Is anything as visually satisfying as a set of decorative before and after pictures? They are so fun because you can appreciate the results in the contrasts. One of my favorite interior décor projects is this black-and-white-themed bathroom because it pushed me outside my usual comfort zone. I used black paint for the first time and used the opportunity to start mixing patterns within a room. The outcomes were so impactful.
 
In the interior room, I started with the existing, timeless black and white tile flooring. From there, I considered the practicalities of a toilet and shower room. I wanted wallpaper, but it had to be able to withstand condensation, so I went with a peel-and-stick wallpaper with a water-resistant, smooth finish. I didn’t want wallpaper near the toilet catching errant splashes from a little boy, so I had wainscoting installed. The wainscoting is easy to wipe clean, matches the wainscoting elsewhere in the house, and affords less space for the wallpaper. With less space, I could go big on the pattern without it being overwhelming. I loved the idea of a monochrome floral print paired with the geometric design of a Greek key. I used Greek key embroidered trim on the white duck cloth shower curtain to bring together the patterns of the floral print and the tile floor.
 

In the exterior room, I already had a quality Carrara marble countertop for the double sinks and neutral white cabinets that matched the existing white trim. I wanted to provide the stark contrast of black walls next to white trim but didn’t want the room to feel like a closed-in cave. I decided on a semi-gloss finish to combat this. It made the walls easily washable and immune to a little shower condensation. The reflective qualities of the semi-gloss paint help the light to bounce off the walls. It’s a tad shinier than I would have chosen from a decorative standpoint, but it is functional for all these needs.
 
To add even more light, our electrician installed a light bar. It’s useful for make-up application because the above-sink lighting casts a downward shadow.
 
One of my favorite tenants of traditional design is symmetry and it’s here in spades: double sinks, double mirrors, and two framed urn prints that mirror each other across the room. To hang the prints, I had to attach a frame with 3M velcros to a wood medicine cabinet door. By putting the velcros on the top, bottom, and sides, the frame stays put as the door swings open and shut.
 

I’ve long wanted to use a Greek key design in my decorating and was thrilled to find these marble tile strips. I originally bought mirrors with bone inlay Greek key trim, but they were expensive and the framing width took away too much mirror space. I returned the purchased mirrors and decided to achieve a similar effect via a DIY project. I applied the trim tiles to the existing, plain mirrors using E600 glue. The resulting mirrors leave plenty of functional mirror space and look fantastic.
 
I’m thrilled with the transformation of this bathroom from fine to classic. It’s a great reminder to think beyond my go-to decorating tricks to see what results from adventurous choices.
 
Be sure to see all the photos of the Black and White Bathroom.