Before and After: 3 Bathroom Makeovers in White, Wood and Black
See how bold black elements add drama, definition and depth when mixed with a white-and-wood material palette
White and wood is a winning material combination that’s hard to resist. But if you really want to turn up the drama, consider adding black elements to the mix. Black countertops, tiles and fixtures in the following bathroom remodels add striking contrast to crisp whites and warm wood tones.
Check out the before-and-after photos of these three bathroom makeovers in white, wood and black, then let us know in the Comments which one makes the biggest impression on you.
Check out the before-and-after photos of these three bathroom makeovers in white, wood and black, then let us know in the Comments which one makes the biggest impression on you.
After: The remodeling team replaced the built-in tub with a freestanding model and gave the room a modern-farmhouse makeover with a white, wood and black palette. While the bathroom’s layout stayed the same, everything else within the footprint changed.
Fresh coats of white paint on the walls (White Dove by Benjamin Moore) and a crisp white ceiling and trim (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore) coordinate with a white L-shaped Shaker-style vanity. “We chose to go with the white-on-white because the space isn’t large, and we used the white to make it feel larger,” Golden says.
Warm wood tones enter the mix through new wood-look porcelain floor tiles and a quartersawn oak storage tower next to the vanity. “Having that storage tower was great because there’s not another place for towels in that bathroom,” Carr says.
Shop from a curated collection of bathroom vanities
Fresh coats of white paint on the walls (White Dove by Benjamin Moore) and a crisp white ceiling and trim (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore) coordinate with a white L-shaped Shaker-style vanity. “We chose to go with the white-on-white because the space isn’t large, and we used the white to make it feel larger,” Golden says.
Warm wood tones enter the mix through new wood-look porcelain floor tiles and a quartersawn oak storage tower next to the vanity. “Having that storage tower was great because there’s not another place for towels in that bathroom,” Carr says.
Shop from a curated collection of bathroom vanities
Bold black elements enter the room through the countertops and backsplash of engineered quartz. It mimics the look of soapstone — a modern take on a traditional farmhouse material. “It also gave a nice contrast to the white cabinets,” Carr says.
Above each sink is a rectangular pivoting mirror with rounded corners and a thin matte black frame.
Wall-mounted faucets in a black finish feature wood cross handles. “With the wall-mounted faucets, you can easily wipe around them to clean the area,” Golden says. “It’s also a great design look. It was important for them to have balance. We chose the different uses of black, brass, white and wood to achieve this.”
Read more about this bathroom remodel
Above each sink is a rectangular pivoting mirror with rounded corners and a thin matte black frame.
Wall-mounted faucets in a black finish feature wood cross handles. “With the wall-mounted faucets, you can easily wipe around them to clean the area,” Golden says. “It’s also a great design look. It was important for them to have balance. We chose the different uses of black, brass, white and wood to achieve this.”
Read more about this bathroom remodel
2. Black Tiles Bring Depth and Drama
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Size: 138 square feet (13 square meters)
Design-build pro: Philip Hide of Wise Design & Remodel
Before: Desiring a modern primary bathroom with improved amenities, a streamlined layout and a white, wood and black palette, these Minnesota homeowners turned to design-build pro Philip Hide to make their vision a reality.
The existing bathroom had many features and finishes left over from the 1980s. A basic honey oak vanity and a heavy dose of beige tile made for an uninspiring look. The layout also had a cramped feel. A bulky built-in corner tub took up valuable space and created harsh angles in the room. The toilet floated out into the open. And the small shower stall was dark. “It wasn’t the best use of space,” Hide says.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Size: 138 square feet (13 square meters)
Design-build pro: Philip Hide of Wise Design & Remodel
Before: Desiring a modern primary bathroom with improved amenities, a streamlined layout and a white, wood and black palette, these Minnesota homeowners turned to design-build pro Philip Hide to make their vision a reality.
The existing bathroom had many features and finishes left over from the 1980s. A basic honey oak vanity and a heavy dose of beige tile made for an uninspiring look. The layout also had a cramped feel. A bulky built-in corner tub took up valuable space and created harsh angles in the room. The toilet floated out into the open. And the small shower stall was dark. “It wasn’t the best use of space,” Hide says.
After: Hide took the space down to the studs, removing the vanity, corner tub, shower stall, toilet, linen closet and tile flooring.
Crisp whites were worked into the room through the white nickel-gap wood paneling on the vanity wall, marble-look quartz countertops and an elegant white freestanding soaking tub that sits under a window offering views of the wooded backyard.
To bring wood tones into the mix, Hide used knotty alder for the ceiling and window trim — a warm, rustic touch. The new double vanity cabinet is also knotty alder and has flat black square bar pulls.
The wall behind the tub and the now-heated bathroom floor have large-format matte black porcelain tiles with rectified edges and medium gray grout. “What the black wall tile does there is add a sense of depth, and it really helps frame those windows,” Hide says.
Crisp whites were worked into the room through the white nickel-gap wood paneling on the vanity wall, marble-look quartz countertops and an elegant white freestanding soaking tub that sits under a window offering views of the wooded backyard.
To bring wood tones into the mix, Hide used knotty alder for the ceiling and window trim — a warm, rustic touch. The new double vanity cabinet is also knotty alder and has flat black square bar pulls.
The wall behind the tub and the now-heated bathroom floor have large-format matte black porcelain tiles with rectified edges and medium gray grout. “What the black wall tile does there is add a sense of depth, and it really helps frame those windows,” Hide says.
Besides adding warmth, the knotty alder brings the bathroom in line with the rest of the house. “They already remodeled a lot of their home, and the wood vanity, doors and trim here is a continuation of what they have already done,” Hide says.
The marble-look quartz countertop has a soft white background with dramatic gray veining. Two white rectangular undermount sinks have matte black widespread faucets with curved spouts and lever handles.
More bold black touches come in through the matte black towel ring, vanity mirrors and light fixtures. A coordinating matte black towel bar above the vanity does double duty as a plant holder. “We had the flanking sconces and decided it was a nice idea to add a bit of color and greenery into the bathroom,” Hide says.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
The marble-look quartz countertop has a soft white background with dramatic gray veining. Two white rectangular undermount sinks have matte black widespread faucets with curved spouts and lever handles.
More bold black touches come in through the matte black towel ring, vanity mirrors and light fixtures. A coordinating matte black towel bar above the vanity does double duty as a plant holder. “We had the flanking sconces and decided it was a nice idea to add a bit of color and greenery into the bathroom,” Hide says.
Read more about this bathroom remodel
3. Black Fixtures and Trim Add Definition
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Andrei and Cassandra Naeymi-Rad and their two kids
Location: Libertyville, Illinois
Size: 220 square feet (20 square meters)
Designer: Kate Freund of Pear Tree Design Group
Builder: Patrick Sexton of Sexton Homes
Before: These Illinois homeowners prefer clean, modern spaces. Their existing primary bathroom did not fit that description. And while the overall layout of the main bathroom was fine, the basic double vanity lacked storage, the imposing jetted tub no longer worked and the beige walls gave the space a bland vibe.
They turned to designer Kate Freund for help. She started the process by showing the couple photos and products she found on Houzz to help narrow down the design choices for the space. She also discovered that the owners were drawn to a white-and-wood look. Using this information and by adding black fixtures and trim to help define the space, Freund created a clean, modern and serene bathroom.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Andrei and Cassandra Naeymi-Rad and their two kids
Location: Libertyville, Illinois
Size: 220 square feet (20 square meters)
Designer: Kate Freund of Pear Tree Design Group
Builder: Patrick Sexton of Sexton Homes
Before: These Illinois homeowners prefer clean, modern spaces. Their existing primary bathroom did not fit that description. And while the overall layout of the main bathroom was fine, the basic double vanity lacked storage, the imposing jetted tub no longer worked and the beige walls gave the space a bland vibe.
They turned to designer Kate Freund for help. She started the process by showing the couple photos and products she found on Houzz to help narrow down the design choices for the space. She also discovered that the owners were drawn to a white-and-wood look. Using this information and by adding black fixtures and trim to help define the space, Freund created a clean, modern and serene bathroom.
After: A new custom walnut double vanity provides more storage and warmth. White walls (Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore) and hexagon-shaped marble flooring give the room a calm vibe, while a new steam shower gives the couple that true spa feel.
Freund used black U-channel edge trim to help define the new custom glass-enclosed steam shower and coordinate with other black details in the room, like the matte black towel warmer on the wall outside the shower.
A modern white freestanding tub with clean lines takes up less space than the old jetted tub, helping the bathroom feel more open and airy. “This one was a good fit for this bathroom because it was modern without being too cold,” Freund says.
Freund used black U-channel edge trim to help define the new custom glass-enclosed steam shower and coordinate with other black details in the room, like the matte black towel warmer on the wall outside the shower.
A modern white freestanding tub with clean lines takes up less space than the old jetted tub, helping the bathroom feel more open and airy. “This one was a good fit for this bathroom because it was modern without being too cold,” Freund says.
The custom low-sheen walnut vanity features large drawers and cabinets with flat black pulls. The vanity is also packed with a lot of useful features. An appliance pullout with electrical outlets for a hair dryer and curling iron sits behind the drawer fronts in the middle of the vanity. A drawer inside the pullout offers storage for small items like cotton swabs and cosmetics.
More white is worked into the space with marble-look quartz countertops that complement the marble flooring. Black widespread faucets with lever handles and gooseneck spouts bring more definition and contrast to the space. And LED lights with a black finish offer energy efficiency, durability and a sophisticated look.
Read more about this remodel
More on Houzz
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Browse bathroom photos
Look for a bathroom designer near you
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More white is worked into the space with marble-look quartz countertops that complement the marble flooring. Black widespread faucets with lever handles and gooseneck spouts bring more definition and contrast to the space. And LED lights with a black finish offer energy efficiency, durability and a sophisticated look.
Read more about this remodel
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Look for a bathroom designer near you
Shop for bathroom accessories
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three daughters
Location: Ladera Ranch, California
Size: 215 square feet (20 square meters)
Design-build pros: Designers Natalie Carr and Aaron Golden and project manager Jim Mathews of Sea Pointe Design & Remodel
Before: These California homeowners wanted a primary bathroom with more storage, a larger shower and an updated farmhouse style that better matched the rest of their home, so they reached out to designers Natalie Carr and Aaron Golden for help.
Their existing bathroom was no longer cutting it. The green walls, basic white vanities, oversize vanity mirrors, light fixtures and beige floor tiles looked dated. On top of that, the tiled countertops were hard to clean and the large built-in tub took up valuable space and forced a tight shower stall.
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz