WARMING UP BLACK AND WHITE

We love that the classic color combo is still cool-and how today's organic materials and burnished finishes can keep it from looking cold and clinical. Ahead: three ways to get it right

- NINA MALKIN

FARMHOUSE FRESH

When starting with a blank slate, it helps to have a strong aesthetic endgame in mind, as Maison de Pax blogger Rachel Paxton did for the attic bath in her family's 1984 ranch outside Austin, TX."I knew I wanted a mix of black and white, with wood for the rustic charm that just feels right in this little farmhouse," says Rachel. Carving out space for the necessities-a sink and a toilet-as well as some luxuries-a claw-foot tub and a large shower-was a challenge with a ceiling that slopes to a low of 51/2 feet. Using white subway tile on the walls and white penny rounds underfoot keeps the windowless space light and bright. Frameless-glass shower panels preserve the open feeling, with the tub nestled in a cozy alcove. "I couldn't be more pleased," Rachel says of the result. "It feels classic and modern, retro and rustic, all at the same time."

WHAT THEY DID

Finishing a huge attic space included building this 88-square-foot shared bath. Following the pitch of the roof, walls were framed to tap the usable ceiling height, which ranges from 512 to 8 feet high.