Timeless Bathroom Fixtures for Your New Build

Our new house won’t be finished for over a year, so it may seem early to be choosing plumbing fixtures. However, plumbing valves must be installed before drywall, so these decisions need to happen much earlier in the build than many people expect.

When selecting faucets, shower hardware, toilets, and a tub, my priority was to choose timeless bathroom fixtures. We expect this to be our forever home, so I wanted every choice to still feel relevant and attractive twenty years from now.

After months of showroom visits, online research, and plenty of Pinterest inspiration, I’ve finalized almost all of our selections. Below I’m sharing each pick room-by-room to help anyone planning a bathroom remodel or new build — and I welcome input on a few things I’m still undecided about. (This post included affiliate links in the original; see my site disclosure for details.)

Let’s begin with the upstairs bathroom off my youngest daughter’s bedroom:

Bath #1: Brushed Gold Fixtures

This bathroom will have a 60″ semi-custom vanity and a backsplash with curved details that add visual interest. The plumbing fixtures will be a warm brushed gold, including an arched faucet with cross handles and coordinating cross-handle shower trim. The look balances classic and contemporary elements and maintains clean, timeless lines.

Sources: Custom vanity | Cabinet knobs (aged brass) | Arched faucet | Hand towel bar | TP holder | Shower head | Shower valve trim | Handheld wand

Some may question whether brushed brass is truly timeless. I believe it is, and we’ll reassess down the road — but for now it feels like the right choice for this space.

Next is the upstairs bathroom off my oldest daughter’s bedroom:

Bath #2: Polished Nickel Fixtures

My oldest prefers silver finishes, so we chose polished nickel fixtures for this bathroom, including a coordinating faucet and matching shower components. In person the finish is more beautiful than photos convey, with a subtle ribbed detail around the faucet spout that gives a modern twist to a traditional form.

Sources: Bathtub | 48″ vanity | Faucet | Showerhead | Diverter trim kit | Towel hook (TBD) | Hand towel holder (TBD) | Shower trim kit | Bathtub diverter spout

Pfister will offer coordinating accessories like a towel hook and hand towel holder, but I may opt for simpler pieces since the brand’s options feel a bit heavy for this room.

This bathroom will have a combined tub and shower. After seeing the bathtub in a friend’s new home, I felt confident it would be a great fit. For the vanity I’m considering a prebuilt unit to save costs compared with fully custom cabinetry and countertops; I’m still evaluating a few budget-friendly alternatives.

Now for the primary (master) bathroom:

Primary Bathroom Fixtures

Picking fixtures for our primary bath proved the most difficult. The space requires a freestanding tub filler, and many tub fillers don’t have coordinating faucets and shower components I love. One fixture I’m certain about is the Newport Brass Pardees faucet; its design is a clear favorite.

The Pardees line is a splurge, but if there’s a room to invest in for a forever home, it’s the primary bathroom. It’s available in multiple finishes; I’m leaning toward Satin Bronze, a darker brushed gold. I’ve seen Satin Bronze in person and prefer the finish to online images, but I’m still curious whether it reads as bronze or a warm dark gold in different settings.

Sources: Newport Brass Pardees fixtures (satin bronze) | Tub filler | Smart toilet | Bathtub TBD | Custom white oak vanity

We plan to install his-and-hers custom white oak vanities with decorative fluting that will echo the faucet’s lines. For the bathtub, I like the proportions of an acrylic model I found, but I’m still searching for a material that retains heat better while matching the desired style.

One non-negotiable for my husband was bidet functionality due to years of travel and hotel experiences. Many bidet-style toilets have a bulky, futuristic appearance that I didn’t love, until a new smart toilet option appeared that combines the features he wanted with a design I find attractive. It’s an expensive choice, but it satisfied both form and function, and he agreed it could come from his budget.

Next up: the guest/poolhouse bathroom.

Guest Bath: Polished Nickel or Brushed Brass?

The guest bath and poolhouse bathroom give me a chance to be a little more playful with color in the vanity, tile, and possibly wall color. I love a fluted vanity available in several finishes, including a soft light sage, which is currently my leading contender. I’ll choose tile before committing to the final vanity color.

I’m drawn to the Kohler Castia collection for this space and am planning to use the matching faucet, shower trim kit, and selected accessories. I haven’t finalized whether to use polished nickel or brushed brass here, though I currently favor polished nickel for its clean, bright look.

Sources: Light sage fluted vanity | Faucet | Shower trim kit | Toilet | Toilet paper holder | Hand towel holder | Towel hooks

Powder Room: Brushed Brass Fixtures

Finally, the powder room will be compact but full of character with a custom vanity, decorative backsplash, and a favorite fixture system. I’m using a components-style line that lets you mix and match spouts and handles for many combinations. My favorite pairings are a deck-mounted spout with chunky lever handles or those same handles paired with a wall-mounted spout for a sleek, modern look.

Sources: Toilet | Wall-mounted faucet spout | Deck-mounted faucet spout | Faucet handles | Hand towel bar | TP holder | Custom vanity

I feel confident that each bathroom will have its own personality while still feeling cohesive with the overall home aesthetic. I’ll share updates as construction progresses and when these rooms begin to take shape.

I’d love your thoughts — please leave questions or suggestions in the comments, especially if you’ve seen any of these fixtures in person or have strong opinions about my remaining choices. Your feedback has been invaluable throughout this process.

XO,