What materials do you consider when you are designing for the most tranquil space of your home? Colours and surface textures play an important role when working to make the space come together. With the objective of maintaining a timeless look, architect Puran Kumar, Principal and Founder of Studio PKA in Mumbai, tells us the dos and don’ts of working with grains and hues…. 

Colours & Materials

When selecting colours, coordinate the chosen material for the floor with that of the countertops and walls – weave in panels or do part dados, so that they all complement one another. Combinations of stone, wood and glass always work well and are often used together. Granite has its limitations…so think carefully when using this.

Kohler suggests: Match surface materials with a pick from the colours by Kohler range, to add glam and quirk.

Small Bathrooms

While designing a smaller space, the thought process is much more intensive. People tend to believe that dark colours would make a space look smaller. In fact, a dark floor gives you a sense of more area. “One bathroom I designed had the floor in black Kadappa stone, which made the counter look like it was floating. So use materials that give a sense of volume”. If you have to work with wet and dry areas in a small bathroom, a sense of homogeneity in the flooring gives a feel of more area. The moment you use different materials, you’re cutting down on the sense of space.

Kohler suggests: This small vessel with a wall faucet will aid in visually making the bathroom look bigger

The Must Nots

Do away with glossy materials on the floor – matte, leather and river-wash finishes work best. Granite is an absolute no-no for flooring. If you have to use it, it should be treated in a river-wash or given a plain finish. Avoid marble too for wet areas. You need to be at your tranquil best in a bathroom, so anything flashy or striking, or that causes light to bounce, is avoidable.

Kohler suggests: Bring in the gloss with a vessel from the Artist edition range.

Ceiling Matters

Don’t unnecessarily add elements like fake rafters to make good design. Play around with the surface instead, to make it vibrant and long lasting. Don’t use vulnerable materials like gypsum. Hardy products like Hilux boards that are water resistant, are a good pick.  

Kohler suggests: Choose a mirror to enhance the textures created in the bathroom.

Mixing And Matching

Restrict yourself to three or four materials at most. Even if you create an accent wall to break the monotony, use just one material each for the flooring, countertop and other walls. Unless it’s a large bathroom, where you can experiment with various materials and combinations, it’s best to stick to just a few.

Kohler suggests: A simple addition of a unique faucet finish completes the mix of materials

The Wet Area

When you have a bigger area to play with, choose different materials for the wet and dry areas. In the wet areas avoid ceramic tiles, or polished granite and marble. Stone or rough-textured, colourful tiles could work well as they are meant for these areas.

Kohler suggests: These shower enclosures will aid in demarcating the spaces.