Nate Berkus Shows Off A Totally Bold Bathroom Design Idea (& It's Not For Everyone)

Nate Berkus, an HGTV design sweetheart, never shies away from dramatic decor choices in a home. However, sometimes his bold, statement-making looks shock audiences who can't imagine employing the same designs into their own spaces, like the bathroom design reveal Berkus posted to social media that awed followers, but not in a good way (via Instagram). Calacatta Viola Rose marble, a distinct marble famous for its dramatic pink notes and black-gray veining, was the star of Berkus' design. He used large slabs to cover the entire floor and all the walls. He also used the marble to create a stand-alone bathtub and a marble step design feature inside the shower. Effectively, every surface in the bathroom was covered.

Many followers disagreed with his maximalist style and felt like Berkus may have used too much marble. "It's original but it's not for me, there's too much going on and I can't concentrate," someone wrote on his Instagram post. Calacatta Viola Rose marble is, indeed, a beautiful and expensive material, communicating high-end, yet surprisingly versatile and durable, luxury. However, in the way Berkus used it, fans thought it was too loud. But this shouldn't put you off marble bathrooms, and if you like the idea of Calacatta Viola Rose marble (but perhaps not for the price or how Berkus used it), there are ways to design in the same spirit that'll suit your own home.

Berkus let this unique veined marble take over his bathroom design, making it the all-encompassing star of the room. Using full slabs on the walls, floor, and tub, the marble is only broken up by occasional architectural features or home design accents like wooden furniture or picture frames. Marble, in general, is a popular bathroom material to elevate design, and marble bathroom tile can revamp your space to make it appear more luxurious. While some marble tile varieties are inexpensive because they're from lower quality stones and they're smaller in size, using marble slabs, like Berkus did, is a much bigger investment, but it often does pay off in a sleek design. However, Berkus' aggressive cocoon of Calacatta Viola Rose marble overwhelms the eyes and perhaps takes away from the sleekness that using a slab offers aesthetically.

While Calacatta Viola Rose is quite durable and can look sleek if done tastefully, putting so much marble generally in a bathroom isn't the best idea overall, either. Some marbles can be high maintenance and have hidden costs down the road on top of being an expensive material. Calacatta Viola Rose, for example, typically runs almost $70 per square foot. Marble can be porous and can pick up stains from water, makeup, or even soap. Its permeability also means marble needs consistent sealing from time to time. Depending on your lifestyle, a marble bathroom can be too expensive and maintenance-intensive to enjoy, especially if covered in slabs.

If you like the look of Calacatta Viola Rose and have the budget for it, use it strategically in pops so it doesn't overwhelm the bathroom. You could install a marble sink or create a single accent wall. Its pinky-gray-black color story is bold in it of itself, and adding a touch into your bathroom will add a luxuriously warm accent. If you still want to use slabs, but without the shock of Calacatta Viola Rose, there are more subtle choices on the market, too. Bianco Dolomite from NMA Group, for example, is a crisp option with a touch of gray veining. You can still go wall-to-wall without it swallowing the bathroom. If you want something more dramatic, Calacatta Bluette from Architessa has a low-key contrast of blue-ish gray colors.

If marble is out of budget, consider porcelain tile for a luxury look but without the expensive price tag. This Alexandra White tile from Home Depot is a great marble look-alike for that clean design, while the honed Vita Bella tile from Floor and Decor can inject some drama into your bathroom's look. Berkus' tastes can be polarizing (there's even one house feature that Berkus and his spouse can't agree on), but does contend that personal taste is a home feature that will never go out of style. So while the Calacatta Viola Rose marble works for him in this bathroom design, go with what works for your own style!