Charli XCX's Wuthering Heights-Coded Bathroom Makes This 'Pretty' Shade Edgy Thanks to an Unexpected Color Pairing
The combination of gloss pink tiling with matte black accents feels bold and conflicting, just like the movie's main characters
Pink can get a bad rap, but if anyone can make it cool, it's Charli XCX. She's the musician of the moment thanks to her haunting soundtrack to the much-hyped Wuthering Heights movie, and when we spotted her former Chelsea townhouse bathroom tiled floor-to-ceiling in vibrant pink, it made perfect sense.
Whilst decorating with pink is often associated with girlishness and femininity, Charli XCX has cleverly paired this bubblegum hue with matte black and darker accents, from the sink units to the shelving, creating a wonderful tension that's also evident between Cathy (whose overt femininity is part of her strength) and the dark and brooding Heathcliff.
Shop Charli XCX-Inspired Bathroom Decor
These high-gloss glass tiles achieve the perfect sugary sweetness seen in Charli XCX's bold bathroom and make a stark contrast with the matt black accents and monochrome floor tiles.
Brass accents can soften a pink scheme for a more feminine look, while aged brass tones in structural or industrial styles, like this light, can lean more towards a masculine look.
A matte black sink like this one will certainly help to punctuate a strongly-hued pink bathroom. Just make sure you pick out black accents elsewhere in the room to ensure it feels cohesive.
The circular form of this mirror will soften the hard lines of the sink and tiling in a bathroom like Charli XCX's, while the antiqued brass is an unexpected contrast with the bubblegum pink walls.
Floating shelving like this adds depth and and interest to a bathroom without being as dominant as a solid piece of cabinetry. Charli XCX's alcove shelves in dark wood are a slightly softer take on black.
These diamond-shaped tiles in Carrara marble and Nero Marquina marble bring contrast to the high-gloss shine of the pink subway tiles, whilst creating a similar zigzag effect to the floor tiles in Charli XCX's bathroom.
'We're really seeing people rediscovering the joy of pink in bathrooms this year, and Charli XCX's is certainly a bold choice,' says Bathrooms Editor, Molly Malson. 'The bubblegum pink tiles are a daring choice, but they bring just the right amount of playful energy to the space. But what really draws the eye is the contrast to the black accents throughout the room, from the sleek floating sink to the black and white floor tiles.'
Interestingly, black isn't typically recommended as a complementary pairing when it comes to what colors go with pink, but perhaps that's why this unexpected combination feels so inspiring here. Ralph Severson, Owner of Kentucky/Indiana-based FM Pro Remodeling explains: 'When homeowners decorate pink tiled bathrooms, I guide them towards brass fixtures and hardware for contrast, but matte black also works.' You can also acheive this with 'accents, such as a black and white mosaic tile niche in the middle of a pink-tiled area and black and white prints and photos with black frames,' Ralph adds.
Molly also notes the contrast of the high gloss pink wall tiles with the matte, distressed black-and-white floor tiles and the addition of metallics in Charli XCX's bathroom. 'It's an unexpected choice, but one that works really well in this space, especially with the elegant addition of brass hardware.'
The brass comes through in the lighting, mirrors, and hardware from the contemporary faucets to the more traditional-style shower. Kate Wannemacher, Owner of Wannemacher Interiors, explains: 'pink can easily go from feminine, with porcelain whites, pastel towels, and polished nickel finishes, to masculine, with dark tiles, black cabinetry, and bronze fixtures.' The beauty of Charli XCX's bathroom is that she incorporates both feminine and masculine elements with the juxtaposition of soft brushed brass and stark black stone, embracing both feminine and masculine elements at once.
Paige Garland, Owner of Paige Garland Interior Design in Chicago says: 'What hue you choose to work with in a pink bathroom completely depends on the aesthetic you’re looking to achieve. I think pink can get a bad rap for being reminiscent of a kids bedroom, but when it’s done right, it can be anything from warm and personal to bright and bold.'
A strong pink like Charli XCX's bathroom shade may might be less soft and elegant, but it is certainly brave, energetic, and feisty, just like Emerald Fennell's on-screen heroine. Elisha Niebuhr Founder of Modern Interior Company in Colorado Springs, concludes: 'When I think of a pink bathroom, I think of a client who’s ready to have some fun. Pink should never feel timid.'
If you fancy trying a brave look in your bathroom like Charli XCX, look to these colorful bathroom ideas for bold and playful schemes for more inspiration.
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