Experimented with a bold choice: Painted bathroom deep crimson - Reflecting on the decision a year later, here are my regrets about the modification
In a charming 1700s cottage, located in an idyllic countryside setting, the homeowners have embarked on a transformative renovation project, focusing on the main bathroom. The single-storey addition houses the bathroom, complete with three tiny bedrooms, and the plan includes an en suite for the upstairs bedrooms.
The homeowners, eager to give their bathroom layout personality, chose a deep terracotta red for the colour scheme, inspired by the emotive and stimulating nature of the hue. The terracotta red, known as Red Earth by Farrow and Ball, has proven to be a popular choice, with the bathroom receiving compliments more than any other room in the house.
However, there are a few aspects the homeowners regret about their decision. Initially, they opted for a safe tile option for the bathroom walls, a white high-gloss zellige tile in a herringbone pattern. Although the tiles are visually appealing, they wish they had been bolder in their tile choices or even the grout colour, as cleaning white grout from a shower in daily use is time-consuming.
Similarly, the polished chrome fittings they selected for the bathroom were considered fine but lacked the wow factor. Now, the homeowners are eager to update them with brass, aged gold, or copper fixtures to warm up the space and complement the red colour scheme.
Interior design experts recommend embracing bold bathroom color schemes by using rich, dramatic hues such as saturated reds, deep mahogany, terracotta, and other warm tones for a striking and elegant effect. To complement bold wall colours like deep red or mahogany, experts advise pairing them with contrasting hardware and fixtures in metals such as unlacquered brass, bronze, or brushed gold.
Layering finishes and metallic accents adds elegance and sparkle to the dramatic backdrop, creating a bathroom that is both striking and inviting. Unique tile ideas, such as brightly coloured or deeply glazed tiles in rich hues, can create a vibrant and personalized look. Tiles with depth and texture, like jade glaze or terracotta tile, when applied to floors, walls, tub aprons, or backsplashes, can elevate the space and create an enveloping "wet room" feel.
By combining tiles and bold paint, designers create dynamic visual interest, making a bold scheme feel more intentional and artistic rather than monotone or flat. Pairing bold reds and warm tones with natural materials, such as aged wood or light natural wood, and finishes in bronze or brass, helps maintain a grounded, upscale yet inviting atmosphere.
Matt black can also look incredible when paired with darker reds, providing a more contemporary contrast. The homeowner is glad they chose a quartz offcut for their DIY vanity unit, as it brings luxury to the space. To emphasize the colour, warm-temperature bulbs were selected for the bathroom lighting types.
To create a unique colour combination, the homeowner replaced the windows with a light blue-green timber, and painted the cill to match, ensuring the overall look is not too red-and-green Christmassy. The bold red colour choice, combined with the unique tile ideas and contrasting metallic accents, has made the renovated bathroom a standout feature of the 1700s cottage.
In the ongoing renovation project of their 1700s cottage, the homeowners thoughtfully considered embracing bold bathroom color schemes, as suggested by interior design experts. To achieve a striking and inviting look, they layered finishes with metallic accents, such as unlacquered brass or bronze fixtures, which complement the deep terracotta red (Red Earth by Farrow and Ball) on the bathroom walls. The homeowners are now contemplating updating their polished chrome fittings to warmer options like aged gold or brass to further elevate the space's design, aligning it more closely with their desired lifestyle and home-and-garden aesthetic.
