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bjstem

mirrors, fixtures, lighting in bath

last year
last modified: last year

The bathroom has separate tub and shower, with the tub built into a 5' x 11' niche, under a large window and a vaulted ceiling above. Floors are french pattern LIGHT walnut travertine, walls are SW Shoji White, trim is SW High Reflective White, countertop is white marble, vanity is medium-dark stained walnut, and there are built-in/recessed medicine cabinets with the same wood on doors, at either end of the vanity niche, on the side walls. The niche is 92" and the vanity/counter just exactly fill it. I'm running the travertine up to the tub and surrounding it on the deck around the tub.

The shower is tiled in white marbley tile and a marble pebble floor.

I should interject here that there is generous recessed lighting in this bathroom's ceiling, and a small chandelier in the vault over the tub.

I found a mirror that's a little unconventional, but it EXACTLY fits over the vanity and it's in tones of bronze/brass. If I did use this mirror, I think rather than regular "vanity lights", I'd want to do something like picture lights above it -- something sleek and simple. Photo of mirror below.

Alternatively, there are some basic, simple mirrors I found that I like, and they're the more logical choice. They're a silvery color with bronze accents. I'd do traditional sconces between and around them, if I go this route. Photo below.


I'm doing nickel fixtures in the shower, which is out of sight of the vanity area, anyway. Nickel just seemed to suit the white and the texture better.

I like mixed metals I've seen elsewhere, but I haven't done it yet. Should I do faucets for the tub and sink in bronze, or could I go with nickel here? I don't care for "gold", and most brass makes me a bit anxious.

I'm not committed to door hardware yet, but I'm leaning to bronze for them.



Comments (5)

  • PRO
    last year

    We need pictures of your space there is no way to understand what you are planning without context Post the pics here in a comment DO NOT start another post The mirror is busy and from your decription so is the bathroom already .

  • PRO
    last year

    You have ONE bath and two threads.....

    Polished nickel is a warm take on a chrome look. It doesn't mix well with anything, really. It is best committed to and carried through the bath.

    Know that it is a much higher maintenance, particularly in a bath where failure to dry, will result in spots.

    You should get ALL the bath materials, together, lay it all out to be seen as one.

    You have a LOT going on, with travertine, pebbles....marble.....etc. And niche questions which are on a separate thread, doubling your own work: )

    bjstem thanked JAN MOYER
  • last year

    @JAN MOYER Thank you for your input.

    So the simpler mirrors is the easier way to go.

    With the silvery/bronze tone of them, would a brushed nickel work, or should I stay in bronze? I really really really HATE shiny brass and gold-ish metals.

    The tile and white marble pebbles in the shower, are the same color/tone, leaning slightly warm so they looked good with the travertine outside the shower. I rather like the small flat pebbles for the shower floor.

    I was worried bronze would look odd against all that white. You don't think so?


  • last year

    I agree you have a lot going on here, and I suggest going with simple Chrome instead of all these other metals. When you're "in it", all these choices seem valid /worthwhile, but -- in reality -- once the project is finished, the difference between Chrome and Brushed Nickel will disappear in the finished project. So go with the simple classic, which is easy to clean, easy to match (both today and in the future when something inevitably needs changing), and widely available.


    I'd match the door hardware throughout the whole house.


    As for the tub lighting, you say you have a chandelier above -- I have that now, and what I really WISH I HAD (either in addition or in place of) is a single sconce behind my shoulder. Why? Because I like to read in the tub, and that (centered) light from the ceiling doesn't fall on my pages as nicely as it could. A perfect light would be a sconce behind my shoulder, so it'd fall right where I need it and my head wouldn't create a shadow.


    As for the mirror, I'll vote for a single, simple mirror the width of the vanity pretty much every time. Since your vanity sits in an alcove, you could frame it OR let it run wall-to-wall -- with everything else you have going on, I'd vote for the more simple wall-to-wall. These smaller mirrors end up being "too busy". That single simple mirror will reflect more light and will give you a view of your whole upper body /not just your face -- always, always function first. With that single large mirror, I'd add pendant lights falling just at head-height (to prevent shadows.


    You mention wood on the vanity DOORS. Consider that you want to minimize doors and maximize DRAWERS. Drawers at the vanity are essential, as they are more convenient storage than drawers -- better than medicine cabinets. And drawers are infinitely more important than duplicate sinks.


    All your colors lean "cold" and neutral. I'd like to see you bring in a bit of balance in your linens and artwork.


    Remember that every room benefits from something natural (baskets, for example) and a bit of greenery or flower (real or silk).

    bjstem thanked Theresa Peterson
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    @Theresa Peterson

    Thank you for taking the time to respond so thoroughly. I appreciate your time and consideration.

    I really don't like chrome, so maybe I have to go with the bronze? Nickel was pushing my "shiny" limit, as it was.

    The doors in the house will be the same throughout, I have simply not committed to hardware for them yet.

    I don't read in the bathtub, so I don't think it should be a worry, but your thought of a sconce was a lovely one.

    The doors I mentioned were on the built-in medicine cabinets, at either end of the vanity. I meant that they match the vanity. I'm sorry I wasn't clear. My vanity has a lot of drawers, and a few doors. You're completely right about the drawers, and I couldn't agree more!

    The two sinks are a done deal, and necessary in our home.

    Your thoughtfulness in suggestions for decor is appreciated. Thank you again for your time. I was thinking I'd just do white towels, as I lean toward neutrals, and I've got a couple of old martabans I think would look really good at either end of the tub, and an old 5th century amphora from a shipwreck project I helped document years ago. I like looking at them, plus

    they'd be safely out of the way.