Contemporary classic bathroom with onyx tiles

Simplicity is the order of the day for this bathroom, but the choice of materials makes it anything but ordinary.

The bathroom, designed by architect Linda Brettler, is transformed by light from two unusual sources. The first, a sandblasted glass wall, was designed to allow additional light to enter the room from the hallway behind, which features a large window.

"The glass wall also forms the vanity mirror," says the architect. "We had part of the glass mirrored in a large semicircle, so the entire glass panel is seamless. The circular motif echoes the shape of the family crest that appears elsewhere in the house."

Translucence is also created by the onyx tiles that wrap around the lower part of the room and line the shower.

"This is a particularly beautiful tile that glows," says Brettler. "It is a pale green tone that is not too dark or too yellow. In keeping with the simple styling, we trimmed the edge with a fine pencil trim in onyx. Because this tile has so much visual impact, we kept everything else very simple."

The cabinetry is grained walnut, with flush drawers that allow the wood to shine. The vanity top, tub deck and bench in the shower all feature a cream-toned quartz, chosen to offset the onyx.

Matching walnut cabinetry in the adjoining toilet room provides display shelving as well as concealed storage.

For the flooring, Brettler specified large limestone tiles.

"I like to alter the scale of the different tiles in a bathroom," she says. "It creates a more interesting look. The larger format of the floor tiles and the way these are laid can also makes a small room seem bigger."

The architect says the room is also eye-catching by night, when it is backlit by the light coming through the glass wall.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Tim Maloney