Need help 'styling out' black/grey bathroom

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Originally, I planned on a monochromatic colour scheme for a small bathroom: black floor tiles, a black stone shower tray and small, brick-like matte white wall tiles. However, the 'black' slate floor tiles (now laid) are mid-grey. Picture attached.

My question: what can I do to 'style out' my bathroom now? I haven't yet bought a basin (I'd planned for a black one), cabinets, or decided on wall paint.

Frankly, I'm clueless about where to take this now - particularly with the grey floor tiles vs. black shower tray. I've seen great egs of grey/black bathrooms here on Houzz but I'm no interior designer. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Featured Answer

PRO

Clever And Simple

8 years ago

Hi,

If you continue the dark trend in the bathroom, you could offset this with a bright and contrasting glass sink like this:

The sink would sit well on a dark unit.

How are you planning on lighting the bathroom? You can dramatically change the way the room will look depending upon how you choose to do the lights....

Hopefully, this is food for thought!

Peter

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Comments (23)

PRO
Gerard Puxhe
8 years ago
Hi,

you can be bold with washbasin, wether with a touch of colour or a modern shape. There are plenty of choices www.archiproducts.com/en/1458/bathroom-fixtures-washbasins.html

Norikei

www.norikei.com
rachel2482 thanked Gerard Puxhe
headers13
8 years ago
I think you could go with a very dark grey cabinet with a white sink on top. Have a black or black marble effect worktop. Black basins according to 2 friends who have black sinks in their kitchens take a lot of cleaning to stay looking clean with water marks. Depends if you want the walls in a dark or light grey shade. What about grey tiling for the wall sections would look good ?
rachel2482 thanked headers13
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PRO
Total Electrical Solutions Ltd
8 years ago

Bathroom - November 2015 · More Info
Hi

I've just done my bathroom Anthracite/grey . We use multiple lighting combinations to bring everything together. Check out my profile/web-site for more ideas.

Michael
rachel2482 thanked Total Electrical Solutions Ltd
Fleur Birtwistle
8 years ago
I have just done my bathroom exactly this colour, we opted for a sink with a slate grey draw underneath. I have also brightened it up with dark fuchsia towels which looks great (I have to say!)
rachel2482 thanked Fleur Birtwistle
jose_green
8 years ago
My bathroom was finished in August - The area is long and narrow.I have slate grey floor tiles with a mauve tint. I chose Laura Ashley wall tiles in three formats. Plain white at each end so one lot in the shower area and one lot next to the window.The third wall has tiles with a silver reeded effect and the main wall which you see when entering the bathroom is called cottonwood which has a silver twig & leaf effect. I added colour by purchasing some sumptuous towels in lime green, deep fuchsia and grape from Matalan. I am now looking for a window blind with every colour in it in an abstract pattern if that makes sense. I did think about having shutters but they just won't work. The tiles were not ultra expensive but not cheap and nasty either. All the sanitary ware is white and I chose not to have any hanging cupboards under the sink as this detracted from the floor space. I did opt for a hanging toilet and that's the tops.
rachel2482 thanked jose_green
Kittihawke
8 years ago
Jose_green that sounds lovely. Any pics?
jose_green
8 years ago
Just managed to post the one above - I'll try some better ones
rachel2482
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments, they've been extremely helpful!

Washbasin - I will take Norikei and Peter's advice on the interesting shape/material. I'm still on the fence about introducing a bright colour although jose_green and Fluer - your bathrooms sound lovely. I will keep my options open and may introduce a bold colour if I'm brave enough :)

This week, I've been looking at these cubic-style concrete vessels in various shades of grey with coloured taps and pipes: http://kastconcretebasins.com/products/. I am quite tempted to go for one of these. Headers13 - I'll avoid black and consider a grey tile (or paint).

Lighting - Peter & Michael, I currently have 4 x cheap ceiling downlights fitted which I don't like. This is something I'd need professional input on, so I'll take a look at your profiles and see how my bathroom lighting could be used to better effect. The anthracite bathroom lighting is quite stunning.
PRO
Clever And Simple
8 years ago
Hi Rachel,
You're welcome. With bathroom lighting, if possible I split the lighting into two or more circuits and use dimmers/lighting controls fitted outside the bathroom to set the lighting scenes.
I would have one scene where the ceiling lights are on brightly for showering and general use and then another scene with say under bath lighting or other feature lighting that is a low level for relaxing in the bath or using the bathroom late at night.
For the lights and switches, lights and switches fitted inside bathrooms need to meet water resistance requirements depending upon their closeness to the bath/shower etc. There are drawings in the wiring regulations that show you what can be fitted where. These are called bathroom 'zones'. Bathroom lights will have something like 'suitable for zone 2' written on them. Unless you have a large bathroom or have special low voltage switches, switches will normally be a pull cord or fitted outside of the room.
I hope that this helps
PRO
Total Electrical Solutions Ltd
8 years ago
Hi Rachel, if your lights are GU10 spot lights the cheapest way would be to change them for a Megaman 4000k LED lamp. I would put dimmable ones in then you have the option to install a dimmer switch . You can get these off the Internet and replace them yourself for about £8 a lamp.
The 4000k colour gives a daylight rendition so the colours you see during the day are the colours you see when it's dark. They will make a massive difference if you only have halogen gu10's fitted now .
If you are going to change them for new lights I would fit a Scolmore Click maxi inceptor in 4000K again . These are about £25 a fitting .Again I would go with the dimmable option .

Either of these options would totally transform your bathroom for a minimal cost.
PRO
Clever And Simple
8 years ago
Hi Michael,
Do you mean 4000K or 6500K? 4000K is cool white and 6500K is daylight.
Thanks
Peter
PRO
Total Electrical Solutions Ltd
8 years ago
Hi Peter , 6500k is too harsh for the bathroom giving a blue tinge . 2800k (like halogen ) would give a yellow tinge .
4000k gives a pure colour and shows off the colours as they are in daylight. With a black,grey,white bathroom this colour light shows everything to its true potential.
PRO
Clever And Simple
8 years ago
Hi Michael,
Sorry, but I have to partially disagree with you on this, daylight colour temperature is 6500K not 4000K. Yes, 4000K is warmer than 6500K but it does not give a truer representation of colour. Colour representation is measured using the colour rendering index or CRI. The closer to 100, the closer to daylight. The Megaman LEDs are 80 CRI for each of the colour temperatures.
That said, the 4000K fitting will produce a brighter and cleaner feel to the room. However, it can look too harsh at night. 2700K is closer to traditional halogen fittings. It can look duller during the day, but looks a lot more welcoming in the evening - perfect for a soak in the bath. It comes down to personal preference in the end
rachel2482
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Peter & Michael for your suggestions.

Currently I have 4 cheap downlights fitted. Sorry for the bad picture quality. Unfortunately, I can't change the position of these lights now, nor add another circuit (will have to save that idea for my other 2 bathrooms). The downlights are laid out as a quad - one is positioned above the shower.

Right now, I am not keen on the lighting effect they give. It's a diffuse light rather than a spotlight effect. They look quite yellow - particularly at night.

Since I only have one option now in terms of lighting, can either of you recommend a better quality downlight that gives a cleaner, more contemporary look?
rachel2482
Original Author
8 years ago
I should mention that the downlights aren't currently flush with the ceiling. They are chrome rimmed, which I'm not too keen on.
PRO
Clever And Simple
8 years ago
Hi Rachael,
I'm sure that we can all sort this out! Is it possible to fit flush fitting down lights into the ceiling? Was there a reason why the surface mount fittings were used before - concrete ceiling etc?
Thanks,
Peter
PRO
William Holland Ltd
8 years ago
Hi Rachael,

Metallics would add a touch of brightness whilst maintaining the industrial monochromatic feel. Tin finishes would present a more industrial rustic finish whilst nickels etc would lend a touch of glamour and pazazz :)
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Pumpkin
8 years ago
Hi Rachel, Can I ask were you got your floor tiles from/name of them?

I am searching for a grey tile to run through my downstairs hall, kitchen/dining etc and they look like the colour I am looking for. Its a nightmare trying to get the right grey colour!

Thanks
PRO
Nadine Iva
7 years ago
Hi Rachel! I am late for the party but..with the tile colour on the floor I would not go with black basin or cabinet. I think if you combine white, bright wood and grey colour scheme it would look good. Another option for the walls you can go with shining "concrete" style which actually will match your tile or how about subway tile in white? The slightly greenish option will also look nice.
PRO
Walls to the floor
7 years ago
As a tile, splashback or panel alternative have a look at our profile page and website.

We are microcement applicators and can produce a seamless finish with no need for joints no matter how big the area. Totally waterproof and only 3mm thick. A large array of colours and effects are available including metallics which can 'move' when the lighting hits them.
PRO
Walls to the floor
7 years ago
Hi Rachel, we apply Microcement. It's perfect as an alternative to tiles and stone effect panels. It's waterproof and durable and best of all it doesn't require any joints so you get a seamless surface.

It can go on almost any surface including wood. You could design your own basin which could be made out of MDF and then coated in microcement to give the effect of stone, concrete or marble. This would give the option of matching the sink to the walls.

wallstothefloor.co.uk

Good luck.
PRO
Walls to the floor
7 years ago
Sorry for the double post, my comment hadn't worked when I checked back the first time.