We are seeing lots of warm wood tones entering back into kitchen and baths. I know– you are probably thinking– OH NO not all those full Oak kitchens again please?! But we are talking about intentional pops of warm wood into a space. Sometimes this is through floating shelves, a warm tone walnut kitchen island or even wood cabinet hardware.
Kitchens and baths are the most expensive renovations we undertake, and sometimes adding solid wood accents can ramp up that cost even more. So how do you get a pop of that natural material without breaking the bank? We came up with a great solution for a couple recent projects: using wood with tile to create an affordable tile transition!
STAINED WOOD CHAIR RAIL TILE TRANSITION
Cost effective.
Tile walls give an upgraded feel to any bathroom. If you plan to do a partially tiled wall you will be in need of some sort of finish piece to top the tile. Traditionally this would be done with a matching tile chair rail piece. But this can get expensive fast. Tile chair rail can run anywhere from $2 to upwards of $10 per 6″ piece. Wood chair rails are sold in 8 foot lengths for around $5. You can imagine how quick the savings add up. For the Crescent Street bath project total cost for this wood chair rail was $50, where the tile chair rail option would have run us closer to $300.
Not only do we get to inject an interesting design detail into this bathroom…we saved the client big bucks through this solution —-WIN/WIN!
Adds Warmth.
Kitchen and bath designs are trending toward saturated colors, patterned tiles and warm tones in wood and hardware. We are seeing tons of brass and bronze mixed with walnut and cement tiles. Adding a wood chair rail allows you to bring in that extra detail into your design plan. Not only is it a warm tone but it adds a soft texture to a space usually filled with hard materials.
Custom Color Options.
Purchasing a hardwood chair rail means you have the opportunity to customize the color. Stains are endless and you could get really creative with the applications to come up with a variety of colors that match the decor and style you are going with. For the Crescent street bath we went with a Minwax Special Walnut.
Suitable for a Variety of Styles.
Chair rail is a pretty standard building supply at any big box store. There are several different designs, widths and profiles making it suitable for a variety of styles from Industrial to Farmhouse. In both our designs we we used a 1.25″ verision for a transitional feel.
What do you think about this use of wood in a bathroom? Let us know your thoughts! And as always— if you are interested in working with us (Locally in Marquette, MI or Virtually Nationwide LET”S CHAT!
Sincerely,
Allison
MY SHORT BIO.
Founded in 2012 by Allison Harlow, Curio Design Studio focuses on creating distinctive interior environments for new construction, whole house renovations and kitchen + bath remodels for modern families and leading professionals.
