KOHLER: Principles of Good Design: Design Details: Design Fundamentals: KOHLER Design Center

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Good Design - The Difference is in the Details

Line and form. Color and texture. Pattern and ornamentation. All of these elements play an important role in a well-designed space. Keep them in mind when considering the lasting visual impression you want to make in your bath.

Line and Balance

Vertical lines suggest stability, immobility, and, by extension, dignity and permanence (Think of the Acropolis with all of its columns).
Vertical lines make a room with a high ceiling seem even taller, while a room with a low ceiling will benefit from the sense of height they lend.
Horizontal lines suggest rest and repose. Offering a sense of space, they seem more soothing, subdued and tranquil.
Symmetrical balance is achieved when repeated design elements are placed in an equidistant arrangement from a center point. It is often associated with classical, more formal design.
Asymmetrical balance calls equal attention to various design elements because of their placement. Considered informal, it is usually associated with natural influences and Oriental design.

Color and Texture

Color is an obvious way to convey personal style. Consumers decide how they want a room to make them feel and color it accordingly. Pull together your favorite photos, magazine clippings, fabric scraps and paint samples. You'll probably discover a dominant single color or combination of colors that will help guide your preferences.

Keep in mind that some colors can energize and enliven a room while others can drain the life out of it. Low-risk beige and play-it-safe white are often the colors of last resort. They're chosen because we're sometimes afraid of making a real color commitment. But there's a brave - and colorful - new world out there. Color done well can yield a truly singular space.

Color also affects a room 's visual proportions. Pale or light colors make walls and large pieces of furniture appear to recede, making a small room seem larger. Bright and dark tones bring walls in closer and make large objects appear even larger. Use color to accent architectural details, thus drawing attention to them.

Color and light have a close relationship. When planning your color scheme, keep in mind the kind of lighting your room has.

Texture is extricably linked to color and light. Because some surfaces reflect more light than others, the same color may look completely different on a flat or a rough surface.

Soft textures translate into luxury and relaxation (think leather or silk).
Hard, smooth surfaces suggest no-nonsense efficiency.
Richly textured fabrics - brocades, damasks and jacquards - lend a formal feeling.
Light colors and smoother weaves such as pastel cotton prints and glazed chintzes are definitely more informal and a strong complement to country styles.

Pattern and Ornament

The eye uses pattern to help measure size and shape, to gain information about materials and to interpret the mood of the design. The fact that a pattern is usually repetitious gives it a rhythmic quality on a small scale. Like color, pattern can make a surface more or less important; or a space seem larger or small than it actually is. An easy way to liven up a room, your choice of patterns will be guided by style of décor and your personal preferences.

Ornament refers to visual extras unnecessary for practical reasons but added to show off craftsmanship, introduce variety and enrich a surface. Ornament plays a prominent role in most historic and period design styles. Good ornamentation emphasizes what is important, drawing attention to what is significant. It also conveys something about the materials and workmanship involved.

Making the Most of a Small Space

There are a number of ways to make a small space look larger.

Light colors and tints will visually increase the size of a room or heighten a ceiling.
Increase the perception of space with large or full-length mirrors, lighting or a vaulted ceiling.
A neo-angle, or corner shower will visually open up a small space.