dark hardwood floor level.
The tile work here includes mitered outside corners on the platform edge — we cut the tiles at 45 degrees so the veining reads continuously around the corner without a grout joint interrupting the visual flow. Chrome square-edge faucet trim was templated against the tile layout before the tiles were set so the finished holes would land exactly where the hardware required. This is in a Northbrook home typical of the Willowbrook area's mid-century character, updated with a more contemporary material palette.
Project Details
| Service | Bathroom & Shower Tile |
|---|---|
| Area | Northbrook, IL |
| Materials | Large-format Calacatta marble-look porcelain, chrome hardware, white unsanded grout |
| Scope | Residential — primary bathroom tub surround and platform |
| Timeline | Multi-day install |
What We Did
- Platform framing: Confirmed the existing tub platform structure was sound before tiling.
- Layout: Planned tile layout to center the vein pattern and align horizontal courses across three walls.
- Mitered corners: Cut and set mitered outside corners on the platform edge for a seamless look.
- Hardware templating: Pre-drilled tile for faucet hardware before setting to ensure precise placement.
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