Before and After: A Small Black-and-White Bathroom’s Colorful Redo Fits in a Dreamy New Soaking Tub
There are tons of beautiful black and white spaces out there — just take a gander at these kitchens and these bedrooms for proof. But if you’ve had a monochromatic or duo-chromatic color scheme in your home for a while, you might be in the mood for something something more colorful when it comes time for your next reno.
That was definitely the case for Jonathan Burton (@guywiththepinktiles). His black and white bathroom before looked great — and functioned great, too — but Jonathan says the tiles had started to give him “such a cold and unwelcoming feel.” He realized he wanted something with a little more color this time around.
“Me and my partner Samuel ripped everything out and started with a blank canvas,” he says. “I needed to see a clear space so I could visualize exactly what I wanted.”
His vision this time? Pink and green with posh hotel vibes. Jonathan designed everything, and then he and Samuel hired pros to install their new flooring, wall tiles, and fixtures.
Jonathan and Samuel didn’t just add color on the walls; they gave the ceiling a coat of pop of color, too, with forest green paint. “We also went for a green bathroom door to match with the bold green ceiling,” Jonathan says. “I decided to complement these colors with black and brass fixtures and accessories … Everything blends so well together.” (His plants and new towels add even more green!)
Jonathan and Samuel traded the large-scale black rectangular floor tiles for marble tiles laid in a herringbone pattern for a little more visual interest. That, paired with the color-blocked pink and white porcelain tile on the wall, gave the bathroom a much more modern look. Another fit-for-2022 update: swapping the rounded chrome shower in the corner for a larger rectangular one with a classic black frame.
Where the sink once was, Jonathan and Samuel added a large soaker tub, and the sink and vanity were moved next to the shower. “Our bathroom is quite small, but I knew I always wanted a freestanding bath plus a walk-in shower,” Jonathan says. “So I needed to find the perfect size bath and shower to fit the space so that it didn’t look too crowded.” It was a major plumbing feat, Jonathan recalls, but once he figured out the floor plan, his plumber was able to work the magic.
Because it was a complete professional overhaul, Jonathan and Samuel’s seven-week redo cost about $14,000. Two bits of advice from Jonathan? “Source a great team” (if you’re paying for a pro remodel), and “have patience, relax, stay calm, and enjoy the ride.” Oh, and if you’re renovating your only bathroom, you might have to ask friends and family if you can shower at their place (which is what Jonathan and Samuel did in the thick of their reno).
Planning and design-wise, Jonathan recommends setting a firm, realistic budget from the start, measuring everything before purchasing, and choosing your color scheme wisely.
His finishing touch — one definitely worth copying — to make his bathroom feel even more like a getaway? The shelf above his tub is stocked with some of his favorite products from hotels he and Samuel have visited over the years.
“I love that the end result looks exactly how I visioned it to be, if not better,” Jonathan says of his completed bathroom. “I am obsessed with the colors I chose and the overall vibe I created. There is nothing more relaxing than soaking in a hot bath filled with bath bombs and surrounded by candles, admiring the beautiful decor around me.”
Inspired? Submit your own project here.