Before After Giving A Classic Bathroom A Contemporary Turn

Before

Skylights allow in abundant natural light, but trim tile with a sculpted surface and elaborate cabinetry felt dated. Vanities that wrapped two walls and trapped the tub in a corner didn’t make the best use of the space.

Before and After: Black and White Tile Ideas For Every Bathroom

After

To start, Humphrey separated the vanities—a homeowner request—along one wall with the tub jutting out between them. “It seems counterintuitive,” he says, “like it would split the space, but it was a magic trick that actually made the room look bigger.” Streamlined cabinetry, matte-black hardware, Carrara marble surfaces, and black-and-white tile give the setup a clean, fresh look. Under-foot, Humphrey created a checkerboard floor with a twist: The sections are made up of 2-by-10 rectangles. “It’s a classic design that you see in older homes, but with a modern touch,” he says. The owners’ reaction? “They love the result,” Humphrey says. “The look is bold enough that it doesn’t feel like we were playing it too safe, but classic enough that it still respects the architecture of the house.” Balancing act mastered. Timeless Carrara marble on the vanity tops, tub deck, and backsplash gets an update from elongated, rectangular black and white floor tiles. Angularmatte-black pulls contrast with polished-nickel faucets, and six-globe chandelier (seen opposite) perks up classic tulip-shade wall sconces on either side of the oval mirrors. Shown Right: New Carrara marble tile covers the existing shower—hexagons on the floor, and 3-by-6-inch subways on the walls—and ties back to the vanity and the tub. A new rain shower adds another touch of luxe. Updating the classic checkerboard floor: sections made up of 2-by-10-inch black and white tiles. Vanity pulls in matte-black mix with clean-lined inset vanity drawers and cabinet feet with a graceful curve.