6 Timeless Custom Home Design Trends in Cincinnati

Home design trends come and go, making the custom home design process a challenge. You don’t want to feel like you have to remodel in a few years and invest more in a home that’s still quite new. Lean into timeless designs for the elements in your custom home that are costly to update and apply trends on the smaller accents, like fixtures and furniture. So, what design elements are truly timeless? What custom home design staples will still feel fresh years down the line? 

1. White Subway Tile

The clean lines of white subway tile offer an excellent backdrop to other standout features. Use subway tile in the bathroom to compliment custom floor tile and a natural wood double vanity. In the kitchen, pair white subway tile as the backsplash with custom cabinetry in one of 2022’s trending paint colors. Subway tile tends to fit into most styles, from modern to traditional and many in between. Retiling the bathroom or kitchen isn’t something you’ll want to do often, so choosing subway tile is a great timeless kitchen design style element for your custom Cincinnati home. 

2. Freestanding Tub

The freestanding tub is like the centerpiece to any bathroom. They are available in many different shapes and sizes, making it a breeze to choose the one that suits you best. You will want to have both a tub and a shower in your bathroom, so be sure to ask your designer to plan for enough space for both when designing your layout. If you’d like to indulge in a few trends along with timeless home elements, do this with items that are easier to change out, like plumbing fixtures. 

3. Outdoor Living

An outdoor living and entertainment space continues to be among the top features that homebuyers place on their must-have lists for good reason. Outdoor dining, lounging, cooking, and other activities were on the rise over the past few years and homeowners are loving the return to entertaining at home. Whether you prefer a pergola, a porch, or a deck, think about how you will use the space and decide the features you would like to add from there. 

Remember that the way you use your outdoor living space will change with the seasons, so consider what you will want and need to stay warm in the fall and cool in the summer. The features available for outdoor living are plenty. Dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers, and a range take food prep and cooking from a solo activity inside to a social activity among friends and family outdoors. 

4. Natural Light

Natural light is one of the most timeless elements in any home. If you’d like to make sure your new custom Cincinnati home is full of natural light, work with your designer to consider every opportunity. Add a skylight in the bathroom and kitchen, large windows for the living area, retracting doors leading to your porch, and glossy paint in the hallway to reflect light into dark spaces. 

White paint in a gloss finish is the best choice for carrying light further into a space, but not the only option. A pale blue, soft yellow, or cool gray also carries light and adds a little more personality than standard white. That timeless white subway tile in your kitchen and bath will also reflect light through a space beautifully. 

If a skylight isn't an option or if you’d like to increase natural light in the bathroom even more, have a window with filtered glass added to your custom home design. Placing a window just behind your freestanding tub creates a luxurious bathroom environment. 

5. Marble

Marble is a prime example of a timeless interior design staple. Add it to your shower walls or the vanity countertop, the kitchen island, and even the fireplaces. This beautiful natural stone is available in many different colors and suits any design style, from traditional or contemporary, while adding tasteful luxury. Marble is a beautiful material when used anywhere, but avoid using marble on the bathroom floors. Wet marble is very slippery, so focus instead on using marble on other surfaces. 

In the kitchen, use marble on the countertops and continue the material up the backsplash. A timely trend is using a full slab as the backsplash as opposed to tile, but this timeless stone will continue to look high-end and stylish for years to come. 

6. Layers of Texture

Using texture can vary from lots of layers to an understated application. Adding layers of texture to your home design can be done in a variety of ways. Use visual texture, like with lush drapes or patterned wallpaper, or physical texture with reclaimed beams and elaborate crown molding. Personalizing the way you use texture is key. You don’t want to be overwhelmed by the design choices you’ve made but you’ll also want the space to feel authentically yours, within your budget, and still function in the way you need. 

If adding texture into a space feels a little risky, go for subtle but impactful. Custom hexagonal tile with a natural wood vanity and a hammered copper pendant light are all understated individually but create interesting layers when all used in the same space. In the kitchen, layers may come by way of a vintage farmhouse table as an island topped with marble. As for the bedroom, consider a grass cloth wallpaper, which is subtle but still warm and adds personality. In the living room, a flagstone fireplace, glass-front built-ins, and hardwood floors all add texture without being overwhelming. 

Ready To Design A Custom Home Full Of Timeless Style?

Designing a new custom home in Cincinnati is a very exciting process, but being sure about all of the decisions that go into your custom home can be tricky. Depend on a trusted and highly skilled custom home builder that exceeds homeowner’s expectations again and again. Chris Gorman Homes is a custom home builder that keeps your design goals front and center while keeping projects moving forward and within your budget. Our home building process is simple and transparent. Contact us to start the conversation about getting you into your dream home. Download our free ebook if you’d like to learn more about the custom home building process.