HGTV's Grace Mitchell On How To Save Money On Expensive Renovation Materials

HGTV's Grace Mitchell, host of "One of a Kind," loves to do a little creative problem-solving when it comes to her home design projects, and her iconic bank bathroom idea is no exception. While working on a renovation in a client's home, Mitchell had the opportunity to use vintage marble from a relative's old bank building. All this beautiful marble went into the bathroom (hence "bank bathroom"), but there still wasn't enough stone to fill the entire space. Mitchell's brilliant solution was truly transformative. She brought in new tiles to fill in the gaps. 

This strategy helped conserve the limited material and formed a unique bathroom tile design. Not everyone has the luxury problem of not having enough vintage marble to cover the whole bathroom. But, we can certainly all relate to the need to stretch expensive materials as much as we can. With Mitchell's clever design technique, not only will you save money, but it will give you a more original look for your stone or tile project. 

Decadent materials, whether natural stone, like marble or granite, or expensive tile, like porcelain, often feel inaccessible to folks working within a budget. But, as Mitchell demonstrates, you can buy just the amount of expensive material that fits your spending needs. Then, you can purposely incorporate it within the rest of your space.

Grace Mitchell didn't want to waste that precious marble, but there wasn't enough to fill the whole bathroom. But, the beautiful tile design worked in perfect harmony with the original marble (via HGTV). The tile had an art deco-inspired look and was perfect for evoking that vintage, ornate aesthetic that you find in an old bank. Mitchell was also practical, making sure that the material was appropriate shower tile to use in a bathroom. 

With a gold and gray scallop shape, a warm white background, and a pattern density that suggests lushness without feeling too busy, the tiles are a stunning addition to the design. Plus, no one would guess they were the result of a material shortage. To integrate the two materials, Mitchell arranged the tiles into two wide vertical panels that cascaded down the shower wall, similar to the shower design above. Meanwhile, the glorious vintage bank marble covers the rest of the shower wall, as well as the entire bathroom floor. Other clever details pull the space together, including gold hardware that coordinates with the gold in the tile and white cabinetry that keeps the space feeling light and airy. This makes it the perfect heavenly retreat for a master bath using the marble economically while still maintaining a luxe aesthetic.

Granted, not every material will look good when paired together. If you're looking to incorporate two or more materials into your design, you'll have to consider color, texture, and overall style. For Grace Mitchell's bank bathroom, she was making a decadent bathroom with vintage marble, so she chose a tile that had an equally decadent vibe. When you're combining two materials, follow this example and try to match the color scheme. 

For example, if your starting material is a cool, neutral-colored stone, find a tile or stone that also comes in a cool neutral color. Texture and finish matter a great deal, as well. If you're working with finely polished stone, you should choose a tile with a shiny finish, while more rustic materials should be paired with matte finishes. On the other hand, you could also create a contrasting set of materials, with the inexpensive material acting as the base and the pricier material serving as an accent border. 

As you plan the room, be careful that your mix-and-match materials don't feel random or out of place. Extra tiles should be incorporated into a design, such as stripes, alternating tiles, or a border. Alternatively, for a creative way to use tile, install a bold accent wall. With these tips in mind, you can have a budget-friendly space that's just as luxurious as Mitchell's bank bathroom.