Brandon writes: Big fan of AT and now am in search of some design feedback. My wife and I recently finished a renovation of our home and as with most projects, the budget ran a bit short and the end and our ability to focus and make long term decisions waned. We vowed never to again have a light tile floor in our bathrooms...
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
chicago(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
...but due to the aforementioned and our fear of making the bathroom appear smaller than it is (under a sloping roofline), we used basic white tiles on the floor and part of the bath surround. While it looks OK in photos, real life with white tile is not for us - think lots of curly brown hair everywhere. Re-tiling is not in the budget so what else can we do? Any good floor coverings that can handle a bit of moisture and won't add too much color and break up the lines - we're of the mindset that a few simple colors make a space look larger. I know, lot's a parameters. Any ideas?
Please share your ideas and suggestions with Brandon in the comments....
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Comments (25)
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I don't know if its possible (space-wise), but I might consider using an indoor-outdoor area rug on the floor. There are some really handsome ones available, and the prices are really affordable. Overstock.com
http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=outdoor%20carpet&taxonomy=&SearchType=HP_Header
What about a wood bath mat? I have seen teak and bamboo bath mats that are low profile and very attractive. I think it would warm up the floor a bit.
Or are you looking for an all-over solution?
Perhaps some flor tiles in a dark charchoal grey would work. You could center them down the floor like a runner.
We have a small bamboo area rug that we purchased at World Market in our bathroom and it works great!
To clean, you just wipe off with a damp cloth.
What about those interlocking foam mats.
http://www.greatmats.com/children.php?gclid=CNaFp97IwZkCFR7yDAodTEffvA
Those are used in gyms so it seem it would stand up fine and feel great under your feet. You can get them in lots of different colors.
What a shame, going to all that trouble and expense and not ending up with something that makes you happy...
...If that were my bathroom, I think I'd get a vintage wool oriental or kilim off Craigslist and throw that on the bathroom floor.
I'm a huge fan of rubber flooring -- it is comfy underfoot, can handle moisture, and comes in 12" x 24" inch sheets (or some similar size); if you apply a shine product on top, it looks like a single surface (think poured epoxy), although at a fraction of the price and effort.
Dalsouple, a French rubber flooring company, makes wonderful stuff (we've seen it on AT before -- the 2007 Smallest Coolest Winner, LondonUrchin, had it on her floor). It may be a little challenge to buy it Stateside, but you should check it out.
Daluni in a water-like colour to coordinate with your greenish tiles would be beautiful, and would make the room feel spacious.
http://www.dalsouple.com/Dalsouple-DalColour.php
Perhaps Vert Ecossais, Vert Pomme, Anis, Pistache, or Citron Vert?
I agree with the idea of a used oriental or kilim. If you didn't spend too much on it, you wouldn't lose sleep about it getting wet. It would be great if you found something with the green on the back wall in your tub area.
Big Area Rug, and then you can put down easily washable floor mats (as needed) in a color that compliments the rug. I like the thick terry mats like those used in hotels. Buy a bunch and toss 'em in with the bath towels.
Without too much trouble and expense you may be able to throw a skim coat (maybe even a self-leveller) over the tiles and then put a bright epoxy surface over that.
I think it needs a large seagrass rug. It will look good with the cabinetry and warm up the space.
I love your space....I just have one other unsolicited idea.....I think the vanity area would look so much better if you could have a larger mirror made to fit the entire wall behind the sink (meaning cut on an angle to fit under the sloping wall)
That mirror just seems a little small and your bathroom could look huge with a larger mirror...just a thought.
amaie -
That's a good idea - I too thought the square mirror in the triangular space wasn't working.
How about a resilient flooring, rolled good in smooth finish, hint of color either grey, pale green or pale blue-
see concrete
http://www.lonseal.com/show_product/LONFLOOR%20PLAIN
see dewdrop or sachet
http://www.lonseal.com/show_product/LONECO%20HEIKO
Yes, I agree with the suggestion for a large custom mirror, But with budget in mind, you could always add a table lamp to the counter in the corner to brighten it up with a nice warm glow.
I vote for something dark and matte finish. VCT is about as cheap as it gets, comes in lots of shades of gray/black, and if you don't wax it, nice and matte. Otherwise Marmoleum.
p.s. dark floors are just as bad at showing crud as light. sadly.
A large floormat from Chilewich might be a good solution. They feel really nice and are made of a durable vinyl, so you can clean them easily (get hair out of it easier than most rugs). http://www.chilewich.com/floormats/index.html
love those cabinets!
Either one nice large bathmat or maybe a couple smaller ones in a color you prefer more.
my advice...cover the floor with rubber! I did it and have never been happier...
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/2007/09/use-rubber.html
You could install click-lock wood/laminate flooring over the tiles. A wood floor could really warm the place up.
I second (or whatever) the idea of a bamboo area rug. I think it would look nice with your cabinets, bamboo is supposed to be moisture resistant and anti-microbial, and if you found a slightly varigated type, it would disguise hairs etc. until you get around to cleaning!
Then you can add towels and small decorations for color which can be changed as you like, since the basic room would remain neutral.
See if you like FiberFloor, a type of resilient (vinyl) from Tarkett. I had it installed in our small bathroom and couldn't be more pleased. The floor was uneven in a spot or two, but no prep was required - it's glueless (quarter-round holds it down around the perimeter of the room) and it lays completely flat, no curling (this is because of the fiberglass, I believe). What I like best is that it's waterproof, VERY easy to clean, and didn't require a new subfloor or removing the mesh-backed floor tiles. I don't know if any of the current designs will suit the style of your bathroom (the one I have and love has been discontinued) but it's a really nice product. It's seamless as long as your room isn't too wide; I think it comes in 12' wide rolls.
If these work, here's the page with info:
http://www.tarkettna.com/Products/FiberFloor/tabid/68/Default.aspx
this is the one I had installed, but in cream instead of gold:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gregoryj.flooring/VinylInStockFiberfloor#5180592335085431634
Rubbah!
I had the same problem, but luckily we moved and bought a new home. White tile is hard to keep clean. The grout was terrible and I tried all kinds of grout sealers, but dirt managed to get into the grout. My friend told me she used a latex paint and applied with a thin paint brush on the grout and it works. I know you probably shouldn't do that, but I was desperate. I was able to sweep the floor and dirt swept right out of the grout. I do like the idea of a colorful interlocking rubber flooring or you could use a big rug. White is beautiful if you don't use the bathroom. It makes the room bigger and clean looking.