Milwaukee Bathroom Remodeling can add value to your home and save you money in the long run by improving efficiency with new fixtures. If you’re considering a remodel, you should establish your budget first.
You can perform some of the work depending on your skill set. However, it would be best if you also considered hiring a contractor to help with the larger projects like plumbing and electrical.
Concrete gets a bad rap as it is cold and uninviting, but when done right, this material can make a stunning backdrop for your bathroom. From floors and walls to sculptural sinks, the rough texture of concrete plays beautifully with brutalist design. Customizing concrete with pigment to play with color and consistency in your space is also easy.
Concrete is an ideal material for brutalist designs because of its ability to withstand heavy use while maintaining a polished look. This rugged material is perfect for homes with strong geometric lines and a bold presence, like this desert retreat designed by Marc Thorpe Design. Exposed concrete walls enclose the home’s interior and create strong visual ties to the landscape. Still, expansive glass openings on both the north and south sides improve solar gain and allow natural cross ventilation.
Another way to add a touch of warmth to a harshly minimalistic concrete home is to use wood accents. These can be used in alcove shelving to hold towels and bath products, or as the vanity countertop your quality bathware sits on. The natural wood also complements the sandy beige and lush greens characteristic of Brutalism, further bringing the exterior and interior spaces together.
Brutalism was first popular during the post-World War II era when builders sought cost-effective materials to withstand tough use. Concrete was widely available during this time and became the preferred material for residential structures. As a result, brutalist architects used concrete to create eye-catching designs emphasizing structure and form.
Even modern concrete houses can be adapted to fit the brutalist style. This example from Belgium was built near the end of the movement in 1974 and strayed slightly from some of the strictest Brutalist principles. Its simple stepped style and gray concrete exterior blend in with the surrounding wooded area, while a concrete sculptural entryway welcomes guests.
While the brutalist design aesthetic might not be everyone’s cup of tea, this polarising style does have several benefits. For one, it breaks free of traditional norms to create a minimalistic and functional space that is also fiercely modern. It is important to incorporate a variety of textures and colors into the home. This will add interest, soften the harshness of the concrete build, and provide a contrasting palette for other elements in the room.
A common feature in brutalist interiors is a need for more furniture, but this can be false. Instead, incorporating functional design features such as a storage niche or concrete half wall in the bedroom can serve as the space’s focal point while still serving a purpose and giving the room an interesting shape. This 4-room resale flat exemplifies this idea by using the concrete walls as a backdrop for decorative vases and a headboard.
Brutalism often has a monochromatic color palette, but this doesn’t mean other colors can’t be incorporated into the design. Various earthy shades help balance the starkness of the concrete build and give the home more personality. In this condo, swaths of green in the garden and kitchen make their way inside, creating a harmonious contrast against the grey of the concrete walls.
One of the most difficult aspects of Brutalism is ensuring that the design isn’t too harsh or impersonal. This is especially true in the bathroom, where a simple design can quickly become sterile and clinical. This Dawson Condo home successfully achieves this by combining sleek modern surfaces with eye-catching textures, such as the rattan TV console and plush leather sofa. This gives the house a warmth that counteracts the brutalist design features such as raw concrete walls and dark wooden cabinetry.
Brutalism can be a challenging design style, but the results can be stunning. You can turn your brutalist home into a contemporary work of art with the right combination of concrete, contrasting colors, and eye-catching textures.
It’s no secret that cleaning your bathroom can feel like a chore, and it’s even more of a hassle when your space is full of grout lines where dirt and grime collect. When you remodel your brutalist home, choose elements that reduce the time spent scrubbing and scouring your bathroom. For example, replacing tile with a solid surface such as quartz or marble eliminates crevices where mold can grow. You can also choose back-painted glass as an aesthetic element to minimize lines where water spots and dust can build.
Using a neutral palette is the best way to introduce color into your brutalist bathroom. This approach softens the space’s industrial look, allowing other design elements to shine. White vanities and simple silver plumbing fixtures in this minimalist bathroom create a clean and polished look. Adding natural textures, like the woven rattan vanity stool and boucle wall hanging, adds an eye-catching contrast to the neutral palette.
The Brutalist trend hasn’t been everyone’s cup of tea, but it can be an excellent source of inspiration. When you’re ready to take a risk in your home, consider the brutalist style an opportunity to showcase your creative personality and bold taste.
If you’re ready to give your brutalist home a fresh look, contact us today to discuss your remodeling project. We’ll help you determine the best elements to incorporate into your space to ensure your project succeeds. We’ll never share your information with anyone, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
While not typically the first design feature that comes to mind when considering a bathroom remodel, natural light is essential. It brings a bright and clean look to any space while also providing a natural source of warmth that can help keep a room comfortable in colder environments. Additionally, sunlight can be used as a supplement to other lighting options to provide more even illumination throughout a space.
Maximizing the amount of natural light that a bathroom receives can be done in various ways, depending on the layout and style of the space. For example, if a toilet is large enough to accommodate it, installing an oversized window can effectively bring a lot of natural light into a room. For smaller spaces, using a skylight can be an excellent option.
Glass shower doors can also be a great way to let in more natural light. A lot of these types of glass doors can be frosted for privacy purposes, as well as to control the amount of light that is let in. For bathrooms that cannot accommodate windows or skylights, using a large mirror can effectively reflect light and make a room feel larger.
Whether you’re interested in adding more grit to your bathroom or looking for a simple design that makes your space feel larger, Brutalism is an easy style to incorporate into any bathroom. Just be sure to consider the layout of your bathroom before making any big remodeling changes so that you can ensure the best possible results.