Black Bathrooms

Beauty is what beauty does! Meaning, in this case, that not all bathrooms need to be white in order to be beautiful.  When dark, good and exotic materials are utilized and mixed with brass, light washed wood and a lot or just enough mirror the opulence of a dark bathroom is not only unique and normally unexpected but, it's also seductive.   I'm in love with the Chinoiserie vanities of the bathroom above.  I also love the rustic unpolished floor and the detail of the different colore and size marble in the shower below.  It's a total dream, isn't it?  The bathroom, first and second images, belong to Kim Herbert, Harper's Bazzaar uk editor via Elle Decor.  Enjoy!

 Mixed with golden details is pure richness.

bathroom above by Ilse Crawford

One or two things when remodeling a home: My masterbath after

When we started remodeling our home I knew we were not going to live here forever, I also knew what many people know to be reality now a days that the time of the housing boom was over.  Knowing that, my choices on materials and structural changes needed to be more cautious, but I didn't want to sacrifice style or comfort.  So I kept the kitchen and bathrooms as traditional and neutral as possible, something that would appeal to most people, in case one day we decide to sell this house. 
For our master bathroom I mixed "real and steal" materials.  Marble mosaic in calacata gold for the floor, chair rail (to end the tiles that I extended 12" up the wall, below) and the pencil border that frames the walking shower.  The shower walls are in porcelain that looks exactly like calacata gold marble.  It's funny the tile installer didn't know it wasn't marble until he saw the back of it.  I bought the porcelain tiles at Classic Tiles in Brooklyn.  The vanity is custom made. 
The master bathroom is on the small side so I installed a programmable tile warmer, a luxury feature that will compensate for the lack of space.
Anyone who has ever remodeled a home knows that faucets are extremely expensive.  For the shower faucets I simply left out unnecessary things such as volume control handles.  Those things complicate life, really! The main shower handle does the volume control already so why buy an extra one?  I got the big overhead shower at Lowe's and the handheld is a combination of one of those handles that come with the shower I just replaced the hose for one that you can connect separately and got the set of handles with its respective valves at a trade showroom.  After doing all that math and all the search I became more savvy about plumbing and my hubby keeps telling me that I like to complicate my life.  But when he enjoys a shower with more than one water source all hitting his body he gets to understand why I like to complicate my life and why I always choose to go through the less traveled road.  Whatever you think it's possible it's because it is! 

 A shot of the floor and chair rail.

Our sons's bathroom.  We finally got the oval shower curtain rod that was in back order (I don't stand when things are in back order) and replaced the L shaped rod we used for the previous photo shoot. 

Photos (besides the second) by Robert Levi

Beautiful Bathtubs

Photo above via Lonny.
When I think of customizing or designing a bathroom the first thought that comes to my mind after functionality is of relaxation and pampering.  A bathroom is the most private room in the house and it's also the place we need to rely on in the mornings to helps us start the day efficiently and happy.  One of my favorite things in our bathrooms is Lucas's bathtub because it's perfect for all our needs.  I personally prefer a pedestal tub, the kind that do not have legs, but whether you prefer one with legs or not, Quality Bath has all the options for you.  Below are a few of my favorites from their great selection. 

This copper tub reminds me of Frederique Mechiche's beautiful bathroom.

Always loved this bathroom!

Image above via Elle Decor. 

I would love one tub like this one.  It looks comfortable and stylish. 

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