Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds's Bathroom Serves as a Manifesto for Anti-Minimalist Tiles and Old-Money Warmth
In a move against sterile bathrooms, the couple pairs wooden beams with custom tiles and framed art to define heritage-style comfort
As a design editor, I’ve watched kitchen aesthetics increasingly move away from clinical colors and hard minimalism, with rustic woods, richer tones, and arty accessories taking their place. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have brought that same thinking into their New York bathroom – and the result is beautiful.
Their en-suite bathroom lacks the starkness that has defined so many contemporary spaces. In place of neutral features, timber beams, dark diamond-patterned tile, brass fixtures, and framed artwork come together to (almost) make you forget this room is so functional.
As experts explain, Blake and Ryan's approach reflects a broader shift in how fall/winter bathroom trends are received/winter and into 2027. Keeley Sutcliffe, the design manager at BC Designs, says homeowners are increasingly giving these spaces the same attention as they give to kitchens and living rooms.
‘We are seeing people design bathrooms with the same level of thought that would once have been reserved for a kitchen or living room,’ Keeley notes.
‘Every detail matters, from how light moves across the surface of a freestanding bath, to the tone of the brassware or the warmth of the timber. It is a more intelligent, sensory approach to design.’
Shop the Old Money Bathroom Edit
This milk-glass double sconce features traditional detailing that instantly suits a heritage-inspired bathroom, especially when paired with brass and patterned tiles. The softly curved shades are utterly timeless.
A wooden ladder makes storage a statement, bringing a relaxed, timeworn quality to the bathroom while providing a practical place to hang towels. Its simple silhouette works particularly well in a heritage scheme, just like Blake and Ryan's.
If you don't want to invest in new tiles or wooden paneling, you can still introduce some boho touches using decor pieces like this tray. It's a charming, rustic solution to bathroom vanity styling.
A classic mirror is an easy way to bring a sense of history to a bathroom, and this one has the traditional shape to do just that. Its understated shape would sit beautifully above a vanity, particularly when paired with other heritage details.
Skip the antique store and opt for this handsome painting instead. Like Blake and Ryan's artwork, it comes with an impressive frame that adds instant character and a collected feel to the bathroom.
Finished in beautifully grained Carrara marble, this wash stand is an eternally beautiful rustic-luxe piece. It feels understated (yet chic), balancing a classic country character that wouldn't feel out of place in a modern home.
If you're wondering if you should use wood in a bathroom, Blake and Ryan's space has the answer.
Timber has moved from cabinetry and kitchen islands to vanities, bath panels, and even bathroom ceilings, aided by modern moisture-resistant finishes. Oak, walnut and ash bring a depth that can be difficult to achieve with stone and porcelain alone.
‘Wood bridges the gap between hard and soft,’ Sutcliffe says. ‘It stops bathrooms feeling clinical and introduces the visual comfort of furniture, creating a link between bathing spaces and the rest of the home. There is a strong desire for bathrooms that feel connected rather than separate, and timber helps achieve that.’
Blake and Ryan’s bathroom makes a strong case for the material. Exposed timber planks across the ceiling add warmth overhead, while their natural variation works against the harder geometry of the dark floor and wall tiles. Brass hardware brings another layer of warmth, while the framed artwork gives the room an unmistakably residential feel.
The result is a bathroom with the same ideology as the rest of the home. For anyone reconsidering the all-white bathroom, Blake and Ryan offer an alternative – creating a space that feels truly lived in.
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