Bathroom Workbook: 8 Elements of Contemporary Style
Knowing your style isn’t always cut and dried. For
example, your home’s current style might not be the one you would have
given it if you’d had the choice. Perhaps you purchased things that were
practical and fit your budget, instead of as part of a larger design
scheme.
So when you’re remodeling a space for the first time and tasked with settling on a vision that reflects your personal taste, it’s not uncommon to wonder, “Just what is my style?”
In this series we’ll look at various bathroom styles to help you narrow your focus. Is your style contemporary, modern, transitional, rustic, industrial? Once something feels and looks right to you, then you can start going through more photos of spaces in that style to help guide you — and your designer — to the bathroom of your dreams.
Here are eight elements of contemporary style. See if it’s right for you.
So when you’re remodeling a space for the first time and tasked with settling on a vision that reflects your personal taste, it’s not uncommon to wonder, “Just what is my style?”
In this series we’ll look at various bathroom styles to help you narrow your focus. Is your style contemporary, modern, transitional, rustic, industrial? Once something feels and looks right to you, then you can start going through more photos of spaces in that style to help guide you — and your designer — to the bathroom of your dreams.
Here are eight elements of contemporary style. See if it’s right for you.
1. Clean lines.
Unbroken horizontal lines feature prominently in contemporary
bathrooms. Curvy, undulating planes have little relevance here. Cabinet
hardware is kept basic as well. Think rectilinear.
2. Authentic materials.
“Materials should have authenticity to them,” says architect Lisa
Little, who designed this bathroom. “If the material is wood, it should
be expressed as wood. If it’s concrete, it’s concrete. So you’re not
hiding or altering the materiality; instead you’re celebrating it.”
You won’t find
moldings or face frames on cabinets or any other sort of ornamental
accents. There are just the essentials here; everything is stripped down
to rudimentary forms and materials. Vanities and cabinet doors are
single planes and have smooth surfaces. Edges are sharp and clean rather
than distressed or beveled. Tile is crisp, and grout is “absolutely
flush,” says architect Sally Anne Smith. “Restrain everything.”
“When tile starts to get patterning on the wall or an individual tile becomes ornate or complex, then it’s starting to get away from a cleaner, simpler design,” Little adds.
That goes for countertops, too. “People usually stick to the quartz line so there’s not a lot of movement,” says John Klacka, design director at Lars Remodeling and Design.
“When tile starts to get patterning on the wall or an individual tile becomes ornate or complex, then it’s starting to get away from a cleaner, simpler design,” Little adds.
That goes for countertops, too. “People usually stick to the quartz line so there’s not a lot of movement,” says John Klacka, design director at Lars Remodeling and Design.
3. Lack of clutter. Contemporary spaces have a borderline minimalist aesthetic.
That’s why Asian themes work well for them, says designer Michelle
Moore, who designed this Asian contemporary bathroom. Both styles follow
a stripped-down approach. In contemporary bathrooms, lotions, brushes,
appliances etc. all have their own space completely tucked out of the
way. “Contemporary style doesn’t really lend itself to someone who has
stuff all over the place,” Smith says. “It’s for people who like to put
everything away so it looks nice and clean all the time.”
4. Contrast. Instead of ornate details and decor, designers add interest and drama in contemporary spaces with contrast. In this example, smooth concrete mixes with textural bamboo cabinets. There’s also some color contrast going on with white and black. Contemporary spaces tend to stick to colors and hues that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. “It’s more pleasing if you have the wow factor,” Moore says.
4. Contrast. Instead of ornate details and decor, designers add interest and drama in contemporary spaces with contrast. In this example, smooth concrete mixes with textural bamboo cabinets. There’s also some color contrast going on with white and black. Contemporary spaces tend to stick to colors and hues that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. “It’s more pleasing if you have the wow factor,” Moore says.
5. Simple lighting. Again, basic shapes take precedent over anything showy or ornate.
6. Open space. Even if it’s the illusion of open space, this is a key element. Floating vanities, expansive floors and an overall feeling of lightness and airiness are hallmarks of the style.
7. Colors. While some say contemporary leans toward cooler colors, Little disagrees. “Color is so personal you should not feel as a homeowner that you can’t put any whatever color you prefer,” she says. Instead, it’s more about how the color you choose interacts with the material choices.
Klacka likes going lighter to maintain a fresh, clean feeling. “Diamond white with hints of green, blue or gray is very light and crisp,” he says.
6. Open space. Even if it’s the illusion of open space, this is a key element. Floating vanities, expansive floors and an overall feeling of lightness and airiness are hallmarks of the style.
7. Colors. While some say contemporary leans toward cooler colors, Little disagrees. “Color is so personal you should not feel as a homeowner that you can’t put any whatever color you prefer,” she says. Instead, it’s more about how the color you choose interacts with the material choices.
Klacka likes going lighter to maintain a fresh, clean feeling. “Diamond white with hints of green, blue or gray is very light and crisp,” he says.
