Flooring raised to new heights

Which way is up? Leftover bamboo flooring installed on the ceiling adds warmth to this small bathroom and prevents design overload.

We wanted our bathroom to be interesting, but not overwhelming. The walls are a muted blue, and the bathtub surround and the flooring are black slate. To add warmth, the vanity and the ceiling are bamboo. Instead of ordering extra bamboo plywood, though, we decided to use the prefinished, carbonized vertical bamboo-flooring strips left over from our living room.

First, we installed 3/4-in. plywood subflooring over the drywall on the bathroom ceiling. Along the length of the room, we started on one side fastening the planks with a finish nailer and worked our way to the end. We fussed for a little while cutting pieces to fit around the light fixture, the vent, and the exhaust fan while still leaving 3/4 in. for expansion due to humidity changes.

Other than that, the process was surprisingly easy. We are pleased with the end result, and the bamboo has held up perfectly well against the heat and steam from the shower. If I were to tackle this project again, though, I’d make sure to book an appointment with a massage therapist to take care of my neck and arms.