A detailed look at how to pull off a bathroom in this classic colour combination.
I love the drama of a black and white bathroom, it’s elegant and fashionably timeless. By varying the physical and visual texture of the black-and-white materials and fixtures, the design possibilities are endless.
When designing a bathroom, create the overall floor plan and elevations first and locate the fixtures. This will determine how much of the budget will go to electrical, plumbing and carpentry. The next step is to source the fixtures.
KEEP IT COHESIVE
Because fixtures vary so much in pricing and style, you may want to narrow down your choices before committing to an overall bathroom style. Remember, every manufacturer has their specific shade of white. Some plumbing fixtures are more off-white than others. Buying porcelain products from the same manufacturer guarantees a match. If you decide on black fixtures, I would definitely recommend you stay within the same manufacturer. Kohler has a beautiful line of black fixtures. The Kohler Veil is a wall-mounted elongated toilet that comes in ‘black black,’ which is Kohler’s darkest colour. Pair it with one of Kohler’s ‘black black’ sinks and tubs. Victoria and Albert also offers a lovely line of sinks and tubs in gloss and matte black.
VANITIES FOR EVERY BUDGETCiot
Finding the perfect vanity can set the style for the bathroom. Luxury vanity companies offer freestanding vanities that are reminiscent of furniture. For true elegance, look for solid wood and hand-carved marble tops. There are many companies that offer ‘off the shelf,’ sleek, modern style wall-mounted vanities in gloss white and black. For those of you who want to make the most of your space, consider getting a vanity made with the countertop of your choice. The vanity can be made with customized drawers for makeup, jewelry and toiletries. Most recently, I have added pull-out trolleys as towers on either side of the counter to maximize vertical space. Additionally, for the budget-conscious, consider a vanity from a big-box store. Before committing, look for durable surface finishes and plywood or solid-wood construction.
BLACK FIXTURES
The newest trend on the market is matte-black faucets. Most of the major companies such as Kohler and Delta sell them. Available for sinks and tubs, check the specific style line before you commit, as they are not always available for both and many don’t offer a bidet option.
NATURAL & EXOTIC
When sourcing natural-stone tiles or slabs, the earth gifts us with many amazing options. For those who want an extra special feature bathtub, consider a carved bathtub in Nero Marquina marble or polished black granite. When deciding upon a tub like this, make sure you consider what other fixtures you will pair with it. For floor or wall tiles, a wonderful marble choice is Port Black, which has a slight white vein. There are quite a few black marbles from Turkey, Spain and France, many with white veins or bronze veining. The classic Thassos marble from Greece is one of the whitest marbles, while marbles like Calcutta and Carrera vary from yellow to grey. For those of you with a big budget, White Quartzite is stunning and offers an unparalleled depth and visible crystals.
SUSTAINABLE STONE
Porcelains and composite stones offer a more sustainable solution and allow the designer to play around with texture as many of these materials now have a 3D relief on the surface made possible by laser cutting. One such tile, offered by CIOT is the Brillo from Spain, which is a 3D-hexagonal tile. Each box comes with several profiles and they fit together like a puzzle. One of my favourite floors is Nero Marquina herringbone tile. Mix this with a crisp white vanity and tub, and you have an instantly stylish solution. There are thousands of choices in tiles, just remember slip-resistance is important in wet spaces. In a bathroom, I would highly recommend epoxy or stain-resistant grout.
JUST-RIGHT LIGHT
Lighting a black-and-white bathroom can be tricky. You want to make sure that the white surfaces are free from shadows. As always, choose three types of lighting: general, task and decorative. Make sure fixtures are bright and dimmable. When choosing fixtures, pay special attention to the colour temperature, which is measured in Kelvin; 3000-3200K is a good temperature for bathroom light. The higher the temperature, for example 6000K, the cooler and bluer the light will be. Blue light is very unflattering and has no place in the bathroom! Conversely, don’t go below 3000K, or you will appear jaundiced in the mirror.
SOURCES – URBAN RETREAT HOMES, BATHTUB: Dahlia from Dezign Market LIGHTING: Ruskii from Viso