Room of the Day: Bye-Bye, Black Bidet — Hello, Classic Carrara
Neutral-colored materials combine with eclectic accessories to prepare a master bath for resale while adding personal style

Becky Harris
July 29, 2015
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
This bathroom was large, but it was a dark dungeon that included features like faux black marble, fluorescent lighting, Lucite faucet handles, a black bidet and, oddly enough, a refrigerator. With her twin boys about to go off to college, this single mom was ready for a change. At the same time, she realized a resale would probably be on the horizon in the next few years, as she wouldn’t need so much space. “My client has really great eclectic and bold taste, but for her future plans we kept things classic and neutral in here,” interior designer Beth Kooby says. She layered in more personal eclectic touches via accessories that can be switched out with ease if necessary.
Photos by Jeff Herr Photography
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A mother and her twin teenage boys
Location: Atlanta
Size: 144 square feet (13 square meters)
“I’m a big fan of classic and clean for the permanent fixtures. That way a bathroom won’t get dated,” Kooby says. “You can always switch out accents like rugs, mirrors, planters and window treatments to update or change up the look later for very little money.”
Wall paint: Winds Breath; trim paint: Simply White, both by Benjamin Moore
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A mother and her twin teenage boys
Location: Atlanta
Size: 144 square feet (13 square meters)
“I’m a big fan of classic and clean for the permanent fixtures. That way a bathroom won’t get dated,” Kooby says. “You can always switch out accents like rugs, mirrors, planters and window treatments to update or change up the look later for very little money.”
Wall paint: Winds Breath; trim paint: Simply White, both by Benjamin Moore
This plan shows the new layout. The linen closet previously had been a 3-by-3-foot shower stall. Kooby installed the shower where a toilet-bidet closet had been. She borrowed a little room from a large bedroom closet to work in the new bidetless water closet.
(See the Comments section for a few “Before” photos.)
(See the Comments section for a few “Before” photos.)
“The homeowner’s room is light, with touches of citrus, wrought iron and gauzy drapes,” Kooby describes. She created continuity via wrought iron accessories like the vintage accent table and the light fixture, the gauzy linen window treatments and the chartreuse planter. Carrara marble shows up on the vanity top and backsplash, the wall tiles around the room and in the shower.
Tip: Bring life into the bathroom with plants. “I love to use plants in a bathroom,” Kooby says. The large planter was a perfect fit for the empty corner between the vanity and the wall. “It’s even more chartreuse than it looks in the photos, and it’s covered in spikes. I got it from one of my go-to spots when I need a good dose of pretty, Lush Life.”
She scored the bench at 14th Street Antiques Market. “I love to add in pieces from local antique and consignment shops — I think it adds a lot of interest to the mix,” the designer says.
Anson Ribbon chandelier: The Urban Electric Co.
Tip: Bring life into the bathroom with plants. “I love to use plants in a bathroom,” Kooby says. The large planter was a perfect fit for the empty corner between the vanity and the wall. “It’s even more chartreuse than it looks in the photos, and it’s covered in spikes. I got it from one of my go-to spots when I need a good dose of pretty, Lush Life.”
She scored the bench at 14th Street Antiques Market. “I love to add in pieces from local antique and consignment shops — I think it adds a lot of interest to the mix,” the designer says.
Anson Ribbon chandelier: The Urban Electric Co.
After searching high and low, looking at “every mirror in the universe,” Kooby scored the mirrors at Cost Plus World Market. “Mirrors are a great place to add a design element,” she says. “And you can always change the finish or color.” The carved wood frames add an ornate touch that isn’t too delicate or feminine.
Vanity: Pottery Barn; faucets: Kohler
Vanity: Pottery Barn; faucets: Kohler
For the floor, the designer chose a reasonably priced stone that looks expensive, from Porcelanosa. In addition to helping them stay within budget, the choice warms up the room. “Too much marble can be harsh sometimes,” she says.
The new shower is about 5 by 5 feet. The floor and walls are Carrara marble, with penny rounds on the former and a varied linear pattern that mimics stacked stone for the latter.
Tip: Get out of the bath section when choosing a bathroom rug. Kooby recommends looking for more interesting flat-weave rugs. “They are easy to vacuum and clean; they dry quickly and feel fine on your feet,” she says. “Rugs are made to be walked on. You don’t have to be gentle on them.”
The artwork is a print by George Braque, who helped create Cubism with Pablo Picasso.
To keep the woodsy views while also providing privacy, Kooby stood in the tub while her client looked up at the room from the driveway outside. The homeowner had never used the old tub, but she wound up using and loving the one put in for resale.
Rug: Anthropologie; tub: American Standard
More: 15 Design Tips to Know Before Remodeling Your Bathroom
The artwork is a print by George Braque, who helped create Cubism with Pablo Picasso.
To keep the woodsy views while also providing privacy, Kooby stood in the tub while her client looked up at the room from the driveway outside. The homeowner had never used the old tub, but she wound up using and loving the one put in for resale.
Rug: Anthropologie; tub: American Standard
More: 15 Design Tips to Know Before Remodeling Your Bathroom
Related Stories
Remodeling Guides
The Good House: Little Design Details That Matter
Tailored trim, cool counters and a nice weighty door — such details add so much to how a home feels to the people inside
Full Story
Room of the Day
Room of the Day: A Family Gets Crafty in the Laundry Room
By Becky Harris
This multipurpose space enables a busy mother to spend time with her kids while fluffing and folding
Full Story
SH Area Rugs
Last Week’s Bestselling Rugs
By Houzz
Stylish rugs with patterns and textures for any space and palette
See Products
SH Sale
Up to 75% Off Oversized Area Rugs
By Houzz
Bring comfort and expansive style to your bigger spaces
See Products
Kitchen Design
16 Scrumptious Eat-In Kitchens and What They Want You to Serve
By Becky Harris
Whether apple-pie cheerful or champagne sophisticated, these eat-in kitchens offer ideas to salivate over
Full Story
Kitchen Islands
12 Designer Details for Your Kitchen Cabinets and Island
By Sam Ferris
Take your kitchen to the next level with these special touches
Full Story
Gardening Guides
A Deer Fence Can Be Decorative as Well as Protective
By Brian Barth
You need a monster-size fence to shelter your garden from deer, but it doesn’t have to look like a monstrosity
Full Story
Bathroom Design
The 20 Most Popular Bathrooms of 2015
By Becky Harris
Get a handle on bathroom trends with a look at readers’ favorites this year
Full Story
SH Bar Stools & Counter Stools
Up to 60% Off Presidents Day Bestsellers: Bar Stools
By Houzz
Kitchen seating that elevates your style
See Products
Cleaning
Out, Darn Spot! How to Handle Carpet Stains
Know the right solutions and when to use them to prevent stains from pets, soda, chocolate, blood and more
Full Story
God I miss you so much Nicole!!!
I have that black bathroom. Complete with bidet. UGH. My dog loves it as the only use it gets is has a dog bowl. We call it the 'Blow" bathroom. Eighties-tastic. Black bidet, black jacuzzi tub, black toilet. This gives me some wonderful ideas.