A guide to creating a timeless Hamptons bathroom

The average Australian bathroom renovation costs $21,484, so it makes sense to design a space that won’t date quickly. A Hamptons style bathroom – with its fresh white colour palette, classic fixtures, natural stone accents and enduring popularity – meets the brief perfectly. 

Not only is the style timeless, it’s versatile enough that it can be made to suit a heritage home, a coastal home or a newly-built, contemporary home. It can be glammed up, with patterned wallpaper and chandeliers, or pared right back to allow marble surfaces and statement lighting to bring all the wow-factor.

So how do you go about creating a Hamptons style bathroom? Here, we break down 10 of the most common design elements that make up the timeless style.

1. Marble

Marble is one material you’ll almost always spot in a Hamptons bathroom. White marble, especially Carrara, Bianca and Calacatta varieties, are the types used most often in a Hamptons home.

The cost of natural stone, however, can quickly add up if you’re planning on creating an opulent floor-to-ceiling design. The owners of this renovated Gold Coast home were savvy with their budget, topping a custom-built vanity with natural Statuario marble and cladding every other surface with marble-look tiles. 

If your budget can’t accommodate large doses of pure marble, you’ll be glad to know, even the smallest touch will do. A marble benchtop, a mosaic marble floor, a wall niche tiled in marble penny rounds, or even a marble tray, may be all you need to evoke the Hamptons look in your bathroom.

2. Simple colour palette

White on white on white. White forms the basis of every classic Hamptons bathroom. A single accent colour (often a shade of blue) is an optional add-on. 

While designers such as Anna Spargo of Maine House Interiors and Anna Spiro are leading the colourful Hamptons trend, this look has yet to take off in the bathroom space where fixtures and finishes in bold colours are difficult and expensive to replace. 

Take style notes from this all-white Hamptons bathroom, painted in Dulux Lexicon Quarter, which gets its pop of colour from a custom Roman shade with a navy blue border.

3. Shaker style cabinetry

Along with a simple colour scheme, pared-back cabinetry is what allows the ornate elements of a Hamptons style bathroom to take centre stage.

Shaker cabinet fronts are a fantastic option, as they offer both interest and timeless style without competing with the room’s ‘jewellery’ (i.e. marble, tapware and lighting).

4. Wallpaper

The home of interior designer Melinda Cartwright is a lesson in chic, Hamptons style. Even the kids’ bathroom is decorated in the classic style with VJ panelling, patterned wallpaper (‘Aqua Trellis’ by Kravet) and an acrylic tub from Schots Home Emporium.

If your aim is to create a Hamptons style powder room, Melinda offers the following advice: “Powder rooms are a great place for frivolity and fun when it comes to decorating, so I always go to town with wallpaper. You’re only in them briefly, so make them joyful and fabulous.”

5. Plush accessories

Threadbare towels and supermarket brand hand soap have no place in a luxurious Hamptons bathroom.

The idea is to recreate the 5-star hotel spa experience at home, so splurge on plush towels, bathrobes and sweet-smelling soaps. 

Hamptons style bathroom accessories

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Luxury Egyptian bath towel, Sheridan

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Dyptique gardenia candle, Mecca

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Country Road Australian cotton bath robe, Country Road

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Home Beautiful hand towel in mist, MyHome

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Camomila bubble bath by Santa Maria Novella, Myer

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Byredo Tulipmania hand wash, Catch.com.au

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Bianco marble tray, Zanui

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6. Traditional tapware

No Hamptons bathroom is complete without bling, in the form of ornate, traditional tapware. And be warned: this is not an element of the room you’ll want to scrimp on! Think about it: how many times a day do you touch the taps in your bathroom?

Good quality taps feel beautiful, are built to last and will complete your classic Hamptons bathroom.

Where to find Hamptons style tapware:

• Phoenix Nostalgia range at The Blue Space
• Rochelle Collection at Early Settler
• Kingsley Provincial Collection at ABI Interiors
• Kado Era range at Reece
• The English Tapware Company
• Neu England Collection by Brodware

7. Wall lamps

Symmetry is an important element of a Hamptons style bathroom. One way to create drama and symmetry is by placing matching wall lamps on either side of the vanity mirror.

Wall lamps with fabric shades are a wonderful choice, as you can go for an understated look with plain shades, or go bold with custom shades in colourful, patterned fabric. Wall lights with hanging glass shades are also well-suited to the Hamptons look.

8. Fresh flowers

An indoor plant can instantly elevate any bathroom, and if you’d like to bring a touch of greenery into a Hamptons style space, humidity-loving orchids are a foolproof choice. 

If you’re not confident about maintaining an indoor plant, consider arranging old fashioned flowers (such as hydrangeas, roses or tulips) in a simple white, or glass, vase instead! When in doubt, select white flowers and plenty of fresh green foliage for an elegant, yet relaxed, look.

9. Framed wall mirrors

Frameless mirrors are a popular option for many bathrooms, especially those with a modern or minimal look, but for a Hamptons style bathroom, a mirror with a decorative frame works best. You can either go with a classic white timber frame, or a mirror with a champagne silver frame.

The owner of this country-style Queensland home stumbled upon the perfect petal-shaped mirror for her kids’ Hamptons style bathroom at Pottery Barn. “I like how it mimics some of the patterns of the wallpaper,” she says. 

10. Freestanding bath tub

Every room needs a focal point, and in a Hamptons style bathroom, it’s usually a free-standing bath tub. When the owners of this Wahroonga home renovated their ensuite, they re-shuffled the layout to hide the toilet and make way for the ‘Lady Elliot’ freestanding bath from Industrie Tapware. 

A bath with a pedestal base offers a classic, yet contemporary silhouette that is well-suited to a Hamptons bathroom. Claw-foot tubs, slipper tubs or inset bath in a marble surround also work well in a Hamptons-style bathroom.

The post 10 elements of a Hamptons style bathroom appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Chic blues, off-whites, panelled walls and timber flooring are just some of the elements that imbue a home with this timeless, resort-like essence. Want to know more? Here are five ways to decorate with quintessential Hamptons style in your home.

1. The Hamptons’ colour palette

Choose colours inspired by nature. Soft white, warm beige, aqua and cobalt blue work beautifully together, while vibrant coral colours work well with charcoal hues. Big bay windows that flood living spaces with natural light create an aura of calm, just like being on a holiday.

2. Beach-inspired furniture

Nothing adds coastal chic like an oversized hanging egg chair. Outdoors, a soft grey exterior paint, paired with white railings allows a splash of vibrant green foliage to complete your Hamptons haven. Linen upholstery, wicker and rattan are also wonderful Hamptons-style furniture choices both indoors and out.

3. Hamptons-style flooring and walls

Light timber tones and panelled walls exude beach vibes that tie in beautifully with Hamptons interiors, however, more recently flooring has trended to darker colours for a more sophisticated look – particularly for homes inland from the coast.

Whether your choice is simple VJ panelling or the more detailed wainscoting on your walls, washed-out accessories and colours will help deliver a sun-bleached look and, while a neutral-coloured rug in natural materials will make all the difference, leaving bare floorboards will also create a relaxed look of “barefoot luxury”.

4. Upcycled furniture for a second life

Give old pieces of furniture a clean-up and repaint or reupholster to turn them into something new and sophisticated. Modern pieces teamed with old create a modern space that won’t date. The trick is getting the right mix of timeless silhouettes in furniture for chic elegance.

5. Hamptons furnishings

Take the Hamptons look right through your house. Chandeliers, table lamps and sconce lighting are wonderful statement pieces. For the bathroom, consider subway tiles or marble, traditional style tapware, and stick with neutral colours for maximum longevity.

The post 5 tips for creating a Hamptons-style home appeared first on Home Beautiful.

And there’s no room more suited to the Hamptons-aesthetic than the bathroom. If you’re looking to bring a touch of East Coast elegance into your own home, we’ve found the perfect bathroom to inspire. Take note of the 6 key elements of this incredible Hamptons-inspired bathroom.

1. Grand scale

High ceilings and broad dimensions in the bathroom of this Melbourne home evoke a sense of grandeur. Its proportions allow height for dramatic lighting (Beacon Lighting’s ‘Vaille’ pendant is similar) and space for classy elements such as a vintage claw-foot bath. There’s also room for functional storage.

2. Niche market

This shower nook was framed into the wall cavity early on in the renovation, and is both a design feature and a space-saving strategy. “It eliminates the need for additional hardware, such as glass shelves or caddies, so it’s a clever way to provide storage that doesn’t add distracting bulk,” says interior designer Serena Elise of White Chalk Design. For a similar gooseneck showerhead, try White Bathroom Co’s ‘Chisel’.

3. Feet first

Small tiles on a floor, especially in a larger room, take an underfoot arena into wow-factor territory. Marble is a style staple of the classic bathroom, while introducing shapes like penny rounds, fish scales or hexagons – such as these sourced from Southern Tile – add both visual interest and a textural finish with repeated grout lines.

4. Get a grip

Traditional Shaker-style cabinetry is given a delicate touch with shell cabinet knobs from Mother Of Pearl & Sons Trading. “The handle softened the look of the cabinetry,” says interior designer Serena Elise. “It is a whimsical touch and it influences the whole look.” For a similar hexagonal mirror, try Etsy.

5. Upon reflection

Whether opting for an elaborate frame, a crested arch or a sleek silhouette, the bathroom vanity mirror is crucial when seeking a refined finish. Serena selected a frameless mirror with a fine bevelled edge from Alligator Glass. “It’s a small detail consistent with the traditional bathroom,” says Serena.

“All of these finer details are small in isolation – but when pulled together they’re so important in executing a well-thought-out design. Using a marble vanity kicker keeps the theme of natural products, but changing the pattern creates subtle interest,” says Serena.

6. Classic touch

Elegant details are instrumental in evoking a spa-like feel to any classic bathroom. A striking chandelier is a sure-fire way to ramp up the glam factor, and luxurious textures play their part. “By adding a sheer linen curtain as a backdrop for the bath, it ensures a soothing and comforting feeling – not to mention a touch of romance,” says interior designer Serena Elise.

The post A classic Hamptons-inspired bathroom appeared first on Home Beautiful.

Passers-by are also captivated by the home on Queensland’s Gold Coast. “About half a dozen people have knocked on the door to ask what colour the house is painted,” shares Mieke, of the warm grey Dulux Paving Stone exterior, teamed with elegant crisp white trims, stonework and Taubmans’ All Black double doors.

Inside, the selection of finishes and features are just as refined, with soaring ceilings, regal arches, sumptuous furnishings and lively pops of blue throughout. “I’ve always had an obsession with Hamptons architecture and interiors, so they’re details I’d dreamt about for years, but didn’t have the courage to pull off until this house,” she explains.

Together with husband Brett and children Georgia and Diesel, Mieke had built twice before, but modern, minimalist homes had never felt like the right fit for her family. So, six years ago when they came across a large block with a great aspect and sweeping waterfront views, Mieke took a different approach and the third time has well and truly been a charm.

For the three years the family lived in the existing house on their block, Mieke planned and visualised every element of her Hamptons dream home. “I had a lot of Pinterest boards on the go,” she says with a laugh.

At the top of her wish list was handcrafted timber detailing, stunning wallpapers and a luxurious ensuite with a bathtub below a huge arch window, inspired by one of her favourite pins. Having sold their previous house fully furnished, Mieke embraced the opportunity to start from scratch and enlisted the help of friend and interior designer Keraney Siganto to source key pieces.

The effect is inviting and richly layered, with stunning tiles and fabrics in shades of blue providing a dreamy backdrop for statement lighting and eye-catching decor.

Now that they’re settled in, Mieke is free to take stock of the exquisite family abode she coaxed out of her imagination and into life. “It was a labour of love for Brett and I to build our forever home, and it really does feel like home,”she reflects.”The beauty and grandness is never lost on me, I appreciate it all.”

The post A grand Gold Coast waterfront home with heart appeared first on Home Beautiful.