SURFACE ATTRACTION
Using marble as a single floor-to-ceiling surface in a bathroom is timelessly elegant – and spectacularly luxurious. The practice dates to the Romans, who decorated bathrooms and public rooms in marble. This bathroom by LA-based designer Jane Hallworth features in Barbara Sallick’s book The Ultimate Bath (Rizzoli, £45). The dramatically veined marble walls and floor create a theatrical element to the bathroom, which is then elevated further by the addition of a matching marble bath. There is a point at which it is possible to overdo the use of one material, however. To avoid the space looking sterile and cold, add a warm finish in a material such as wood or metal as a subtle touch.
VISUAL DRAMA
Stone has been used as a decorative material for centuries yet with a fresh approach, it can feel surprisingly contemporary and relevant in a modern setting. When decorating with coloured travertine floors, the leading Australian interior designer Tamsin Johnson employed a playful pattern for the redecoration of a hotel in Sydney’s Byron Bay. When floors are strong in design, pull back on the other details to allow the floors to do most of the talking. Here, Tamsin conjures an eclectic look that leans on natural fabrics and a muted monochrome palette with custom coffee tables and unexpected artwork.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Monochromatic marble floors, while an investment, add a sense of glamour and timeless luxury to a room and are particularly attractive in an entrance hall
