On the edge of white

Shades of white keep this bathroom looking clean and light without being sterile, while the darker floor helps anchor the design

View of the contemporary bathroom showing the toilet, bathroom, home, interior design, property, real estate, room, white — View of the contemporary bathroom showing the toilet, bath, basin, tiles, wall coverings, faucets, and the shower.

View of the contemporary bathroom showing the toilet, architecture, bathroom, home, house, interior design, plumbing fixture, real estate, room, sink, tap, window, white

View of the contemporary bathroom showing the basin, bathroom, bathroom accessory, bathroom cabinet, interior design, plumbing fixture, product, product design, room, sink, tap, gray, white

Image of the Shower enclosure showing the Shower angle, bathroom, floor, glass, plumbing fixture, product design, shower, tile, white

A white bathroom always appears clean, fresh, light and spacious. However, most of us would agree that this specific shade isn't the easiest colour to live with or to look after.

Interior designer Brian Haftka was asked to renovate a dated bathroom in a traditional villa. The owners wanted their new bathroom to be light and white, and include a larger bath and separate shower.

"They visualised it all in white, which looks great, but isn't very practical, so instead we opted for subtle variations on the theme," says Haftka.

A slab of Carrara marble for the vanity top formed the basis of the colour scheme. Although Carrara marble is essentially white, charcoal and brown veins run through it.

Walls were painted in an off-white shade that carries a hint of grey to complement the marble, and vanity cabinetry was lacquered in a matt finish to match the wall and ceiling colour. High-gloss porcelain tiles were used in the shower enclosure and behind the bath.

"We painted these two surfaces in the same tone so we didn't attract the eye to the low stud height by having a break between the walls and ceiling," says the designer.