I Thought an All-Marble Scheme Would be Overkill in a Small Bathroom, But Whitney Port Shows How to Make it Feel Beautifully Balanced
Whitney Port's bathroom features this luxe material on the walls, floors, and counters, but far from being overwhelming or cold it looks chic and inviting
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I've always considered marble a luxurious touch in a bathroom, either in the flooring, on the wall tiles, or as a surface material for a vanity, but never for all three at once – I thought that would feel over-the-top and cold. But that was before I saw Whitney Port's stunning bathroom transformation. It's elegant, inviting, and proof that this all-marble look can work even in the smallest spaces.
The star's marble bathroom renovation was completed by Marie Flanagan Interiors with Calacatta Paonazzo marble from Aria Stone, and incorporated mirrors to reflect light and make the bijou bathroom look larger, and white-washed-oak floating vanities to give the impression of more space.
Shop These Bathroom Buys Inspired by Whitney Port's Marble Decor
Bespoke cut marble slabs like Whitney Port's can set you back a lot of money, but there are plenty of tiled options, like this, which are suitable for all bathroom surfaces and achieve the look for less.
Soft lighting is key in a marble bathroom, to help avoid a cold, stark feeling, plus it's more forgiving on the skin when you look in the mirror. Incorporating metallic accents and frosted glass adds to the ambiance.
A large mirror will help to reflect the light around the room and give the impression of space. Opting for one with a frame like this gives the impression of a real window and breaks up the continuous marble scheme.
Whitney Port's cane ottoman not only brings in a contrasting material in the natural cane, but a rounded shape that softens the hard lines of the marble surfaces. This design has a similar look.
A few sprigs of greenery or flowers (faux options like this work equally well) instantly make a white bathroom more interesting, working as an unexpected touch of color and freshness in an otherwise monotone space.
Warm metallics can be brought in to an all-marble bathroom through carefully chosen accessories, from bathroom hardware like showers and faucets to towel rails, like this one, door handles and lighting.
A marble bathroom can be a big investment so there are a few things to consider before taking the plunge. Rafael de Cárdenas, Designer and Founder of Rafael de Cárdenas, Ltd says: 'I recommend selecting marble slabs that are quietly dynamic –low in contrast, but rich in movement. This creates an effect that is serene yet alive. And then the natural light from the windowcasts a soft, ambient glow.'
And, when it comes to decorating with marble, Bruno Mendolini, Designer and co-founder of Ohio-based Tile Choices advises: 'To make marble work for all three surfaces, it is important to treat the room as a whole piece of art. First, select a marble that has similar veining so transitions are smooth. Where the floor meets the wall, try to match up tiles or slabs to create continual movement. Choosing large-format slabs instead of small tiles limits the amount of grout lines, which makes the room feel vast and eliminates the grid appearance that makes a space feel busy.'
Light is absolutely key to making this all-marble look work, and if you don't have windows in the room for natural light, you'll need to get creative with bathroom mirror ideas. Place them near the doorway to bounce light into the room and add beautifully ambient task lighting to bring a soft glow, rather than a bright white light, which would look cold or harsh against the marble.
Bruno adds: 'Lighting is the most important element if you want to avoid making your marble bathroom look clinical. For instance, overhead spotlights can produce unpleasant reflections on shiny stone. Instead, think of soft perimeter lighting or wash lights that cast light onto the walls to accentuate the marble texture. Back-lit mirrors are also excellent, since they cast a soft, diffused light on the features. And, opt for warm-colored lights to give a soft-candlelit look.'
Whitney Port's marble bathroom is further softened by the addition of natural materials, such as the cane ottoman (find similar at 2Modern), the rustic wooden picture frame and fresh florals. Bruno agrees: 'Because stone is cold and hard by nature, it is important to add soft elements that invite touch and warmth – a lone tall branch of greenery or a collection of fresh white hydrangeas in a vase interrupt the linear movements of stone.'
Finally, warm metallics like brushed gold really bed in that feeling of luxury in Whitney Port's bathroom. 'Metals will serve as jewelry in the room,' explains Bruno. 'They provide a much-needed contrast to the organic look of the stone.'
The secret to balancing an all-marble bathroom like Whitney Port's is three-fold – bringing in plenty of soft lighting, natural materials, and warm metallics – which will all help to give it the feel of a luxury spa.
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