Natural window coverings create warmth against backdrop of bathroom fixtures

San Francisco interior designer Ian Stallings was given an interesting assignment when he took on the job of decorating a bathroom for a bachelor client who wanted the room to look masculine, but not too masculine.

The bathroom design, featured in the current issue of California Home and Design magazine, became a rich and warm mix of orange-tinged glass tiles lining most of the wall space against the backdrop of traditional nickel-plated fixtures.

"The flowing, organic, dark earth tones on rectangular tiles create a tortoise shell effect," Stallings told the magazine.

As a result, the room looks right at home in a bachelor pad, but not so deeply masculine that it wouldn't make a female member of the household feel comfortable.

The same effect can be achieved when natural elements are introduced as window coverings in a bathroom or other environment where appliances and fixtures might otherwise become too sterile without something to warm up the space.

Bamboo shades and woven wood blinds have unique, variegated colors and textures that add a natural look that goes with both contemporary and traditional bathroom design schemes.