Tiles with bold patterns, surprising textures and rich colors make these bathrooms stand out
When it comes to bathroom tile, a little bit of boldness can go a long way. Here are 10 bathrooms that went beyond basic subway or penny tile styles with striking results.
Andrea West Design
1. Geometric and Blue With a Melting Effect
The teal geometric cement tile that designer Andrea West used in this Utah bathroom is meant to make the narrow space feel wider. Stretching from the floor and into a jagged organic seam above the tub, the tile looks almost as if it’s melting into the ceiling, West says.
The colorful accent wall frames the freestanding tub within the shower, a must-have element for the homeowners. Other fun details in the bathroom, designed for two young brothers, include natural elements that match the boys’ woodsy style and a custom high-tech vanity mirror that doubles as a TV.
Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath
2. Walls of Waves
Inspired by the sleek details they’d seen in hotels on a recent trip to Israel, the owners of this Maryland home were set on wavy wall tile for their basement bathroom renovation. Designer Meghan Browne of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath delivered with textured cement tile surrounding the spa-like teak tub. Other teak elements add warmth, while simple white subway tile, stacked vertically above the vanity, puts the focus on the unusual walls.
Gonterman Construction
3. A Burst of Boldness Above the Vanity
This colorful California bathroom was designed by Laura Brophy for the homeowners’ young daughter. Brophy worked closely with the girl to balance the young client’s desire to create a mermaid feel and a design that could grow with her. The green concrete tile pops against the marble countertop. Gold hardware adds a glamorous touch.
Treefrog Design
4. Jewel-Tone Fish Scale
The owner of this Washington house had been dreaming of incorporating fish scale, or mermaid, tile into her home design for years ahead of her bathroom renovation. As designer Kristine Tyler of Tree Frog Design wanted the shimmering emerald tile to be a focal point but not overwhelming, she showcased it in the shower, in the water closet and behind the double vanity.
Porcelain gray matte floor tile and white glossy subway tile on the walls throughout the rest of the room provide balance.
Boyd A. Rourke, Brinc Design
5. Technicolor Mosaic
A rainbow of glass mosaic tile makes for a distinct accent wall in this Rhode Island bathroom. Designer Boyd A. Rourke of Brinc Design says his client wanted to create a European feel with an aquatic twist, reminiscent of time spend in the Greek islands. The vertical tiling, floating vanities and blue ceiling complete the breezy look.
Ronnette Riley Architect
6. Black, White, Gray and Bold
The patchwork-quilt-like quality of the patterned porcelain tile in this New York bathroom by the team at Ronnette Riley Architect creates visual interest while staying unified in its black, white and gray palette. In such a small bathroom, the tile ran the risk of overwhelming the space, project architect Ana Sofia Ivascu says, so they limited the pattern to the floor and the back wall of the shower, making those areas together a focal point.
During construction, the design team carefully chose the position of each tile so no adjacent tiles repeated a pattern. Other surfaces in the room, such as the gray mosaic shower floor, were chosen to complement the patterned porcelain.
Vertical Arts Architecture
7. Eclectic Shower Details
The hand-painted shower tile in this Colorado bathroom was the first thing the homeowner picked out for the whole house, so the team at architecture firm Vertical Arts used it as a starting point.
“The copper plumbing is a nice complement to the tile, while the concrete floor remains simple and functional, allowing the tile to shine,” architect Sarah Tiedeken O’Brien of Vertical Arts says.
Behind the freestanding tub, a tall window fills the room with light; the team used a half wall in the shower to capitalize on the feeling of airiness without sacrificing privacy.
Barts Remodeling & Construction, Inc.
8. Black-and-White Tub Backdrop
By tiling the accent wall in this Chicago-area bathroom with a bold black-and-white take on a herringbone pattern, the design team at Barts Remodeling created a detail that’s both sophisticated and whimsical.
Joy Street Design – https://www.joystreetdesign.com/
9. Floor-to-Ceiling Pattern
White floor-to-ceiling cement tiles with a linear pattern built an interesting foundation for the rest of this San Francisco Bay Area bathroom. Dreamed up by Kelly Finley of Joy Street Design, the space features a splash of saturated color in the emerald green vanity and natural warmth in the wood open shelves for balance against the white tile.
Ann Lowengart Interiors
10. Unexpected Texture
For a historic San Francisco home designed by modernist architect William Wurster, interior designer Ann Lowengart and her team incorporated a neutral palette and contemporary lines. In the powder room, shown here, the homeowner gave Lowengart free rein to bring their shared love of all things textural and organic to the next level, Lowengart says.
“The modern yet warm organic vibe was carried through this entire house,” Lowengart says. “The cool powder [room] is just a pumped-up version of everything going on in the other spaces.”
Central to that pumped-up aesthetic is the funky textured encaustic tile. Combined with a custom mirror with a handmade bronze frame and a water-jet-finished stone countertop, the accent serves as a fun surprise for guests. “My client jokingly calls this powder [room] the ‘teeth bathroom,’” Lowengart says.