Ensuite missed the mark

8 years ago

Help! Conflicting textures and colours in our brand new ensuite and main bath (same materials used in both). Individually I like the elements but it absolutely does not work overall. Help? Where did I go wrong? What are some budget friendly solutions? Bearing in mind that the ensuite is open to my walk in robe so painting one means painting the other...

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Annie Webb Interiors

5 years ago

Ha Ha always get my timing wrong! Yes always good to see the before and after and it looks great! Sometimes its the simplest things that make a difference.

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Comments (35)

2dogssashatess
8 years ago
I would change the grout to white
loudon1
8 years ago
I like it. It might feel different once you get your rug and other bathroom accessories in there.
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Tricky one. Really like your shower area. Perhaps that is successful because the tiles are continuous and not broken up by the 'bare' grey parts of your walls. This made me think that you could consider having different tiles by the basin so it becomes more purposeful. Maybe do the same for the bath, although that may be a rather big job.
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Sandra Marshall
8 years ago
Hi, I like it, but it. Does feel quite bare, maybe repaint it in the green on the towel, or mask the walls and paint some geometrics in pink, green and yellow, know that sounds bold, but it's only paint, and it looks great if done carefully, and dreadful if bodged
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BigBathroomShop
8 years ago
When you've added accessories and colour, your bathroom will feel and look different. The space looks nice and modern though, we think you just need to add some personal touches to it.
Michelle S
8 years ago
I really like it! Accessorise, move in and use it. It's quite bold so might be a stark contrast to what you've been used to in that space. I think you'll get used to it and fall in love :-)
Georgie Morton
8 years ago
The space is beautiful, you just need to add more life to it with accessories/personal belongings.
E D
8 years ago
Why have you posted this twice, becccstarrr?
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Ocean Clarke
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi @becccstarrr,

This is a really lovely space so I wouldn't suggest any major changes. How about a potted plant to brighten things up? You could also add a fragrance dispenser, some candles, wicker baskets for bathroom products, a brightly coloured floor mat?

Brown and green accents would look lovely in this space however if you wanted to go more modern, how about bright red or yellow as a feature colour?

Lets us know what updates you make - very intrigued to see how you update your lovely room!

Balinese Influenced Bath · More Info
minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. Both the rooms look great.

I agree once you accessorise you may feel differently. I do think a different shade of grey for the walls would perhaps have perhaps worked a little better but you don't seem keen on painting understandably (!) so would live with it and see how you feel in a few months. I don't find the towels match the style that well as the rooms have a slight industrial feel so perhaps some Hamam style ones similar to pictured. You could also add a vintage wooden stool. For accessories (toothbrush holder etc) would look at different textures again and perhaps things like apothecary style bottles, candle, natural sponge, scrubbing brush etc and a plant

http://inescole.com/shop/reclaimed-wood-stool
mrsmcee74
8 years ago
I suspect it's the paint colour that's not quite right, from pics it looks like a grey with a blue hue. A grey with a brown or beige base would work better with the floor e.g Farrow & Ball Skimming stone, Light Gray, Moles Breath, Elephants Breath, Dulux Egyptian Cotton. But see how you feel when you've added in a few more accessories and lived with it for a while. At least there's not loads of wall if you decide to change it :)
Chloe Friend
8 years ago
I think it's gorgeous, once the work top has thing on it it will look lovely! I would recommend buying something like the picture attached!!!
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Hamish Smith
8 years ago
Looks very smart! How about a couple of compact hanging lights ether side of the vanity with glass shades to give some extra dimension and sparkle?
headers13
8 years ago
I think the floor tile colour in stone/beige does not go with the grey. I would change the grout to white if you can.
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Whitbydesign
8 years ago
I think it's great and it just needs a few tweaks to give it that something special!!

I would definately change the taps and shower fittings to black to make it look really modern and edgy. You could even use coloured fittings to make it stand out if you wanted. Vola does some stylish fittings in all different colours!

I would also change the wall colour to a much darker grey to match the grout.

I would also perhaps consider adding some interesting pendant lighting.

Lastly I would also introduce some different textures, perhaps a teak stool in the shower or a teak towel ladder, some leather countertop storage...
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Whitbydesign
8 years ago
Perhaps something like this...
John Taylor
8 years ago
I would have personally went with a darker contrast floor against the White tiles and added some glass hanging lights near the vanity unit.
robintheplumber
8 years ago
I was a plumber by trade and have fitted tons of bathrooms. Like most others, I think the room colouring looks fine without alteration but a tiny bit of colour would help. It'd look good with a few of the same bold colour items placed around to catch the eye and bring it all together. You could make the room look like it was deliberately planned to make the items stand out. I'd go for bright red but obviously, something to your taste would be great. Some of the suggestions to change grout colour or add lights would be a huge amount of work and risk messing up the clean lines you've got. Grouting by design is very sticky stuff. Removing it is a very messy business and can't usually be done without risking more than a few chipped tiles. Likewise adding wiring for lights. So maybe pick things to your taste which can stand alone without upheaval to fit them. A picture frame, a pot, a small sculpture, soap/hand cream dispensers. All could be coloured with with a water resistant paint or whatever, to match each other and, if they look a bit tired over time, at least you can replace them. You could pick the items you want and have them sprayed the same colour. Car paint applied professionally is very resistant to water. Last point, bathrooms are damp steamy places, so any paint, especially on tiles or grout, will quickly look tired and ruin the look you've got. Even paint which says it's designed for bathrooms, or to paint on tiles, in my experience, will quickly look like an afterthought and get tatty.
Vonn
8 years ago
Love the units. Definitely I would agree about changing the grout. My hubby was so against a light grout in such a damp area, true it does need a lot of maintenance, but I personally, can't live with grey grout on white or light tiles.
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HU-581954
8 years ago
It's lovely but the floor tiles are causing a bit of a clash with the grey walls. I think before you go for expensive solutions like re-grouting etc why not try just painting the walls white. That might solve the problem.
Glug Lug
8 years ago
As you've said, your choices are all beautiful in isolation but as other readers have mentioned, the lovely, modern, grey wall colour is fighting the mellow shade of the floor tiles. It's probably easier to change the paint than the tiles! Perhaps not white as I can see from your choices that you'd find that boring but someone suggested looking at the Farrow and Ball palate (or a cheaper alternative!) for inspiration, something with a hint of brown in the colour - not necessarily beige but something with an underlying warmth, and I would go with a slightly lighter shade as the room does look a little dark. I've had a similar dilemma with paint for my newly installed bathroom. I would love charcoal (with white metro tiles similar to yours) but I've opted for a lighter grey to maximise the light.
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Create Perfect
8 years ago
Hi, your bathroom is lovely, well done.
I would imagine it's the hard, clean lines that's are not your cup of tea at the moment but some soft accessories and bath mat to lighten the scheme will help. It's will balance everything and hopefully make it more pleasing for you.
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Veera Hawkins
8 years ago
I'm with John Taylor on this one. It's the floor. Everything else is lovely but the floor is sucking the life out of it. With earthier tones in the wall tiles the floor would have been great but with white it is just a bit "mmeh" I would go for contrasting darker flooring or white to match the walls...
choppy39
8 years ago
The grey, nothing much to go wrong with cream, beige and brown there just isn't anything to tie the grey in and makes it look flat.
Rebecca Marks
Original Author
8 years ago
Fantastic suggestions, thank you all so much! It's hard to break down the problem when you see it everyday. I'm getting a cabinet maker in to take a look (warm beech wood maybe?). Will definitely call my painter re: White Walls. Shame. The grey walls are in the rest of the house, just not here!
Anna Leigh
8 years ago
I feel the units and walls are the wrong colour. walls to dark, yes elephants breath or a powdered free hue. the doors are dark. Once the walls change colour and you have accessories it may soften the over all look and feel which would be the cheaper option. it looks lovely just needs softening a touch. However everything is down to person perspectives.
Joanna Biddolph
8 years ago
I wouldn't waste time repainting it; I like it and, as so many others have said, think it looks flat because it's not jazzed up with accessories. I'd use bolder towels - single colour in contrasting colours - and have bigger towels out. Put something interesting on the walls - ceramic works well in a bathroom and, again, bold colours. Others have suggested plants which I agree with. It just need accents. The floor colour ties in with the surface so I think you could get away with keeping it - you can draw the eye away from it with a dramatic bathmat or rug or similar - it's got to be easy clean/wash as it will get a lot of use. It needs tweaking, not major change.
laberg
8 years ago
I like your cabinets, who is the manufacturer or are they bespoke?
Rebecca Marks
Original Author
8 years ago
Cabinets are Polytec - colour is Black Wenge
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Annie Webb Interiors
5 years ago
Agree with John and Veera, you can see straight away its the floor tiles that are fighting with the rest of the scheme. The dark grey looks great against the white, I would rethink the flooring and add some sympathetic lighting.
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Jules Mc
5 years ago
3 year old post.
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Rebecca Marks
Original Author
5 years ago
After living with the colour scheme for a 18 months we landed on re-painting. It was a little dark to live in and we knew a light, bright space would appeal to potential buyers. Here’s the advertising pics when we listed for sale!
Rebecca Marks
Original Author
5 years ago
It was a two part solution: we painted using Dulux Vivid White and brought in our electrician to install modern hanging pendants made from concrete. The concrete pendants had a relationship to the tiles and the white paint eliminated the tonal clash between floors and walls. We carried this to all wet areas: toilets, bathrooms and laundry.
E D
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Bathroom looks great. Personally feel this lighter version was a great improvement.

I’m sure the new owners were impressed.

Remember what they say (wether true or not), kitchens and bathrooms sell houses.

:-)
Jules Mc
5 years ago
Glad you resurrected this My interiors and many thanks for the update
Looks fab - what a simple yet effective transformation.
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