| Bring a breath of fresh air to town bathrooms with a | | | | wooden decking. Natural fiber matting and cork tiles |
| breezy beach-house theme, or create a soothing | | | | also work well. Stone tiles, quarry tiles, and mosaics |
| mood inspired by the natural colors and textures of the | | | | enhance the rustic look - make them warm with |
| seashore. | | | | cotton rugs. |
| The beach-house bathroom is a foil of gentle | | | | Style Pointers |
| contrasts. Clean lines and a restricted color palette | | | | WALLS |
| create a fresh, uncluttered look. The colors of sun, sea, | | | | Atmospheric color: soft white, neutrals/aqua/ blue latex |
| and sand are naturally an influence. The style is | | | | tiles/ tongue-and-groove paneling; stenciled marine |
| low-key, romantically rustic, and simple. And the way | | | | motifs; aqua color mosaic details. |
| you put the colors together should reflect these | | | | WINDOWS |
| qualities. | | | | Curtains/simple: pale/white semi sheers; tab-headed, |
| Take the cool blues - deepest marine to palest aqua - | | | | cased, basic gathered styles; eyelet/laced calico |
| for inspiration, and choose from the yellows - vibrant | | | | panels; improvised driftwood/painted wood curtain rod. |
| sunshine yellow and sand-gold to cream - to provide a | | | | Blinds/shutters: natural wood slatted blinds; roll-up cane; |
| contrast. Using white as a foil, you can blend colors to | | | | painted/distressed wooden shutters. |
| express quite different moods. Opt for a bright and | | | | FABRICS |
| summery seaside atmosphere with strong color | | | | Naturals/stripes: rough/smooth/loose weave linens; |
| brights - use deckchair stripes on furnishings and tiles. | | | | muslin; waffle cottons; toweling; striped cottons; marine |
| Alternatively, choose the sun-bleached looks of a | | | | prints. |
| beach cabin - soft whites, muted blues, light | | | | FLOORING |
| sandy-grays, and pale yellows - and echo the | | | | Natural/rustic: stripped/painted/limed boards; wooden |
| weathered tones of driftwood and pebbles with limed | | | | decking; stone/quarry tiles; cork. |
| and color-washed wood and stone effects. | | | | Rugs: woven grass/rush mats; nubby cotton weave |
| Creating the Look | | | | rag rugs; wooden boardwalks/cork mats. |
| For a fresh, airy, coastal mood, paint walls and ceiling | | | | BATHROOM FITTINGS |
| white, or in a pale to mid-tone matte latex. A change | | | | Period style/white: simple, wood paneled bathtub; |
| of texture - tongue-and-groove paneling or plain tiles - | | | | old-fashioned freestanding bathtub; matching basin; |
| will add interest below wainscoting level. A darker color | | | | low-key modern styles; traditional cross head brass or |
| will "ground" the scheme and suggest sea and sky. | | | | chrome taps; see-through shower panels/marine motif |
| Choose strong contrasts such as marine blue and | | | | striped shower curtain. |
| white, or go for a subtle distressed or color-washed | | | | FURNITURE |
| finish. Pale colors and close harmonies will create a | | | | Weathered wood: country-style cupboards/chest/chair |
| gentle, ethereal look. | | | | shelves in limed, distressed, color-rubbed wood, iron |
| Beach-house style has a period feel but it is easy to | | | | frame/wicker. |
| integrate modern features. Select a simple bathroom | | | | LIGHTING |
| suite in white or cream, or a clean-lined retro-style | | | | Simple/period: glass/metal fisherman's brass lantern; |
| design. Panel the bathtub to complement the | | | | turned wood sconce candelabrum/candles. |
| wainscoting area, or with natural or whitewashed pine. | | | | ACCESSORIES |
| Otherwise install a freestanding, curtained bathtub. Site | | | | Marine/weathered: shell or driftwood mirror frame; |
| a shower cubicle behind a divider "wall" - this can be | | | | porthole shaped mirror; rustic shelves; wooden bath |
| tiled on the inside and paneled on the other - or screen | | | | rack; rustic style/period glass containers; cane/wicker |
| the shower area with a marine pattern shower curtain | | | | laundry basket; color coordinated/striped towels; sea |
| or a plain or striped glass panel. If stripped, limed, or | | | | sponges; natural objects - pebbles, shells, starfish; |
| painted floorboards are not available, choose vinyl | | | | model boats; carved wooden seabirds. |
| flooring in a coastal color, or cover existing flooring with | | | | |