Incorporating columns add a touch of classical elegance to even contemporary decor. They create a focal point in a modern space without taking away from other elements in the room. They let guests know that though the homeowner knows what’s trendy, they have an appreciation for that which is both beautiful and timeless.
You might think of classical Greek architecture when you think of columns. However, the columns used in your home don’t have to be those august pillars with Ionic, Doric or Corinthian capitals. They can be made of wood, fiberglass and fiber reinforced-polymer and can be square or round. They can be tall or short, plain, paneled or fluted. The style of the column is up to the homeowner.
Incorporating Columns into a Room
If you do want to splurge on an elaborate Greek column, what better place to do it than in a bathroom? Consider a sunken tub beneath a barrel vault ceiling held up in the corners by four columns with Corinthian capitals full of swirling acanthus leaves. What better choice to make the bather think they’re taking a soak in the ancient Baths of Caracalla?
Another fantastic bathroom idea is to cover round columns with the same glass tile that’s found in the shower stall or on the floor. This unusual design will certainly impress the guests.
One way of incorporating columns into a room echoes the formal beauty of Greek columns while being completely contemporary. Round columns made of DuraStone with industrial looking capitals are a sophisticated solution to the problem of how to delineate areas of an open plan space while keeping the space’s character. A row of these columns is a good way to separate the kitchen area from the living room.
On the other hand, square columns on square plinths can separate a living area from the rest of an open plan space. The color of these columns can echo the color of the wall, window frames or even an area rug.
Place the Columns, Then Plan the Layout
Suggestions from our professionals at Turncraft give our customers is to plan where the columns will go first, then plan the decor around them.
Choosing Columns
In the days of antiquity, columns were load-bearing. In modern homes and apartments, columns do not have to be load-bearing. This allows them to be placed in somewhat unexpected areas including entry halls and on either side of a fireplace. On the other hand, you should be careful before you take out a column to open up space. Some columns are in fact holding up part of the ceiling. Even if they’re not, a layperson should not try to remove them. Let a professional building contractor handle that.