2022 Bathroom Design Tip 6: Even Bright and Light Spaces Can Use the Grounding Power of Black

Despite being subterranean, this Calgary bathroom feels anything but basement-y: clad in soft powder blue, the double-sink vanity is broken up by a linen storage tower hewn in white oak with echoes of driftwood. “Because the clients wanted a natural sensibility, I balanced the neutral blue with a white oak so it was airy and organic,” says designer Louis Duncan-He.

“I love mixing metals,” says Duncan-He of the champagnegold vanity sconces and lower cabinet hardware mixed with the matte black mirror and faucet. “The owner naturally has more of a feminine sensibility and likes things to look pretty, so I added a few touches here and there that nod to that.” Photo by Genevieve Renee.

The pretty marble quartz countertop from Vicostone offers a perfect foil to the contemporary matte black hex-tile floor with off-grey grouting that allows the geometric shape to pop. The wallpaper was chosen for its illustrative quality, but also for its monochromatic tone. “Because the homeowners saw this space being used more by their children and visiting family and friends, they wanted a mix between fun and playful with chic and elegant,” says the designer.

READ MORE: 6 Bathroom Design Tips You Need in 2022