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Friday, November 20, 2020

In the words of the American author Annie Dillard: "There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind."—and since nothing paints a space quite like natural light does, we rounded up the most inspiring washrooms from recent memory to help you find ways of incorporating a generous window into your bathroom.

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Augmented Shadows

Interior design by: Bo Design

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Violet Tone

Interior design by: ID Industries

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Sky Blue

Interior design by: Space In Design

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[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="58691,58692"]

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Sea Green

Interior design by: A Piece of Art Interior design by: A Piece of Art

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Interior design by: SQFT Space Design Management

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Sunny Yellow

Interior design by: Gusto Design & Build Interior design by: Gusto Design & Build

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Interior design by: Hoe & Yin Design Studio

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Golden Tangerine

Interior design by: Design Integra

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Interior design by: SNG Conceptwerke

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Pristine White

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="58699,58700"]

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Interior design by: Regal Violet

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Interior design by: PSQ

Friday, November 20, 2020

Despite having significant effects on the overall message of a home, intermediate spaces such as foyers, stairwells, and staircase landings don't quite get the attention they deserve. This time around, we take a closer look at these sometimes forgotten spaces and arrived at this collection of delectable imagery to inspire you and influence the creation of your own mood-board.

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Even before stepping into this home, the naive observer is informed of the decor to follow — this Zen courtyard sets the expectation for an Oriental theme saturated in monochrome and natural stone. Interior design by: Moonlit Inspiration

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Tradition requires a dramatic presentation right at the threshold of the home — a spiritual altar, a presentation of achievements, or a matching pair of ornate armchairs for the matriarch and patriarch of a large household. Interior design by: Regal Violet

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This modern entrance puts ebonised wood against natural stone, while blending a spiritual message with a physical allegory for walking on water. Interior design by: X-Dimension

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The modern equivalent to the altar is a purely thematic and decorative feature that seeks to impress rather than inform. Interior design by: Mode Interior Style

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This entryway is set apart from the rest of the home's decor with a floor composed of river pebbles and raw cement slabs contrasted against the monochromatic and modern background. Interior design by: Design Spirits

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A sunny disposition is presented in this foyer with intriguingly patterned light boxes overhead and a splash of yellow drawing focus to the lone armchair  Interior design by: ST Concepts

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Traditional motifs from the Eastern and Western hemispheres converge in an eclectic expression of opulence in the foyer of this home. Interior design by: Regal Violet

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Seamless expanses of marbled stone, stretches of reflective metal, floral elements, and hidden light sources come together to illuminate and enliven a dark alcove of this home. Interior design by: DMZ Consultancy

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Straying away from the convention of dramatic presentations at the entrance, this home presents a simplistic shelving unit to simultaneously hold decorations and Interior design by: Nice-Style Refurbishment

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A variation of the projecting shelf arises from the centre of this home's open layout, echoing the same quality of cream stone and streaked wood laminate presented in the background. Interior design by: Space Matrix

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The designer's signature blend of industrial and rustic vibes in monochrome is augmented with sunlight streaming in via the indoor courtyard. Interior design by: Nu Infinity

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The monochromatic passage into this home is rendered vaguely tropical with inviting splashes of tropical motifs and bold colours thrown into the far end of the hall. Interior design by: ID Industries

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This monochromatic foyer is rendered welcoming with the additions of a floral presentation and a trio of art panels. Interior design by: Jashen Interior

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A customisable black wall represents a rarely seen departure from convention in the foyers of modern homes. Interior design by: Surface R

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Narrow entryways are best served with floor-to-ceiling stretches of reflective panels to at once widen the perceived space and give beguiling views of whatever lies around the corner. Interior design by: SQFT Space Design Management

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Designs do not need to be ornate when working with opulent materials such as marbled stone and reflective metals. Interior design by: S/Lab 10

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Using a limited set of materials does not necessarily entail fewer options. As demonstrated here, even modern cuts of homogenous wood can be differentiated to express geometric plays of light and shadow. Interior design by: Turn Design Interior

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A simplistic interplay between the white plaster ceiling and pieces of darkly stained wood is brought to intriguing heights with the haphazard composition and a sprinkling of yellow lights. Interior design by: Nice-Style Refurbishment

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Geometric presentations of light and shadow are perhaps the most unobtrusive embellishments for modern spaces replete with marbled stone and reflective metals. Interior design by: Q1 Interior

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The beginning of this stairway is marked by an array of disparate textures and lines in the shades of the neutral palette — held in a delicate balance around the potted plant's striking splash of green. Interior design by: Q1 Interior

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This stairway presents the darker side of the neutral palette, embellished with sources of pristine white light that sparkle like faceted jewels. Interior design by: Q1 Interior

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Even the simplest blend of materials can benefit from a generous supply of natural light, which is augmented here with plain walls and wood flooring. Interior design by: Design Base

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Keeping this staircase landing plain in terms of colors and embellishments diverts attentions to fall on the chandelier and the impressive view through the double-height windows. Interior design by: Nice-Style Refurbishment

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The epitome of contemporary luxury is painted in a strictly monochromatic palette on this staircase landing, with differing textures and contours providing points of interest for the eye to linger on. Interior design by: Regal Violet

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On the other extreme of the scale, a stairway can be turned into a decorative feature on its own — as demonstrated with this collage of monochromatic and reflective panels. Interior design by: Deep White

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A modern and monochromatic decor embellished with wood inexplicably becomes a suitably subtle background for Asiatic decorations. Interior design by: SQFT Space Design Management

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The challenge of working with a limited set of materials is overcome with some variation in decorative motifs expressed in these homogenous materials. Interior design by: Archint

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The uncomplicated composition of this stairwell diverts attention to the intricate crown moulding and picture frames. Interior design by: DesignPreneur

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Illumination serves a critical role in this narrow corridor of modern design — the streams and orbs of stark light embellish this relatively plain space with additional folds of intrigue. Interior design by: Design Spirits

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The view from the entrance of this bedroom presents an opulent scene composed from a warming array of wood and yellow light set against a background of stone. Interior design by: IA Interior Design

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Friday, November 20, 2020

All of us desire a good night's sleep. Here's where choosing the right mattress can help ensure a serene slumber all night long. When you're getting a new bed, it's crucial to invest in a high quality mattress. As we spend a third of lives sleeping, a suitable mattress will help you sleep better and thus improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Here are some tips to arm yourself with when you go shopping for a new mattress. 1 Test for comfort and support Make sure that the surface is both comfortable and supportive of your spine and posture. This means your spine should be in its natural curvature while you lie down flat on the bed. Have someone put his or her hand behind the small of your back. If the person's hand can move easily in the back without any gaps, the mattress is suitable for your posture. If there is a gap in between, the mattress is too hard and not supporting your back properly. If the person cannot get his or hand under your back, the mattress is too soft which causes your back to round up. Also lie on your side and stomach and examine if it's comfortable for you. Always take your time when shopping for a new mattress. 2 Find a mattress that suits your sleep style How do you sleep? Some of us like sleeping on the back, some can only fall asleep when they are turned to one side and there are others who sleep soundly on their stomach. Your sleeping style is an essential factor when choosing the right kind of mattress. For side sleepers: Get a soft or plush sleeping surface. With extra cushioning, you can prevent pressure-induced discomfort in your shoulders and hips. Plush mattresses offer extra comfort and plush support without the need for additional pillowtop padding. For back sleepers: Opt for firm or extra firm mattresses as these help to support your back. Firm mattresses generally have a flatter top with no additional padding. Some of them also come with a firm edge support. For stomach sleepers: Go for a slightly firmer surface so that your spine is properly aligned. For those who with a combination of sleep styles: You may want to select something that is neither too firm nor too soft so it gives you the flexibility to support your different positions. 3 Consider your sleeping partner Movements and motion transfers are something to consider if you share your bed with another person. You definitely don't want a mattress that bounces and shakes each time your partner roll to the side or gets up from the bed. Memory foam mattress can help to isolate movements to one side of the bed. You can also go for a hybrid of springs and foam as they usually come with transitional foam that alleviates motion. Check out our Top 5 Mattress Brands in 2018 post for more ideas.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Some of us bring our work home with us — but without a proper desk to work on, all those files and documents will seem out of place on the dining table. For those in need of some inspiration for a home office, we assembled some of the finest studies we have seen here for your perusal.

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A study doesn't necessarily require a significant investment in furniture but with some additional space afforded for a sliding partition, a quiet place of work can be guaranteed. Interior design by: Design Base   Doubling up on spaces is a valid approach to take when faced with a shortage of space. As pictured here, a viable solution is to combine the study with a generous walk-in wardrobe for intimacy. Interior design by: Jashen Interior   The epitome of home offices, the kind all aspiring executives pine for, is pictured here. Encased in glass and saturated in white, this box simultaneously provides an overwatch position and solitude. Interior design by: Regal Violet   While being relegated to the corner of this bedroom, the wash of violet light marks out the larger area as belonging to the study. Interior design by: Design Base   Faced with a shortage of space in this bedroom, the study is instead made to project from the centre of the space, with a stand of shelves providing a form of containment for the bed. Interior design by: Design Base   With an entire room to dedicate, this study is decorated with a certain degree of freedom that is uncommon for these normally compact spaces. Interior design by: A Piece of Art   This pictured study occupies a surprisingly small footprint on a staircase landing, turning a potentially unused space into a functioning workspace. Interior design by: Nu Infinity   Just as with regular work, schoolwork tends to overflow into time spent at home, which necessitates a desk to work on. In this shared bedroom, the workspace is squeezed into a sunlit space beneath a bunk. Interior design by: GDY Design & Construction   This pictured study demonstrates the ultimate space-saving design for work surfaces, with a minimalist and monochromatic surface unfolded from a wall of cabinets. Interior design by: Sunpizz Kitchen & Home   There's a certain comfort to be had in sleeping between partitions, and this study serves to provide a work surface as well as sheltering the bed in a safe berth. Interior design by: Sky Creation   Monochrome is used here to disguise the presence of a desk in and among the formation of bookshelves lining the wall. Interior design by: Nice-Style Refurbishment   Another variation of shared spaces could see a secondary lounge turned into part of a study, as pictured here. Interior design by: Jashen Interior   Outside of individual rooms, there often is a hallway or a stairway landing that can provide sufficient space for a fully equipped study. Interior design by: Casa Indah Design   In compact bedrooms, the study surface often projects from the wall to be counted as an extension of bedside surfaces. Interior design by: Design Base   In this child's bedroom, the study berth projects from the wall in monochromatic fashion to serve double duty as a decorative feature. Interior design by: Casa Indah Design

Friday, November 20, 2020

Antithetical yet complementary: modern classic style is a delicate balance struck between timeless features of tradition and the uncomplicated lines of modern design.

Rare materials transported across great distances, and decorated with finely handcrafted details at incalculable cost – these were the standards of luxury during the immeasurable periods of time that preceded modern mass manufacturing. But as new republics arose from the ashes of old empires, the arrival of the steam engine brought a paradigm shift that led to a global redistribution of wealth and authority – and consequently changed what was considered attractive.

Tip: Shelves and displays composed from the straight lines of modern design represent an appropriately unobtrusive backdrop for objects of classical antiquity – especially when lit from within hidden recesses. The resulting thematic and visual contrasts of these arrangements make for striking presentations on multiple levels.

On the rising wave of machine-aided manufacturing, designs for everything from clothing to transportation began to sway towards dependable simplicity and reproducibility, while shying away from the ornate and opulent. Modernism eventually gave rise to minimalism, which sought to strip everything down to its most practical and functional form, but some characteristics of classical luxury endured to the present day – romanticised and emulated either in desperation for emotional expression or admiration for classical antiquity.

This is the very definition of the modern classic decorative style – a union of traditional and modern sensibilities expressed in the choice of furniture and materials to achieve a décor that is simultaneously elegant, timeless, and comforting. Hue Interiors illustrates the definition of modern classic style with the pictured home, which combines modern characteristics – such as a reliance on straight lines and a neutral colour palette consisting largely of grey, white, cream, and beige – with traditional details such as the capitonné upholstered headboard for the bed, wainscoting to vertical surfaces, Damask wall-coverings, and a herringbone pattern in wood on the floor.

While the classically inspired components of the pictured décor are intentionally obvious, the modern sensibilities expressed here are less so. Aside from the neutral palette, other more subtle characteristics of modern style are expressed in the manner of composition – namely: the application of symmetry, visual balance, and a stringent emphasis on using clean lines to serve as a backdrop for the array of classical details.

As Hue Interior demonstrates, the composition of the bedroom in symmetry, the use of neutral shades, in addition to both classical and modern elements presented in harmonious balance help to render the bedroom comforting and unobtrusive – making an ideal backdrop for intricate details drawn from traditional influence. The reliance on straight lines, as portrayed by the bedroom’s fixtures and fittings, provides the very minimum of distinction between objects without detracting from the visual splendour of the classical details.

Tip: Perhaps due to the paradoxical differences between modernity and classicism, the blending of characteristics from these two decorative styles creates an atmosphere that is at once mystifying and comforting.

In addition to the lush textures and fine details occupying the walls – which already imply a more prosperous and upwardly mobile ambiance on their own – the positioning of ornate furniture, paintings, or sculptures, under the flattering glow of a feature light create additional elements of luxurious elegance against a clean and uncluttered background of straight lines and neutral shades.

Tip: As demonstrated in the pictured home, there is no ideal proportion of modernity to classicism set in stone – as the decorative palette can be inverted for contrast between spaces.

Friday, November 20, 2020

We've looked at kitchen countertop materials to describe various materials and how they may be suited to different personalities – but until now, we have not attempted to apply that same perspective to decorative styles. While decorative styles are probably as varied as people, we have been seeing some similar personalities gravitating towards particular aesthetic styles – which we will attempt to describe here for the benefit of anyone who might be in the midst of finding themselves and their preferred decorative style.

There are innumerable methods for analysing personality, but perhaps the most stringently tested theoretical framework would be that of the Big Five personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) – which will be the theory we adopt here in order to generally associate a particular decorative style with a dominant personality trait.

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Openness

One of the first Big Five personality traits to be discussed is usually an individual's "openness to experience" – which roughly translates to a person's imagination and bravery to venture into uncharted waters. A person who is considered high in "openness" is regarded as being receptive to variety – easily gravitating towards learning, art, or other creative pursuits; while a person low in "openness" will display a preference for routine and representational works of art such as classical sculptures rather than abstract or interpretive designs.

It takes a certain kind of bravery to seek out and incorporate unconventional features — such as the pictured loft space, made accessible with the addition of an industrial attic (loft) ladder. Interior design by: Nice-Style Refurbishment

Historically accurate decorative styles such as faithful classicism may not be ideal for highly open individuals, who tend to prefer more varied, esoteric, or eccentric blends of styles to reflect their unique tastes. An open person would seek to forge a unique décor wherever possible – perhaps even going as far as rearranging entire floor plans to achieve something different. On the flipside, a less open person may gravitate toward styles that are more commonly represented in today's homes – or even a style representing something from childhood – while adhering to the convention of the day as much as possible.

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Conscientiousness

Describing how people react to expectations of society at large, a person high in conscientiousness is more likely to consider rules both written and unspoken – such as is required when attempting to pay tribute to classical aesthetics. A highly conscientious person considers the experience of guests and visitors more than their own comfort, and will likely seek out a familiar décor – such as a variation of modern contemporary or classical modern style – to achieve a comforting ambience for the benefit of others while aiming for the hallmarks of luxury.

A conscientious homeowner seeks to enforce implicit aesthetic rules rather than break them. Designer: Design Integra

A less conscientious individual may be seen as unpredictable and impulsive – and the right decorative style in this case is more a matter of personal preference than anything else.  A person low in conscientiousness will likely gravitate towards a unique décor to represent their singular personalities, rather than adhering to convention for the satisfaction of guests.

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Extraversion

The dichotomy of extraversion and introversion is perhaps the most popular of facets in personality research – a person is considered extroverted when they display an innate attraction for social activity, while an introvert is one who values alone-time over a stint of hanging out.

The home of an extravert will more than likely present bold shades favoured by exuberant personalities. Interior design by: Surface R

Extroverts plan their home around social events, considering factors like the placement of extra seating and opting for bold colours rather than relying on a neutral palette. Introverts, on the other hand, will prefer to design for personal comfort and use softer colours in the creation of solitary spaces such as the study or the bedroom.

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Agreeableness

A person is considered agreeable when they display a high sensitivity for the feelings of others – and their decorative choices might closer reflect the norms of modern styling, while less agreeable individuals may be seen as being more concerned with their own avenues of self-expression.

Individuals high in agreeableness will tend to prioritise the familiarity of the neutral palette and twentieth-century designs over self-expression. Interior design by: Alpex Design

The most intriguing and awe-inspiring decorative styles are to be found in the homes of less agreeable individuals – while one can expect something more contemporary, less esoteric, and with greater mass-appeal in the home of an agreeable person.

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Neuroticism

As a measure of emotional stability and how well a person copes with stress, the trait of neuroticism is not as well associated with any particular decorative style as any of the four previously described personality traits – but some conclusions can still be drawn. For instance, a highly neurotic person with a stressful career may have no use or appreciation for a study — the mere sight of a workstation may elicit feelings of frustration in the home.

A carefree personality, low in neuroticism, lets stress roll right off and wouldn't be the least bit disturbed by clutter or asymmetry. Interior design by: Pins Studio

Neuroticism also informs how one deals with clutter in the home, a person who is more inclined to keep spaces clean, and is also less willing to cope with the stress of a mess, will likely be on the lookout for storage options – while the messier and less neurotic among us may not have even considered cleaning up at all.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Few parts of the conventional modern home feature high ceilings in the default plans, but the existence of a double-height ceiling in your living room is a rare opportunity to decorate boldly along the vertical axis with extra-long curtains and feature walls. If you're fortunate to have in your possession a canvas as generous as a living room with an extra high ceiling, here are some examples of what can be achieved in these spaces.

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Immaculate Simplicity

Interior design by: Regal Violet

A dependance on the lighter side of the neutral palette expands the perceived space, as demonstrated by Regal Violet in this seating area. Utilising only grey fabrics to complement a background of white furnishings and finishes, the designers of the pictured seating lounge have managed to retain the voluminous quality of this space – with the grey elements drawing attention to the generous length of windows and to the centre of the seating arrangement.

Interior design by: Regal Violet

The prevalence of white and grey prepares the naïve eye for the glorious bursts of yellow light that become apparent from the centre of the lounge.

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Monochromatic Modernity

Rendered with glossy black curves across the white finishes, this seating lounge is designed by Deseo Creativo to speak of the modern notion of elegance in simplicity. The monochromatic background of this home sets the eye up for the scant streaks of blue, while the simplistic palette creates a striking contrast against the ornate chandelier and the seamless expanse of marbled stone on the floor.

Interior design by: Deseo Creativo

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Tropical Luxury

Interior design by: DMZ Consultancy

The designers of the pictured seating lounge, DMZ Consultancy, craft a space suited for the tropics by relying on the lighter side of the neutral palette and an assortment of natural materials. The neutral palette saturates this living room in seamless stretches of stone on the floor and walls while wood decks the ceiling. Coupled with the exquisite view and splashes of greenery on the interior, the result is simultaneously luxurious and uplifting.

Interior design by: DMZ Consultancy

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Sunny Vibes

Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

In spaces gifted with generous windows such as this seating lounge with an extra-height ceiling, the choice of interior colour could be heavily swayed by the quality of view. Given that the wooden patio on the outside lies in full sunlight during the day, the practical use of louvres on the windows removes the need for extra-long curtains and enables the ingress of sunlight to complement the yellowish décor of interior.

Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

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If you've settled on your approach to decorating the living room, here are some of our thoughts on lighting up the whole ensemble.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Cooking spaces are an irresistible draw for some people and a kitchen island will make them feel welcome.

As noted by televised interior designer Candice Olson, the modern kitchen is less one person’s domain as it is a space for interactive cooking between family and friends — with the modern conventions of open floor plans and relaxed banquet protocol often leading to an accumulation of dinner guests in the kitchen.

Interior design by: Pins Studio

The sight of an island counter in the kitchen presents an inviting atmosphere that simultaneously helps to keep the operative area clear of pedestrians and encourages the curious guest to slide in for a respite or lean against it in casual repose. Knowing that everyone would be gravitating towards the kitchen during gatherings, we thought it prudent to review some of the ways you could add an island counter.

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Practical Element

Instead of having the breakfast bar rise from the centre of the layout like a monolith, you could also merge the island with the rest of the kitchen to minimise its intrusion into a compact space. Pins Studio demonstrates a space-saving configuration in the pictured galley, by extending a counter into the centre of the walkway, effectively turning the two-wall layout into a multi-faceted workspace that simultaneously keeps guests away from exposed heat sources while providing a vantage point from which they can safely observe the proceedings and engage in conversations with the chef.

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Stylish Seats

Interior design by: Mode Interior Style

Fashion arbiters are almost uniformly in agreement when it comes to the effect of accessorising—it is often said that the same piece of clothing can be presented in a multitude of different ways when combined with a purposeful selection of decorative accessories.

Interior design by: Mode Interior Style

As demonstrated in the pictured kitchen, Mode Interior Style differentiates the neutral coloured space with the addition of wire-framed lighting fixtures and bar stools. Although lightweight and unobtrusive in their design, their presentation in the foreground of this space draws the eye away from a simplistic background of rectangles coloured in the shades of the neutral palette.

Interior design by: Mode Interior Style

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Twists and Turns

Interior design by: Alvinterior Concept  

A kitchen melded with an open floor plan presents an opportunity for creative expression in much the same way as a blank canvas invites an artist’s touch, and an island counter turned into a piece of artistic expression on its own often represents the most defining element of a truly unique kitchen.

Interior design by: Alvinterior Concept

Alvinterior Concept sets the pictured cooking space apart from all others by rendering the breakfast bar with novel lines and angles, resulting in a functional sculpture of form and purpose at the edge of the chef ’s domain.

Friday, November 20, 2020

From the sea snail shells found along the ancient Phoenician coastlines of Tyre to the togas of Roman senators, and on to as recent a time as Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the colour purple has been associated with mystery, power, royalty – and the height of bravery in the case of the Purple Heart. Despite the connotations, spaces painted in purple are relatively rare to come by – especially in this age of neutral-coloured interiors and compact spaces. But the results are undeniably awe-inspiring whether purple is applied as an accent or as a base colour. To illustrate the sensuous effects of purple – and perhaps to inspire you to try something different in the bedroom – we bring your attention to a selection of bedrooms brought to deeply soothing and enigmatic levels with the mere addition of violet-coloured light or materials.

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Beguiling Accent

Interior design by: Turn Design

Perhaps the very first and easiest thing to try when experimenting with purple, or any other bold shade, is to inject the colour with the aid of a lighting fixture. Utilising ultraviolet bulbs intended for water purification systems would not be recommended for health reasons – ultraviolet light of the UVB variety is a germ killer and equivalent to sunlight in terms of the damage it can cause – but "black-lights", UVA bulbs, or even regular bulbs tinted purple will provide a harmless wash of violet-coloured light. This equivalent of dipping one's toe into unfamiliar waters enables slight adjustments – leading to possible results such as the pictured bedroom decorated by Turn Design. The purple glow here serves as a tentative accent for the neutral-coloured space, delivered to the sunlit side of the bed via a pair of bedside lamps.

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Absolute Saturation

Interior design by: Space In Design

If the alluring quality of purple illumination has won you over, you may find yourself surprised by the delightful effects of a predominantly white room fully saturated in violet light. As demonstrated by Space In Design with the pictured bedroom, the architectural finishes of the walls and ceiling have been deliberately left featureless and white in order to extend the reach of purple light. The result is that all the plain white surfaces are rendered intriguing with a fluorescent sheen, while slivers of white and yellow illumination are used to segment the background and provide the space with a measure of visual depth.

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Prominent Display

Interior design by: Jashen Interior

If you are looking for more control over the introduction of bold shades like purple in the bedroom, consider utilising fabrics dyed in your prefered shade of violet instead of attempting to fine-tune the highly variable effects of lighting. As demonstrated by Jashen Interior in the pictured bedroom, the introduction of purple is done through carpeting and drapery in light and dark shades, securing the colour's place in the white space regardless of the quality of light. The net effect of this combination is one of mutual support – the white background brings attention to the purple accents while the various shades of violet lend the crisp white space a contour of uplifting opulence.

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Background Flavour

Interior design by: Surface R

With some comfort in its balanced use, one could take the saturation of purple to the maximum by applying various shades of violet in architectural finishes. The result of painting both the walls and the decorative headboard in the same shade of purple is a cohesive background that is instantly soothing to the eye, as in the pictured bedroom designed by Surface R, while the contrasting of dark wood flooring and a sprinkling of neutral coloured planes against the purple background creates a space that simultaneously speaks of fun-loving vibes and regal poise.

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Click here to read about decorating various spaces in white.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Beyond slim profiles and unobtrusive colours, there are a host of characteristics expected to accompany the ubiquitous minimalist bathroom.

Born out of a reaction to abstract expressionism, minimalism continues to be highly relevant, especially when it comes to imbuing bathrooms with space-saving effects. With the majority of people living in urban centres around the world, and that proportion set to increase with the rising pace of urbanisation, minimalism will likely continue being among the most popular of styles applied in bathrooms.

Interior design by: Frontline Bathrooms

While modern interpretations of minimalism may diverge with experimental blends of other aesthetic styles, a devoutly minimalist bathroom can be as awe-inspiring and breathtaking as a classically decorated banquet hall. To help you achieve the epitome of minimalism in the bathroom, we take you on a tour of some bathrooms that best exemplify this iconic style.

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Sleek and Chic

Interior design by: Frontline Bathrooms

Beyond the hallmarks of shedding frills in favour of practicality, another underlying principle of minimalism is centred around the preservation of space. Simplistic fittings such as those incorporated in the glass shower enclosure of the pictured bathroom are the most obvious selections for a minimalist space, but the choice of colour palette for the finishes and fixtures will have additional, more subtle, effects on the overall decor. Bathroom fixtures tend to be all-white, but to truly maximise the perception of volume, the choice of white tiles is made to imbue this bathroom with the space-saving effect of white.

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Mod Tub

Interior design by: Waters Baths of Ashbourne

All that effort into preserving a sense of space would just go to waste without a central element for the eye to focus on, and a bathroom decorated in minimalist style just happens to make a fittingly subtle backdrop for a lone decorative element. In the pictured bathroom, the slim furnishings and plain white finishes set the stage for eyes to fall on the main attraction of this space — the freestanding tub. With its all-white shell, the bathtub seemingly blends into the background, but its delectably curved sides set it apart from the rigid forms in the background.

Interior design by: Waters Baths of Ashbourne

Tip: The most popular style of bathtub in the current age – the ubiquitous free-standing tub – is the ideal choice for a central element in modern bathrooms by virtue of their uncomplicated forms.

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Small Wonders

The rationale behind those slim profiles prevalent in minimalist spaces is the reduction of form while preserving function — a principle that sometimes leads to the limitation of shelves and countertop surfaces. But a minimalist bathroom does not necessarily entail the forgoing of sometimes necessary amenities, as demonstrated in this pictured bathroom, the deliberate preservation of floor space around the tub enables the addition of a foot stool to host accessories needed for a bath. Even with this minute detail added as an afterthought, the jarring divide between a showroom and someone’s real life sanctuary is effectively crossed.

Interior design by: Waters Baths of Ashbourne

Tip: A sprinkling of accessories and creature comforts speaks of a lived-in space. As demonstrated in the pictured bathroom, even a stool added as an afterthought makes the space seem purposefully minimalist rather than empty.

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Read more articles from the August 2018 issue of Creative Home Magazine here.