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Bathrooms Design Dilemma Renovating

Improving Dark Subway Tile Master Bath

last year

Does anyone have any ideas of improving the look of this master bathroom? The tile is the same color as the cabinets with white grout. My thought so far is to darken the grout. I’m thinking that could make it look better??? What else could be done? What do all the design gurus think? Thanks in advance!!!

Featured Answer

Jennifer Hogan

last year

@suedonim75 - You just made my day. Brought back a wonderful memory. . . It was Christmas Eve the year that my best friend passed away. We decided to celebrate Christmas at my house on Christmas Eve. Her youngest daughter was only 18 and the oldest was 25 and had two little girls, ages 5 and 7. I had the little girls over night the night before and we spent the day baking and decorating cookies and pastries. I had a ham in the oven and dinner prepped and everything ready to either throw in the oven or microwave or set out for the buffet, but the day got away from me and I had failed to get myself "party ready".

It was an hour before the party was going to start and my posse started showing up to help. I told them what needed to be done and ran a bath. I had a 5'x8' bathroom. I get in the tub and there is a knock at the door. Virginia, the oldest daughter had a question. She comes in and sits down on the closed toilet, the two little girls follow her and park themselves, one on the side of the tub and the other on the bath mat. Feeling left out, Bree, the youngest daughter, joins us. We are jabbering away when my two best friends come in the front door. They hear all the talking and come over and have to stand in the doorway because there isn't enough room for anyone else in the bathroom. My husband walked down the hall and stopped to say hello. Nicole, the 6 year old jumps up and runs over to push him away saying "You can't be in here! Your a boy!".

So, I guess if half the party can join me in the bathroom while I take my bath, I don't have a problem with the man I married, the man who makes love to me and holds my hair back when I am sick and rubs my feet when they are sore comes into the bathroom while I am in the tub. How would he wash my back for me if he couldn't be in the room?

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Comments (22)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
last modified: last year
IMO that whole thing is a mess and honestly the tile is the least of the issues since this is one of the silliest ideas ever is a tub in a shower and how does the door not get wet ?
Abi Shelton
Original Author
last year
There is glass separating the tub from the shower (:
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In my opinion it's all about: undertones, natural or artificial light, overall tone and other materials. Undertones - you need to clarify what the undertone is of the tile (that means is it biased towards a cool possibly blue colour or a warmer colour). Look at a paint chart, perhaps F&B next to the tile in good light. Try to match the tile with the correct colour, for example Strong White has a blue undertone, Skimming Stone has a violet undertone. If you do this it should work. Light - once you have identified the undertone you could paint the wall in a dark or light version of that colour. Consider natural light and artificial, and also consider the temperature of the LEDs. I only use very warm which is I think 2700 kelvins - it makes a huge difference. Overall tone. Some rooms look insipid because everything is too tonally similar. Rooms that are all tiles the same with pale walls can look like this. Adding a darker tone (it could be wood, or a wall tiled darker or accessories) will improve this. Materials, try to place samples of everything together to get it right. Wood or wood effect will add warmth, if you have a room with no wood, will it be cold? If wood isn't an option make sure there is tonal interest.
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
last modified: last year
So there are open showers behind the tub?

How would darkening the grout make it look better?

You could install a larger format tile, quartz or ceramic directly over your existing tile.
Lyn Nielson
last year
I would play up on the dark drama and wallpaper the bathroom with a dramatic paper.

Leave the large mirror and change out the light fixtures to increase the drama.

It's the Master Bath, right?
Abi Shelton
Original Author
last year
@Lyn thank you!! I was wondering about adding wallpaper. It is the Master Bath. I will def change the light fixtures too.
Abi Shelton
Original Author
last year
@Beverly there will be glass separating the tub from the shower. So the tub will sit right in front of the shower, not in it lol

I was thinking maybe what I was off putting to me was the stark contrast of the white grout with the dark tile. I’m not an expert, just was trying to figure out what was bothering me about it.
la_la Girl
last year
Darkening the grout could clean up the noisiness of the tile but seems like a lot of work, maybe you could experiment on the shower-side of the tub and see what you think?

I agree with @Lyn Nielson to lean into the drama and think about a wallpaper - I would be really tempted to get oversized modern (more angular) faucets/fixtures - including showerheads (the current ones seem pretty anemic given the scale of the room). Large chrome hardware/pulls on the cabinets would be great - yes to 2 fabulous new lights - and perhaps take down the plate mirror and do a large modern mirror above each sink?
PRO
Jarret Yoshida Design
last year
Dark bathrooms are amazibng. i have designed dark baths for many of my clients and they love them. You can wallpaper or paint tio make the bath moody and beautifil, and keep the tile.

Hope this helps!!

https://jarretyoshida.com/
Fori
last year
Your tile guy was pretty good. He's gonna cry when you tone down his beautiful lines. :)
eld6161
last year
I would leave it. I am assuming you chose this tile? Since it's a bathroom and not a common area I would live with it for a while.

Although not to my taste, it certainly isn't offensive.
Susan Davis
last year
I like it. Just enjoy it. Add white towels and some pretty plants in the shower. This from a woman who has a pale yellow fiberglass shower surround in perfect condition in her three bathrooms. Such is life! 😝
Jennifer Hogan
last year
I can't stop myself from imagining taking a shower or bath in this room.

I'm imagining laying in the tub when hubby decides to take a shower. Not the view I want Ick!

Thinking about taking a shower while hubby brushes his teeth - Not what I want him seeing in the mirror (I'm 60 - I don't want to catch a glimpse of myself much less have someone else looking at me naked.

The first thing I would do is cover the glass with some type of privacy film or decorative film.

Depending on what you choose you can really change the look and feel of the room and can make decisions on the paint color and décor based on that decision.

Some are more opaque than others... I thought this was a great solution to an awful view:
olychick
last year
I think dramatic wallpaper would be wonderful. If you want to try dark grout without committing to coloring it (admittedly this is a tedious, time consuming suggestion), go to a craft supply store and find some brown tape that matches your tile. Cover a section of the grout lines with it and see what it looks like to you.

A little less moody, lol:
suedonim75
last year
'm imagining laying in the tub when hubby decides to take a shower. Not the view I want Ick!

Thinking about taking a shower while hubby brushes his teeth - Not what I want him seeing in the mirror (I'm 60 - I don't want to catch a glimpse of myself much less have someone else looking at me naked.

I can't imagine why this would ever happen? Does your Spouse normally come in the bathroom while you are in it? Mine doesn't.
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last year
My first impression is to paper the walls with a really vibrant, colorful pattern. There are SO many options and your palette of gray and white is so neutral that anything goes.

Check out Thibaut Designs and F. Schumacher, my two favorite wallcovering companies.
Fori
last year
This is a shower built for two--no shyness allowed! :)
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I guess my other question is is this your choice or a new to you space?
Abi Shelton
Original Author
last year
I like seeing my husband naked!!! Hahaha we are a young couple and very much in love LOL It’s a new space to us (:
Jennifer Hogan
last year
@Abi Shelton - Ahhh to be young again!
Jennifer Hogan
last year
What color do you wear that make you feel like a 10? When you are young and in love I think the bedroom and bathroom should make you feel sexy and desirable. I would want to incorporate those colors into the design. Not make the whole room that color, but maybe the sheets that color and a bedspread that complements the sheets and use those colors throughout the room. In the bathroom have towels the same color as the sheets. Use a great wallpaper and some décor items that make the bedroom and bathroom coordinate. . .
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last year
That's a very sweet story, @Jennifer Hogan!

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