inspirations
Lower the lights As already mentioned, bathrooms so often have extremely good task lighting – and very useful it is, too. But you don’t always want to examine your pores or assess your make-up too closely. So, having dimmers or a secondary, softer layer of lighting to allow the space to glow atmospherically is a bit of a luxe touch. This wood-heavy room designed by MARISA GALLO, with its gentle, moody lighting, has the feel of the loos at a very plush restaurant or hotel, don’t you think?
love the copper trim of the top of tile line. mirroring the hardware Glam up the details Tile trim might not be at the top of your list of design decisions, but your bathroom designer will have it on theirs and will know that making the right choice – white? aluminium? tile? rounded? square-edged? – can have a positive impact on the look of your new wash space. Here, Emma Merry of Emma Merry Styling has chosen a striking brass finish to tie in with the towel rail and taps, upping the style and tying all the details together.
Don’t be afraid of the dark Here, RISE Design Studio shows how even a small bathroom can be made to feel like a sanctuary. The star of this space is the wall covering – clay plaster in a deep, warm grey. This takes away from too much of a ‘bathroomy’ feel, as do the interesting brass taps, the plant and the artwork, positioned so it can be appreciated from the tub.
sizing up of the mirror, the size helps to reflect the beautiful chandelier Find a feature mirror Frameless backlit mirrors or mirrored cabinets can look wonderful, but for an ‘un-bathroom’, a statement looking glass isn’t a bad place to start. Choosing a mirror with a frame makes it much more of a focal point, less of a purely practical detail. And how about that beautifully made vanity unit – and we’ve already spoken about stylish lighting, but that pendant! This room, designed by Brian O’Tuama Architects, just ticks so many boxes.
Wood Another way to lighten an island visually is to simply match its faces to the flooring material so the two blend together. Letting wood or laminate wrap around the island is unexpected but warm and inviting without being heavy. If you have leftover flooring after a renovation (most often there would be enough for at least one face of the island), consider using it to wrap an island.
Mirror If you’d prefer to have your island float away rather than stand out, mirrored fronts help lighten the look of the whole room by making the bulky cabinets appear to vanish and the floor to run on forever. For antique charm, use glass with a vintage finish (or re-create one yourself with glass paint and a splatter brush).
In tight spaces, custom solutions make the most sense, because they maximize the functionality within the given parameters. The stair shown here is openly expressive of the code constraints dictating its design. The last 30 inches of the stair don’t require a guardrail, so it has been omitted, opening up the space. The handrail, however, is required to be uninterrupted for the full run, so it continues on. It has also been designed to conceal the functional need for lighting the stairway.
In a living space, a single slab of tile can be converted to a stunning serving tray with some patience, a drill and a pair of cabinet handles. Or simply treat yourself to a marble server from a favorite boutique. After all, the piece can move from room to room, so it’s really an investment in your entire home.
Capiz shell is a designer go-to material for creating a high-end look without necessarily having to spend a lot. Pendants and sconces in this material come in a wide spectrum of prices, so shop around to find an elegant feature for your dining nook. With all the subtle tone-on-tone beauty of the shells, you won’t need an elaborate table setting.
Step lights. Every good lighting scheme makes use of ambient, diffuse and accent lights. Step lights provide all three and are excellent devices for inciting movement between destinations. Step lights are unobtrusive and inexpensive, and because they’re recessed, they lend a fully customized look and feel. Opt for LED bulbs and the fixtures will consume as little as 4 watts each while directing the wattage right where it’s needed: at your feet. Two quality manufacturers I really like are WAC Lighting and Bega.
The adjacent family room has a lively feel, courtesy of contrasting colors and textures. The fireplace surround is black porcelain herringbone-pattern tile with a sheen. Brass details carry over from the kitchen, and a custom art piece above the fireplace also has glints of gold.
Breakfast bar
A chevron-pattern backsplash in bold colors is a great way to add energy and life to an all-white kitchen, as seen in this San Francisco kitchen remodeled by Jute Interior Design.
Large slabs of marble, stone and engineered quartz for backsplashes are a great way to create a sleek and dramatic look in a kitchen. “Currently trending for us in backsplashes is using slabs to match the countertop surfaces,” designer Joe Human says. “Depending on the material, it can really go ultramodern or really traditional in the right space.”
Large slabs of marble, stone and engineered quartz for backsplashes are a great way to create a sleek and dramatic look in a kitchen. “Currently trending for us in backsplashes is using slabs to match the countertop surfaces,” designer Joe Human says. “Depending on the material, it can really go ultramodern or really traditional in the right space.”
Subway tiles
The oak cabinetry is framed by corian white shell which gives a separation between the oak and wood floor
features a shower with a recessed LED light and a floating bench, two elements they wanted to incorporate into their design.
Tiling contrast
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