For decades, timidly ‘tasteful’ bathrooms have been decorated in tepid neutral shades. But now color—from truly cool blues to emphatic black—is on tap again. Here’s how to do it right:
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For many years, a compulsively neutral color scheme has been the ideal: soothing whites, taupes, muted wood or stone. But graphic designer Constantine Giavos of Manhattan was having none of it. This year, he and his wife, Rachel Lamel, a fashion executive, moved into an Upper East Side apartment, escaping their old beige-tiled “absolute mediocrity” of a bathroom in the process. Renovating with help from New York designer Wesley Moon, Mr. Giavos binged on color in one of the full baths, tiling the walls and floors in celery green and pink respectively.
As home-design trends shift, Mr. Giavos appears to be ahead of the curve. Even if the powder room has traditionally been a canvas for decorating, the full bath has long been a neutral zone. Permanent tiles, vanities and fixtures don’t come cheap and homeowners typically play it safe, following the lead of housing developers. Result: an understated aesthetic that won’t offend anyone. Lately, however, designers say more clients are willing to go in a more bold direction: colorful, and even ornamented. “It’s a response to the boredom of two-and-a-half decades of neutral bathrooms,” said Mr. Moon. His more fearless clients, he said, are thirsting for color and “ready to rebel.”
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Patterns that pop! 9455 Titus Lane, Huntersville, NC 28078 | Listing Courtesy of: Brandon Ruby[/caption]
A gutsier palette may also reflect confidence in the strengthening real-estate market, said Jamie Chappell, who tracks trends as creative director of San Francisco’s Fireclay Tile. Sales of existing homes reached a nine-year peak this May, according to the National Association of Realtors, and Bill Darcy, CEO of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), noted that “consumers are stretching themselves.” Mr. Darcy is mid-bathroom design himself, leaving behind beige tiles in his previous home and opting for blue walls and dark cabinets.
Still, for Charlotte Cosby, head of creative at Farrow & Ball, bathrooms are an ideal place to splash out a little. They aren’t rooms you socialize in, or rooms where you spend hours on end,” she pointed out. She’s heard the most regrets from “people who have stayed safe but wished they’d done something more interesting.” In what is the most intimate space in the entire home, success lies in finding the sweet spot between overly bland and over-the-top.
More Examples of Color Splashes:
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Don't be afraid to go bright! 7432 Valleybrook Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270 | Listing Courtesy of: Brandon Boyd[/caption]
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Break the norm with a bold and warm color! 949 Muirfield Dr, Mooresville, NC 28115 | Listing Courtesy of: Crystal Cox[/caption]
Adapted from The Wall Street Journal's article:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/bathed-in-color-the-end-of-the-neutral-bathroom-1471541514