It may seem impossible to find the perfect balance between a minimalist and maximalist aesthetic – but Jennifer Aniston has just achieved what we thought was unattainable.
The Friends star may be best associated with her character Rachel Green’s famous Manhattan apartment – but designers are more excited by the actress’s home on the west coast (or Beverly Hills, to be precise). Here, Jennifer has created a white bathroom that combines a minimalist color palette with opulent, almost maximalist brassy accessories.
With its sleek, large white tiles, low soaking tub, marble shower, and brassy accessories – this wet-room style bathroom is as chic as it is practical. Texas-based designer Benjamin Johnston says that such marble bathrooms benefit from contrasting brass fixtures that bring a grounding feel to the otherwise luxurious space.
‘When it comes to marble, gold provides a lovely, warm contrast that is never short on depth, dimension, and a welcome touch of luxury. Elaborate, eye-catching veining serves as a backdrop and easily makes a statement should you wish to go minimal with other elements,’ he says.
Benjamin Johnston Design is an award-winning and internationally-published designer who founded his eponymous studio in Houston, Texas. He is celebrated for ‘creating classic, curated, and cool spaces’ that pay homage to his clients’ lifestyles. The designer and his team have worked on projects in 9 countries, 12 states, and 27 cities worldwide.
To accentuate marble bathroom features – and the overall aesthetic – Benjamin recommends using brass fixtures such as vessel sinks, pendant lights and even shower heads vessel sinks – as Jenifer demonstrates.
‘How minimalist or maximalist you choose to go with complementing design details is truly subjective, but for a standout look, a large light fixture finished in brass with globe pendants seamlessly delivers a midcentury vibe and sophisticated feel.’
And, alongside Jennifer’s bathroom color scheme, experts love the actress’ large tile slabs – a feature that, despite its good looks, has its practical benefits. And (while this isn’t a problem in Jennifer’s home), they’re a great way to accentuate small bathrooms, too.
‘Large-format slab tiles are perfect for use in wet rooms and walk-in showers as they are impervious to water, and their large size reduces the potential for leaks,’ says Jo Oliver-Singh, the director of The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse .
‘These huge tiles create an illusion of space and can help make small bathrooms appear larger thanks to their seamless appearance. Fewer grout lines also mean less cleaning, which is ideal for busy bathrooms.’
Though, before we rush to invest in new bathroom tiles, Jo urges us to check that the product is fit for purpose – as not every tile is safe – however stylish it may look.
‘The single most important thing to consider when choosing a bathroom tile is “Is the tile fit for purpose?”. Tiles have various finishes and different ratings of anti-slip, which will all affect their suitability,’ she says.
With this in mind, the expert recommends a tile with a slightly textured surface – ‘and even more texture again’ if you’re working with a wet room. ‘This will ensure that they are anti-slip and safe.’
And, experiment with more of Jennifer Aniston’s style; we also can’t help but pick up a bottle of her perfume below.
Whatever your chosen aesthetic, we’re sure you can recreate elements of Jennifer Aniston’s bathroom that work just for you…