Flickr Finds: Help Art & Chel Pick A Bathroom Color!

Our diy duo of Art and Chel are at it once again and are ready to paint their guest bathroom. They're having the same struggle many of us have. Do you play it safe and pick something neutral and safe, or go bold and play around with a bit more color? They've asked for our opinion (and you know how much we like to give those) so check out their full photo set after the jump, to help them decide.

We like to think that we diy vicariously through Art and Chel. They have been so generous to share some of their projects with us in the past (remember their great master bath makeover?) and are always on the prowl for something to fine tune in their space.

They have taken on the guest bathroom and are vacillating between color or neutrals. The predominant materials are carrera marble, charcoal granite tile, bamboo and chrome. Check out their full photo set for pictures of the space, materials used and color ideas! Then weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below!

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(Image via Art and Chel on Flickr)

Comments (15)

I can't tell from the photos - but for visual continuity I'd choose the same color for their bathroom as the hallway/room leading to that bathroom.

Tiffany Blue would really Pop against the gray scale tiles, bamboo and chrome.

Definitely go bold, vibrant. Perhaps a cobalt blue, an emerald green, or some other gem tone that would add great contrast to the plain neutrals? Something with a bit of sheen, and that would be easy to clean...

You can have it both ways; bold and neutral. I would consider a deep grey. Not quite charcoal, but deeper and darker than the color chips they are considering. Something in the BenMoore 1608-1609 area. The bamboo, the slate, the carrera, the chrome...all will pop off such a strong color.

I lived in a house that the previous tenant had painted a great color of gray, almost silver in tone. The bathroom was tiny and windowless and that color gave it an elegance that was almost funny considering the room. It was a standard Home Depot paint in semi-gloss, and I've tried to replicate it for years but can't find it. Much as I love eye popping color, I think a very smooth gray would give the floor tiles a beautiful frame.

My first reaction was gray! I love gray now and I know it's popular, but I can't help it. But in thinking about it further, a deep purple would be nice with the gray of the marble and tile...you could go more red-ish or blue-ish depending on your lighting and what you like. Good luck! Can't wait to see what you choose... whatever, I'm sure it will be a stunner!

I just painted my bathroom, which has various neutral beige and white fixtures in Benjamin Moore's Ramie (neutral beige). It makes the bathroom very calm, after it was previously bright turquoise. The neutral looks great with the dark wood doors and the dark brown towels. It even looks good with brass fixtures like the handles of our glass doorknobs and on the cabinet.

There was a hilarious article in The Onion a couple of weeks ago about how the paint section at Lowes is the most likely place for otherwise mentally healthy people to have a meltdown. I think grey with some fantastic and colorful art, for Art and Chel. Changing the paintings or sculpture added can make it fresh new as often as you like.

Parttimedesign said it first and I agree-a bold neutral. Saturated tans, greys or taupes will look great, allow the other finishes to stand out without overpowering the color. Great job on the other bath, too!

Your bathroom definitely has the bones to stand up to a bright color. I say go for it. If you go for gray or neutral, go dark. Too much tone on tone will mute the beautiful colors and textures of your existing tile work.

I LOVE the tile work by the way. It reminds me of men's tailoring so I would be tempted to do a pattern of light grey on grey that's like a watercolor sketch of a pinstripe suit!

I agree, if you decide on neutrals, don't go tone on tone, it'll just make the bath blah and boring.

However, if you want, use a light neutral such as tan-ish or camel-ish color for the main walls and choose a bold color for the accent wall, but make it on the warm side to go w/ the warmth of the other walls, otherwise go crisp white and add say a deep blue, but in the end, since this is where people will be doing makeup and such, choose a color that doesn't make the face look sallow which can only hurt trying to put on makeup and have it look right.

Good luck.