Perfect Pairings for Bathrooms: 5 Top Picks From NZ Designers
Can't make up your mind on which colours and finishes to choose for your new bathroom? Here are five combos to love
Choosing the right colours and finishes for a bathroom is key to creating a space you’ll love. But with so many options available, it’s easier said than done. If you’re designing or planning a bathroom renovation and find yourself overwhelmed with choices, you’ve come to the right place. Here, five design experts share their top five fail-safe combos for a bathroom that delivers style in spades.
How would you use this combo?
Bronze for all tapware and accessories, such as the toilet-roll holders, robe hooks, heated towel rails, and potentially as a trim or frame around the bathroom mirror.
Tiles and stone – always on all floors and walls.
I also install stone on vanity tops that will work in with the tile selection and the bronze finish. Ankara honed limestone looks amazing with the bronze finish.
What’s good to know?
Astra Walker and Plumbline have just released new PVD finishes that don’t patina or age, which is great as you know they will always work with the beautiful tones in your tile and stone selection. The bronze does cost more than a standard finish, but it’s well worth the investment as it elevates your bathroom to next-level luxury.
Looking to redo your bathroom? Find a bathroom designer on Houzz to help make it happen
Bronze for all tapware and accessories, such as the toilet-roll holders, robe hooks, heated towel rails, and potentially as a trim or frame around the bathroom mirror.
Tiles and stone – always on all floors and walls.
I also install stone on vanity tops that will work in with the tile selection and the bronze finish. Ankara honed limestone looks amazing with the bronze finish.
What’s good to know?
Astra Walker and Plumbline have just released new PVD finishes that don’t patina or age, which is great as you know they will always work with the beautiful tones in your tile and stone selection. The bronze does cost more than a standard finish, but it’s well worth the investment as it elevates your bathroom to next-level luxury.
Looking to redo your bathroom? Find a bathroom designer on Houzz to help make it happen
2. Portia Beacham, interior designer at Honour Creative
Perfect pairing: Contrasting tiles, whether that’s patterned and plain, coloured and neutral, big and small, square and rectangular. Having two different tiles in a bathroom brings interest and diversity to the space, and also works purposefully to suit certain walls. For example, a larger tile works well in wet areas as it means less grout lines are exposed to water that will require cleaning.
It’s easy enough to create a sleek and attractive bathroom using a plain tile, however adding a second tile with an element of colour, pattern, shape or scale brings a new dimension of thought and interest to the space. A well-planned tile layout can act as a feature attraction without being overly expensive. When a strong tile combination is put together, it’s as visually pleasing as it is practical.
It’s a look that suits traditional bathrooms that want to pay tribute to their original character but with a touch of the contemporary.
Perfect pairing: Contrasting tiles, whether that’s patterned and plain, coloured and neutral, big and small, square and rectangular. Having two different tiles in a bathroom brings interest and diversity to the space, and also works purposefully to suit certain walls. For example, a larger tile works well in wet areas as it means less grout lines are exposed to water that will require cleaning.
It’s easy enough to create a sleek and attractive bathroom using a plain tile, however adding a second tile with an element of colour, pattern, shape or scale brings a new dimension of thought and interest to the space. A well-planned tile layout can act as a feature attraction without being overly expensive. When a strong tile combination is put together, it’s as visually pleasing as it is practical.
It’s a look that suits traditional bathrooms that want to pay tribute to their original character but with a touch of the contemporary.
How would you use this combo?
Large square or rectangular tiles work well on the floor, in big wet areas and on any main surrounding walls of a bathroom. A tile of a smaller scale or shape, or a feature colour, texture or pattern will work well when limited to one wall or a smaller area within a bathroom, such as on the main vanity wall, around the bath, or on one of the shower walls.
What’s good to know?
When choosing a floor tile, it’s a good idea to look for one with a grain or speckle through it so any marks and hairs are less visible.
Also, due to the wet nature of bathrooms, we’d recommend using epoxy grout for tiling as it’s non-porous, waterproof and stain-resistant.
Large square or rectangular tiles work well on the floor, in big wet areas and on any main surrounding walls of a bathroom. A tile of a smaller scale or shape, or a feature colour, texture or pattern will work well when limited to one wall or a smaller area within a bathroom, such as on the main vanity wall, around the bath, or on one of the shower walls.
What’s good to know?
When choosing a floor tile, it’s a good idea to look for one with a grain or speckle through it so any marks and hairs are less visible.
Also, due to the wet nature of bathrooms, we’d recommend using epoxy grout for tiling as it’s non-porous, waterproof and stain-resistant.
3. Anna Cuthbert, principal at Cuthbert Interiors
Perfect pairing: A textural leathered quartzite vanity top with gunmetal taps and hardware. Leathered stone finishes are gaining traction in the design world. The stone surface is brushed, giving it a tactile feel and textural appearance.
I love the contrast of organic and industrial, and soft and hard, with this combination. The effect is inviting and appealing, and would work in many bathroom styles, including farmhouse, classic, contemporary and an industrial warehouse conversion.
Browse more images of inspiring bathrooms on Houzz
Perfect pairing: A textural leathered quartzite vanity top with gunmetal taps and hardware. Leathered stone finishes are gaining traction in the design world. The stone surface is brushed, giving it a tactile feel and textural appearance.
I love the contrast of organic and industrial, and soft and hard, with this combination. The effect is inviting and appealing, and would work in many bathroom styles, including farmhouse, classic, contemporary and an industrial warehouse conversion.
Browse more images of inspiring bathrooms on Houzz
How would you use this combo?
I’d use gunmetal for all the bathroom hardware, including a custom surround around the shower. I’d then repeat the gunmetal tone in the tile grouting. I’d use the leathered quartzite for the vanity tops.
What’s good to know?
I prefer gunmetal over black fittings and hardware as it still gives a sense of contrast but isn’t as harsh as black. Although a gunmetal finish is still matt, it has a little more reflectivity of light than matt black, so it brings more interest to the room.
I prefer quartzite to marble for vanity tops due to its strength. Although, being porous, it’s still susceptible to damage, it is stronger than marble and the surface can be leathered, which adds personality and patina to the bathroom.
I’d use gunmetal for all the bathroom hardware, including a custom surround around the shower. I’d then repeat the gunmetal tone in the tile grouting. I’d use the leathered quartzite for the vanity tops.
What’s good to know?
I prefer gunmetal over black fittings and hardware as it still gives a sense of contrast but isn’t as harsh as black. Although a gunmetal finish is still matt, it has a little more reflectivity of light than matt black, so it brings more interest to the room.
I prefer quartzite to marble for vanity tops due to its strength. Although, being porous, it’s still susceptible to damage, it is stronger than marble and the surface can be leathered, which adds personality and patina to the bathroom.
4. Amy Watkins,
Central and East Auckland colour consultant at Resene
Perfect pairing: For me the perfect pairing for a bathroom is a bold colour contrast of light and dark. This could mean either having just one wall or all walls painted in a dark colour or a neutral, then using a fresh off white on the remaining areas.
Combinations that work well together to create this look are Resene Nero (a deep black with inky blue undertones) and Resene Half Albescent White (a soft linen white); Resene Blue Dianne (a smokey blue-green) and Resene Milk White (a cool, clean white).
A combination such as this creates a bold and luxurious statement in a bathroom. It works particularly well in contemporary bathrooms.
Central and East Auckland colour consultant at Resene
Perfect pairing: For me the perfect pairing for a bathroom is a bold colour contrast of light and dark. This could mean either having just one wall or all walls painted in a dark colour or a neutral, then using a fresh off white on the remaining areas.
Combinations that work well together to create this look are Resene Nero (a deep black with inky blue undertones) and Resene Half Albescent White (a soft linen white); Resene Blue Dianne (a smokey blue-green) and Resene Milk White (a cool, clean white).
A combination such as this creates a bold and luxurious statement in a bathroom. It works particularly well in contemporary bathrooms.
How would you use this combo?
The bold feature colour choice is best placed on the walls – either on one wall, a half wall, or you could really immerse yourself in the colour and place it on all four walls. Then use the light, off-white colour in the remainder of the space.
The bold feature colour choice is best placed on the walls – either on one wall, a half wall, or you could really immerse yourself in the colour and place it on all four walls. Then use the light, off-white colour in the remainder of the space.
Image: Simon Devitt.
5. Hamish Muir, architect and director at Mason & Wales Architects
Perfect pairing: Stainless-steel satin finish and Cristalplant (a soft-touch solid surface).
This combo is highly durable and yet soft to the touch.
It’s timeless, contemporary and functional and suits most, if not all, bathroom styles when carefully combined with wall and door finishes.
5. Hamish Muir, architect and director at Mason & Wales Architects
Perfect pairing: Stainless-steel satin finish and Cristalplant (a soft-touch solid surface).
This combo is highly durable and yet soft to the touch.
It’s timeless, contemporary and functional and suits most, if not all, bathroom styles when carefully combined with wall and door finishes.
Image: Simon Devitt.
How would you use this combo?
I would specify stainless-steel tapware and hardware, and use Cristalplant for the basin, bathtub and vessels.
What’s good to know?
Cristalplant is a highly technological material with a beauty similar to natural stone. It is pleasantly soft to touch, with ecological and antibacterial properties.
Your turn
What’s your favourite pairing for a bathroom? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see design experts’ perfect pairings for a kitchen? Don’t miss this story Perfect Pairings for Kitchens: 5 Combos NZ Design Experts Love
How would you use this combo?
I would specify stainless-steel tapware and hardware, and use Cristalplant for the basin, bathtub and vessels.
What’s good to know?
Cristalplant is a highly technological material with a beauty similar to natural stone. It is pleasantly soft to touch, with ecological and antibacterial properties.
Your turn
What’s your favourite pairing for a bathroom? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see design experts’ perfect pairings for a kitchen? Don’t miss this story Perfect Pairings for Kitchens: 5 Combos NZ Design Experts Love
Perfect pairing: Bronze tapware – currently, the newly released Dark Bronze finish by Astra Walker and the Brushed Bronze finish by Plumbline – paired with neutral tiles or natural stone.
The layers of dark bronze bring warmth into the bathroom and offset the neutral tones of the tiles and stone. Paired together, they look very sophisticated.
The bronze doesn’t add a lot of weight visually, compared with matt-black tapware, yet it makes a beautiful statement. It sits comfortably in a space without being ‘shouty’.
This pairing suits many styles – modern, industrial, classic and coastal. Dark bronze works with grey as well as beige neutral tones and looks incredible with tundra-grey marble and travertine. Fully tiled bathrooms and the inclusion of natural stone always suggests quality.