How We Turned A Public Bathroom into A Mid Mod Gem
It started with a leaky floor—and turned into a bold, joyfully mod transformation.
Motawi Tileworks’ gallery bathroom wasn’t always a design destination. For years, it was strictly utilitarian: laminate floors, powder blue drywall, and no tile in sight. But when a plumbing issue made a full renovation unavoidable, Senior Project Designer Morrin McGunagle saw an opportunity to turn this overlooked space into something unforgettable. Her inspiration? A vibrant, retro-inspired colorway of Motawi’s Ovation tile, fittingly named “Avocado.”
“We knew right away we wanted to use Ovation,” Morrin says. “It has this really mod feel, and the green and orange colorway just amplifies that.” With no client to convince—she was both designer and decisionmaker—Morrin leaned into a rich, saturated palette that wouldn’t typically find its way into a residential bathroom. “You can do something bolder in a public space,” she explains. “It’s a chance to really showcase the tile.”
This public bathroom, located between the Gallery and the Boneyard at Motawi Tileworks in Ann Arbor, features a thoughtfully designed space that balances clean lines and vibrant detailing. The standout elements are two distinct tile "rugs" installed on the floor, expertly crafted from colorful ceramic tiles. These tile rugs create visual sections within the room, delineating areas and adding warmth and texture to the aesthetic. The custom patterns reflect geometric and organic motifs typical of the era, enhancing the bathroom’s design with a subtle yet striking decorative flair. The combination of practical layout and artistic tile work exemplifies Motawi Tileworks’ dedication to craftsmanship and timeless style.
Designing with Ovation Tile
One of the biggest challenges in the room was its scale. “It’s large, but not large enough to divide into stalls,” Morrin says. To give the room structure, she used the Ovation border tiles to define two distinct “rugs”—one under the vanity and another in front of the toilet. “It’s one of the best ways to use our border tile,” she says. “It looks like a woven textile underfoot.”
The walls followed a similar logic: Ovation runs in a six-inch border at eye level, while field tile covers the lower six inches to handle splashes from mopping and handwashing. Even the trim was chosen for both looks and longevity. Instead of edge-glazing, Morrin used black Schluter trim for a crisp, clean outline. “It’s a small thing, but it gives the whole space polish.”
Edge glazing is optional on all Motawi Project tiles, but here the designer went with black Schluter trim to create a crisp, clean outline.
Functionality was key. The renovation added proper grab bars, a new vanity with better accessibility, and wall tile behind the sink to prevent water damage—an issue in the old version of the bathroom. “Everything was designed to be cleanable, durable, and still feel elevated.”
Once the tile layout was set, Morrin built the rest of the palette around it. Walnut cabinetry brought in warm, midcentury vibes, while brass fixtures echoed the tile’s orange accents. For the wall color, she chose a deep, warm tone Sherwin-Williams calls “Red Cent,” which mirrors the bold hue in the Ovation tile. “It wouldn’t work in every space,” she says, “but here, it makes the bathroom feel cozy and dramatic at the same time.”
Midcentury Warmth, Made Modern
Though the same tile design appears in Nawal Motawi’s own bathroom, the two spaces couldn’t feel more different. Nawal’s version is light and airy. This one is moody, grounded, and unmistakably retro. “Color changes everything,” Morrin says. “People often don’t even recognize it as the same pattern.”
The whole space is a love letter to what Morrin calls “earthy and bold” midcentury design—more warm wood than atomic kitsch. “It reminds me of my grandparents’ home,” she says. “My grandpa built it in the ’50s. It had slate floors, wood paneling, lots of windows—it just felt really comforting and grounded. That’s what I wanted to bring into this space.”
Despite its size and public use, the bathroom now feels almost residential. “People come out and say, ‘I wasn’t expecting that,’” Morrin laughs. “They say it feels like a real room, not just a restroom.”
From start to finish, the project came together quickly—thanks to a clear vision and a close collaboration with Method Remodeling and tile installer Matt Ransom. “We gutted the whole space, solved the plumbing issues, added proper venting, and finished the install in just two weeks,” Morrin says. “It was fast, but it was so worth it.”
So what does she hope people notice? “I hope they feel delighted. Even though the colors are loud, I want people to feel grounded and joyful when they walk in. Like they’ve just stepped into a moment of beauty in the middle of their day.”
Mission accomplished.
