Color and texture on a large scale makes a big impact
The other night on one of those TV makeover shows, I watched the guest genius install floor-to-ceiling tile in a bathroom so minimalist I could almost hear the potential buyers whine “there’s no place for the hai-i-ir dryer.” It was a look clearly taken from the contemporary Italian bathroom tile companies, like Bottega d’Arte, in Modena, which use suites of tile much like wallpaper. The TV bathroom I saw also included one of these vertical sliver-mirrors. Here, large geometric dots and abstract floral motifs are mixed with zero-radius fixtures.
The tiles can be polished, glazed or matte and often have geometric or floral-patterns on large or small areas of the walls, frequently combined with plain field tile of a different size or texture. Coral continues to be a hot color. Note the cleverly stylized plumbing beneath the exposed sink deck.
The chandelier gives this blue and white bath a ’70s vibe. It’s a look — but one that requires no paint, minimal maintenance and is super-green. Basically, fully-tiled walls and floors will last a lifetime and porcelain tile is ultra-durable. But like wallpaper, the color and style of the pattern is always a matter of taste.
