art-y types - help please

[CaresMildly]

OK, in a Victorian property and need to re-do the main bathroom. It is a nice big room with high ceiling but no original features.

The whole design needs to be driven by the new sink (already bought). This is a bit theatrical and ott - it is sunk into black granite, has wrought iron legs and gold taps. (I swear it is actually quite nice!)

Do I go for black and white throughout - I was thinking toile de jouy blind, checked floor tiltes (b&w), white bath/loo, white wall tiles. Or is this a bit bland/obvious?

Also, because it is a sizeable room would that make it quite echoey and cold?

I am really struggling with this - everything is up for grabs to be replaced but it needs to be the right decision for a long time.

[CuppaTeaJanice]

I'd keep the things you don't want to change - suite, tiles, flooring, in black and white (not just white, that would be bland). Then go for something really vibrant for the paint, towels, accessories etc. Something like red or orange would look great with the black and gold, and wouldn't make the room look cold.

[CuppaTeaJanice]

Floor tiles can be cold and also slippery. Have you thought about a black rubber floor - it would look great and make the gold, white and accent colours really stand out.

[MrsBadger]

yes black rubber floor, or even sheet vinyl/lino/karndean - in a big room with no soft furnishings ceramic or stone floors can be very cold and echoey.
Ditto wall tiles - don't tile more than you have to and paint the rest. All-over tiles look great in small spaces but they'll make a big room feel like a swimming pool changing room.

have you space / cash for a freestanding bath?

[CaresMildly]

With the bath we're getting the current one re-enamelled and polished. It's quite a nice big one and runs along the back wall with a tile-shelf alongside it (if that makes any sense!). Somewhere to store your glass of wine the baby's toys.

I have to say black rubber is not floating my boat - I'm a Laura Ashley type of person generally and the sink on its own is a bit much for me to cope with! Combining it with a rubber floor is making me think posh dominatrix!!

[MrsBadger]

aha I see

Karndean or Marmoleum then

[Katisha]

You could tile halfway up wall and paint the rest an interesting colour.

[MrsBadger]

actually it sounds like the room might suit eg t&g panelling to dado level

[Katisha]

OOh yes I love tongue and groove (or the cheat panels) - it eliminates the inevitable grubby grout problem!

[alypaly]

CaresMildly careful about your gold taps.. I have gold ones in my bathroom and they loose their colour at the slightest hint of chemicals..even splashes of toothpaste. If you can change your taps i would go for brushed stainless steel or chrome and then put a thin silver tile in with the back and white

[somewhathorrified]

The black, white and gold sounds very art deco to me, not a bad thing at all. You can add some really great colour combos to add to the art deco look in fact anything goes. A simplistic colour palatte to add excitement and warmth is blood red, orange and greens.

[alypaly]

i have seen blood red in an art deco bathroom ,also with a black and white floral wallpaper on one wall. It looks very magazine like and is stunning but it can also look quite aggressive and not calming.

[noddyholder]

I have done similar once and did charcoal and beigey/stone checkerboard tiles as it wasn't so 'cold'The sink sounds amazing.

[CaresMildly]

Thanks all - some good ideas in there. Will definitely be doing T&G, as I love that look. Will investigate the rubber floor further!!