These two baths use tiles -- some solid-color mosaic, some a mottled mix of related tones -- to create depth and interest within a limited color range. To start, take your basic white bath, toss in a few bright primary colors and hot pastels (perhaps red, turquoise, and yellow, or coral, mint, and royal blue), and mix in a pinch or two of black for drama. Go for glossy ceramic wall tiles or high-gloss paint in white or, if space allows, a dramatic color that's decoratively inset in a backsplash. This practical style is great for a kid's bath or one off the family rec room: It offers easy cleaning with lots of glossy surfaces plus a look that's young, cheerful, and energetic. For cohesion, keep the framing treatments similar in style and look: black frames, say, or gold. The lovely view is made even more inspiring with wonderful framing. These homeowners added space from a nearby bedroom and closet to their small existing bath to create a new 31x9-foot bath worthy of its inspiring garden view. An ordinary 36-foot powder room was transformed into a dramatic jewel of a space with an otherworldly contemporary design. Continue to the next page to find out how jagged edges of quartzite can capture a stunning, contemporary look with just a few simple tiles.
In fact, if you live in a pre-WWII-era house, you may find that a lot of existing elements, such as tile, are already in place in your bath! Exquisitely engineered in virtually every detail, this deceptively simple-looking room has a lot more going for it than immediately meets the eye. A half-round window as long as the soaking tub is a dramatic focal point, its pleasing demi-lune shape evoking the classic curve of Palladian windows but with much more dash. And because kitchens are often at the back of the house, where privacy is greater, their windows may not need protection with a total privacy shield. Some barriers may require regular inspections, cleaning, or replacement parts, while others may have minimal maintenance needs. While many people would be tempted to turn this generously sized bath into a Renaissance showplace, this owner clearly had something else in mind. If your fixtures are in basically good shape and access is not a problem, you can do a lot to update the look of your bath just by replacing old fittings.
If your budget decrees laminates, go either very plain or with a funky, abstract pattern or texture, and don't be afraid of showing a lot of metal, especially chrome and stainless steel. Simple shapes in remarkable materials are key to the look; for example, see how polished granite, art glass, and stainless steel add light-catching sparkle to the space. Choose a streamlined pedestal sink or a vanity with an interesting sink -- perhaps hammered stainless steel or an art-glass bowl that sits entirely on top of the counter. This room would have a very different feeling if the tub were enclosed in a square frame and the sink were housed in a squared-off vanity. A circular skylight echoes the line of the curved shower wall, balancing the array of square and rectangular volumes elsewhere in the space. Using curved shapes makes a huge difference in giving a stark space an inviting air. If cửa chống ngập isn't conducive to a natural theme, try using dramatic dimensions to draw the focus indoors. Do you live in a flood-prone location and need to protect your home and possessions from imminent flooding? If you like the look of stainless steel, but need a little inspiration, see the next section to get some original ideas.
See the next section to explore the artistic fusion of several different styles. The classic retro look is a white pedestal sink; if you need the room, try a wood vanity painted in high-gloss white or, for the adventurous, metal finished with appliance-grade paints. For an added artistic touch, a band of contrasting-color tiles runs along the backsplash of the vanity and tub and defines an area of the floor. Black granite tiles matching the vanity countertop were also used as flooring to unite all elements of the room. For accent colors, repeat your dramatic color, and add a few others -- acid green, teal or violet-blue, lush cantaloupe or scarlet -- and carry it out in accessories sparked with chrome and black. Silvery chrome and glass are all you need to complete this artful, modern look. Accent with shiny modern chrome fittings, and scour flea markets and architectural salvage dealers for chrome counter edging, fittings, and vintage modern cabinet hardware. Still, Reed emphasizes, Mastema is not working against God to counter his divine will, but to be the "bad guy" who carries it out. Continue to the next page to find out how color can make a bathroom design really pop.