apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i agree with the painting of the walls. but im not feeling the plum.
maybe if the rug had some elements of the curtain. then it would mesh nicely.

also instead of the green candles why not a different shade of plum..something that will bring down the notch of the color.

loveee the curtain though.

I dont think this really works as is. Something should change. But whats more expensive a can of paint or buying a new bath mat and towels?

If you go the paint route then you can try to bridge the burgundy and the cool blues, greens and gold already present with the color you choose.

If you replace the bathmat and towels I would go for a different color. I am thinking a pumpkin orange that would be a nice complement to that sage green. Or maybe you could do an aquamarine blue.

If this was my bathroom, I would keep the shower curtain, ditch the plum rugs and towels and then paint the bathroom a soothing blue.

WARNING: the following comment is from someone who much prefers matchy-matchy and basks in it whenever marginally justifiable:

With that shower curtain, the only way I'd use towels that color is if there were some other pattern that included all (or most) of the shower curtain colors AND the burgundy/plumb.

Otherwise, I would use the blue that's in the shower curtain as the "pop" color, for either the towels and rug, or possibly the wall color.

If that blue were the towel color and rug, I'd probably use a very pale off-white in the mustard direction, or possibly a much paler version of the green in that pretty picture frame that's on the sink.

I agree with what others have said - the towel and rug seems to be too strong a contrast that prompts the question "So, did you get this set on sale?" I love the accents you've pulled out with the other elements to go with the shower curtain, so something to pick up another element in that would probably work well.

I agree 100% with Boomer. You need a light blue to make the picture a whole. The curtain is mostly warm, so therefore you need a cool tone. I absolutely LOVE the 100% cotton bath rug and towels from restoration hardware, they have a greyish light blue - very lovely. Otherwise I would leave everything as is. Go for it - give it a try. We want pitures

I sort of think it is a problem of not being matchy-matchy enough, since nothing in that curtain (beautiful, btw) makes the plum work.

I think you need plum somewhere else, but not as a textile.

I like the idea of swapping out a rug that works in the curtain and the towels, but I also think you can get there with artwork that brings the palette together. As much as I am a fan of black and white photography, I don't think it works to your palette advantage here. Look at Pottery Barn bed and bath for some artwork that will get you a color-bridge piece.

Yes, matching the art to the "drapes." Horrors!

The plum really doesn't go with the room at all. I think it's too intense and with nothing else to tie it in it looks like you just threw the plum in because you had it. I think since you have a patterned shower curtain you really have to stick with that color family, the blue or the green or the neutrals. I agree that the Restoration Hardware linens are beautifully colored. I have the blue towels and they are fading in splotches, so I don't think I'd recommend these for any wear, ok for "show" towels.

From the photos, it looks like there might be a conflict going on between the pattern of the shower curtain and the marbling of the countertop surface and floors. Maybe a shower curtain with more of a woven or textile look while be more complementary.

I like that plum color, but it doesn't seem to work with the shower curtain and pulls my eyes straight to the floor. Even going "matchy-matchy" with a different shower curtain with a creme background and a giant block of plum can help (kind of a specific design, so that's something i would sew, if it were my apartment). that green and plum can be pleasant together, but without the curtain...hmmm.

I don't mind things matching up to a point, in this case color matching or at least in similar shades of the primary color but you do want your colors to coordinate, if not match to each other though.

As has already been said before, the plum really does not work well with what's already existing in the bathroom. Now, I think I saw a very pale pink in the shower curtain, if that's right and that's what you went with, the pale pink is now being washed out by the strong plum color of the floor mat and matching towels. Now if you do have pale pink in the curtain, then perhaps a slightly darker shade of that same color family, such as a medium shade of rose might have worked much better. Pink works great with the green although not my color combo choice though.

I also agree that the blue would work in there as well and perhaps a touch darker than what's in the curtain as a suggestion.

Otherwise, leave the bathroom as is, again, go with what's in the curtain for your bridge color (not the green but one of the other colors perhaps) for fresh towels and rug.

I don't like dark colors in a bathroom, because they really show lint.

I would mix it up a little bit and play up the bohemian flavor of the paisley curtain:
Use a multicolored rug in a stripe, large bold paisley motif, or a texture that plays up the blue.

I think something like the stripe on this flor tile would work:
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=170&f=3601&viewall=1
with a towel in this color
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=475&f=3998


Or this indoor/outdoor rug in stripe from PB
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p8544/index.cfm?pkey=cprwrugsyn
with blue or brown towels

there is also a nice texture blue woven rug at JCPenney (on sale btw)http://tinyurl.com/2ztvly

i like the direction that polkadot is suggesting. If you want to get away from being to "matching" it would probably be better to play with different prints but stay in the same color family. you can't really go wrong with a stripe that pulls colors from the shower curtain print. it will really feel like a pulled together room as apposed to a matching bathroom set which is what i'm sure you're trying to stay away from. one other suggestion that has nothing to do with color. i would try hangning a large picture frame aroung your vanity mirror, those plastic things that hold it on the wall are driving me crazy.

I think gold and plum can pair nicely, but solid plum on a heavy fabric overpowers the pattern in a gold - you can barely see the details. I would instead use a white towel/rug set. The left side of the room looks matchy-matchy at eye level (second pict) because the mirror reflects the shower curtain. Maybe put a glass vase with blue-purple flowers where the green frame is right now.

I too think the burgandy is too sharp a contrast.

I'd pick a brown to go with the golds... or a blue to go with those. You could pick dark towels in brown, gold or blue... they don't have to be the exact same color as in the shower curtain but they should be in the same family.
That would give you a pop of color but still matchy without being too tame... too matchy matchy.

Seeing your green pic frame and other accents... I don't think you are at risk of over matching. You're pulling great complements out... you just reached too far with the burgandy.

Cheers
CC

I think the new Martha Stewart Faux Bois towels would work well here. The colors would be compatible and the pattern would help cut the "blocks of color."

Sorry the plumb looks horrible. I would pick up one of the colors (expect the taupe) in the paisley print. I would paint the walls a warm taupe and possibly go with the ice blue color as the accent - or vice a versa if you were looking for a bit more punch.

I just wish people didn't mistake "to" for "too", at least in headlines. I know we're in the fast and loose world of cyberspace, but I mean, just a little grammar, once in a while would be nice.

The shower curtain is beautiful.

I'm not a huge fan of criticizing grammar and spelling in these kinds of forums. If you're going to do so, however, you should probably be positive that your own grammar is perfect.

Thank you for all of your comments, advice, pointing out the plastic things that hold the mirror on the wall... :)

Unfortunately, living in an apartment presents many decorating limitations. As much as I'd love ice blue or brown walls, it's just not going to happen. And we're stuck with the flooring and countertops...and the plastic thingys, too.

It sounds like the fix for our guest bathroom is to play up the blues, golds and browns. I especially liked polkadot's rug and towel picks. Once I've made the changes, I'll send new pictures.

Thanks for everyone's praise of the shower curtain..I love it, too!

And, btw, it's TOO.

SORRY ABOUT THE TOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

just fixed it. ;-)

I think I would like to see the bathmat and towels in pale blues and greens and the candles and picture frames in the bold plum. You can always change out the candles and picture frames in season, replace them with pale whites in the spring, go bold for fall, etc. The bold color is great as a focal point, but because of the size of the rug and towels it takes over the visual space.