Bathroom Design Idea: Bringing Nature In

Entering this bath is like stepping into an enchanted grotto or cavern. Tumbled marble tiles, slab marble tiles, and handmade tiles that look like elegant natural stone all pay tribute to the beauty of nature in this handsome bathroom design.

A shower stall with a frameless glass door lets the spectacular beauty of the bathroom's stone tiles show through.
A shower stall with a frameless glass door lets the
beauty of the bathroom's stone tiles show through.

A mix of large, medium, and small tiles in a variety of hues and patterns swirls around the room, but the fantastic array of patterns and sizes is never dizzying thanks to the rich yet subdued range of earthy colors and patterns.

Befitting this extraordinary bathroom, a massive wardrobe provides ample storage.
The bathroom's massive
wardrobe provides storage.

The visual drama inherent in these excitingly patterned tiles is enhanced by using different sizes of tiles and by setting some on the square, some on the diagonal.

Befitting this extraordinary bath, a wardrobe gives ample storage (and a bit of privacy for the toilet area.) The natural graining of the wardrobe's fine hardwood is enhanced with a gleaming protective finish; the top, where condensation might collect, is a thin slab of granite.

A vanity niche, mirrored on all sides, reflects the sparkle of a stainless-steel sink and the muted glow of brushed-nickel fittings. A slab of granite with a beveled edge tops a frameless vanity cabinet in beautifully grained hardwood. The wood bears an intriguing carved design echoed in the wardrobe doors.

The vanity carries on the bathroom's hardwood motif.
The vanity carries on the
bath's hardwood motif.

To make a concept like this work takes careful planning of every detail and meticulous placement of every tile. That kind of artistry and care is clearly in evidence, even in small details.

To keep the room human-scaled, small diamond-shape tiles are set in channel-bordered rows at chair-rail height and above. Small, gleaming metallic tiles add jewel-like accents to this already beautiful space.

The warmth of the wood with the contrasting coolness of the varied tiles keeps this bathroom interesting and inviting. Another good way to introduce warmth into a bathroom is with color. For a good example of the homey warmth some colors can bring, see the next page.

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