The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bathroom makeovers show refreshing ways to use marble
Color correction
to design an all-white space without having to commit What is old is new again. to a hospital-like aesthetic, Designers are embracing Marble bathrooms have which is exactly why Buck- colorful marble reminislong been a staple of elegant head-based designer and con- cent of the 1980s — but this homes. But gone are the days tractor Jessica Murphy used time they’re doing it in style. of stark white Carrera marble wood beams and stools in a Beautiful greens or dark and and boring chrome fixtures. recent renovation. stormy blacks make a stateDesigners are bucking tradiThe three-month, $30,000 ment, but knowing when to tion to add a touch of sophisrenovation transformed the use them can be hard. tication in a refreshing way. homeowner’s closed-off, flo“A general rule for me is
Using marble in a renovaral-infused bathroom into a that it j ust depends on the tion is a fantastic way to take spa-like hideaway. size of the bathroom,” said your old space from gross She knew just the right Buckhead-based designer to glam. Knowing what to waytoaddde pth. Willem Stear, owner of Tonic do with a space’s redesign “White is huge ,” said Design Studio. potential can be overwhelm- Murphy, owner of herCave. Avoid hall bathrooms and ing for even the most expe- “Everybody wants white right powder rooms because it will rienced homeowners. Here now, but I think the way to make the space feel smaller, are four ways that design- do that is to add some natuhe added. If you’re daring ers use marble to freshen ral elements in there.” enough to try colored mar- up bathrooms. Mostly white, the room is ble on the vanity, keep the warmed by the precise place- room’s balance in mind. ment of Serena and Lily dipPick muted fixtures that dyed stools, which are teak, will fade into the background. and the hand-stained beams Your colorful marble is the from Blue Ridge. centerpiece; anything too
flashy will be distracting.
Wood wonder
Bring the outdoors in with touches of natural wood a mong m arble. Wood ele- ments are the perfect way
“It’s kind of l ikeawoman wearing a simple black dress with just a beautiful necklace around her neck,” he said. “She doesn’t need a beautifulbeltandcrazyshoesand a crazy handbag.”
Rug replacement
Traditional bathmats can lack style. Regular carpets will hold water. Instead of using either of those, opt for this design trick by Buckhead designer Amy Morris, founder of Amy Morris Interiors.
Using a rectangle of intri- cately designed marble tiling is a smart way to add an exciting and elegant element while staying in budget. Large-scale mosaics are more expensive, so Morris and her team use smaller tiles on the floor as a cost-effective alternative.
“You want it to be centered on something,” Morris said.
Replicating your favor- harsh lines. Colorful marble can be intricately inlaid for an art deco fan pattern. Pick a metallic shade of grout to add more depth.
Marble masterpiece
Beautiful on its own, a single marble slab on a wall can have more impact than an entire countertop. The key is to find a slab you love.
Alpharetta designer Beth Johnson of Bekel Home + Design incorporated a mosaic into a marble wall for a sixweek renovation in Milton with a $60,000 budget. Johnson selected a 3-by-4-foot shower mosaic from Traditions in Tile and Stone, surrounded by a marble frame. She fell in love with the intricate design of the laser-cut tiles.
“The mosaic was really the jumping off point for the color scheme,” she said.