We have travertine in two bathrooms. One has an English wallpaper of cream background printed with green scrolls and squirrels and gilt acorns... with this one we use all white towels and the cabinetry is white. The other bathroom has a yellow and red chinoiserie toile wallpaper, a painted vanity (dark taupe) and red towels. Both look great---and that is by way of explaining that you can do almost anything you want to with traverine.. it lends itself to a variety of styles and colors.

I have more than a dozen sets of towels, in all different colors (except white; my white towels are ancient). Here's how I would answer your questions: If the bathroom has colored tile in the shower area, are the bathroom towels supposed to be the same color as those tiles? And, if so, are they supposed to be darker color or lighter color than the bathroom tiles? I would choose a coordinating color towels. For example, if the shower tile is light blue, I'd get dark blue towels. If the tile is dark, I'd get light towels. But, what if the tile color was white? Then, you'd simply pick a white towel or do you want a colored towel to make it pop? I'd get colored towels that coordinate with the decor of the rest of the room. And, what happens if there are several different colored tiles in the shower area? Do you try to match the lightest color, medium color, or darkest color? I'd pick the color I like best and get towels in that color. Or I'd get towels in each color and mix-and-match them. Or, are you supposed to pick towel colors on the basis of the wall color in the rest of the bathroom, not the tile color? Assuming that the walls and tiles don't match, I'd get towels that go with both if possible. Or I'd paint/paper the walls to coordinate with the tile and go from there. Here is a link that might be useful: towels in many colors in my bathroom

I have to go, but will post actually tmi .. but youtube helps, and chalk paint is found in box stores. PRO/ Colleen Price: "I did layers of french linen, then dry brushing paris gray, then dark wax and then more dry brushing of the french linen, the paris gray and a mix of pure white with the paris gray until I got the look I wanted. It was really just experimenting with those three colors and dark wax in many layers. Cant say how many, it was just until I was satisfied with it. I used french linen, paris gray, pure white, dark wax and clear wax. I started with a layer of french linen. I put dark wax over that, then dry brushed paris gray over that to kinda make it streaky. Then i just started sort of experimenting and applying dark wax then a mix of paris gray and pure white. I really cant tell you exactly because I just kept adding layers until I got the look I wanted. But I think the key was really the dry brushing technique. I think if you just play around with those three colors, some dry brushing (with a very dry brush) and some dark wax here and there you can get the same look. Its all about trial and error. French linen first, then layers of dry brushing Paris gray and white, in between layers of dark and light wax. It's really hard to say exactly. It was just a matter of experimenting with the three colors and the waxes, until I got what I wanted. Dry brushing is just dipping the brush in the paint lightly, and dabbing off much of the paint before applying. No real formula for this piece, it was just adding different layers and techniques until I was satisfied with the look. You just have to play around with this paint a bit to see what you can make happen." https://www.houzz.com/photos/chalk-painted-dresser-eclectic-bedroom-dc-metro-phvw-vp~597768

If you want to keep it really simple, consider going with the hotel model. Most hotels, regardless of decor, use white towels, etc. Definitely rule of thumb for spas, as well. You could also use a shower curtain, which would give you the option of covering the tile, to whatever extent you like. https://nearsay.com/c/622336/74285/3-ways-to-make-your-glass-shower-doors-more-private This would allow you a lot of decor choices, with curtain color, style, etc. You could also just use a very simple white shower curtain, as shown above. You do not have to ’match‘ the black in the apartment, but if you would like to pay homage to the black trim and detail, which is very nice by the way, you could of course still use black in rugs and other accessories. As one idea, I think something like this could be elegant. As far as bolder colors, etc.: You would need to be able to see the space as a neutral backdrop - which it essentially is - and you then bring in the other color(s) as accent(s). Since I personally see the space and it’s connection color-wise to the shore nature palette, I would probably choose to accent with colors like the light blues and or gold and or coral/pink - along those lines. Below, as one example: You notice the gold wall + pink and blue incorporated into towel arrangement. So for example, you could mix it up and do gold towels with the black rug, or gold and white, or gold and light blue, etc., etc. the sky is the limit. And it goes beyond shore type color palette; it really depends on what you see and what you like. I just think the shore palette works well with the color scheme and elements in your space, and I tend to defer to nature in many of my design considerations. But outside of that box, there are any number of ways you could go. A deep plum/eggplant color could be striking, for example. There are really many possibilities. Hope some of this is helpful.