2026 Bathroom Design: Heidi Kim Interior Design
Author:Lindsey Shook“My design philosophy is rooted in creating environments that feel deeply personal, livable and with a sense of history, which is so important with new builds and new modern homes,” says Heidi Kim on how she approaches her interior projects. “At the heart of my method is contrast: rich against raw, tactile against smooth and the mix of styles and eras.”

Kim started her career in the fashion industry, where she learned the ins and outs of color, how
to complete a look, and—most importantly—a focus on the intersection of lifestyle and aesthetics. “I bring those same concepts to interiors, creating spaces that hold tension and balance,” she says. “Ultimately, I design for real life—which means knowing my clients, understanding how they live and helping them create a home that reflects who they are and how they aspire to live.”

After meeting the clients through a builder they previously worked with, they homed in on a goal
to maximize utility and design while also trying to keep the costs reasonable. “The first priority was to move the toilet from the entrance of the bathroom, which required getting around a steel beam,” she recalls. “Luckily, the perfect place for the new toilet location was on the other end of the existing double shower, which was very long—almost 10 feet—with two skylights.”They devised a solution to shrink the shower and create a new toilet room in the space.

After resolving the floorplan, Kim focused on layering delicate finishes and materials that make the space feel like a peaceful spa escape. “We wanted to create a space that was softer and more tactile, with richly layered materials and textures—the gorgeous and dramatic Calacatta Viola marble, a walnut vanity with reeded drawer fronts adding a traditional touch, limewash paint to add subtle texture, the sheer wool drapes softening the room and the gorgeous smoky bronzed mirror wardrobe doors and integrated LED lighting contributing a contrasting modern edge,” Kim notes. The new bathroom screams elegance and ease. When asked how the clients feel about the transformation, Kim proclaims, “They love how elegantly refined the space is and how effortless it is to be in the space, with all of the little details thought through with careful consideration of how they, the clients, would ultimately move through the space and what would feel best.”
