How to Create More Visual Interest with Fewer Colors

Traci Connell of Traci Connell Interiors transformed this primary bath, featured in Cambria Style magazine, as part of a full-home renovation. The wife of the homeowning couple is a travel agent who often visits spectacular resorts around the world in the course of her work. We talked to Connell about how she set about delivering a bath that offers a five-star level escape for globetrotters with some very specific tastes.

What were your goals with this bath and what were your first steps toward realizing them?

Our goals were to make the bath feel elevated, serene, and functional—not just a place to get ready, but a place to unwind. Because it was a complete renovation, we were able to start with the architecture of the space and refine the layout, flow, and material palette from the beginning. Cambria became an important architectural element, bringing continuity, durability, and quiet luxury alongside the warmth of custom wood cabinetry, unlacquered brass accents, and layered texture.

Can you point to something going on in this space that a reader might use to inspire their own renovation or new build?

One timeless idea we would point to is the use of Cambria as more than a countertop material. In this bath, the solid surface slabs behind the tub and along the shower walls create a clean, architectural envelope that feels calm and elevated, while also making the space incredibly easy to maintain. That balance is what makes the detail so successful. It gives the bathroom the seamless, resort-like quality the clients wanted, but it also supports how they actually live every day.

Can you talk a bit about the decision to use Cambria in this space?

Cambria is my go-to recommended quartz product. I love that they stand behind their product so well with their warranty, and their customer service is second to none. In this bathroom, we used Cambria on the vanity countertops, shower walls, and the wall behind the tub.

What was it about Cambria’s Ironsbridge design that worked for this space?

Cambria’s Ironsbridge felt like the right choice because it brought softness and movement without overpowering the room. The tone worked beautifully with the warmer elements in the space, especially the wood cabinetry and brass details, which helped the bathroom feel layered rather than stark. We loved that the veining had presence but still felt calm and refined. It gave the room that sense of quiet luxury we were after and helped transform the primary bath into a true retreat.

What are your thoughts on balancing function and style in bath design?

We believe function and style must be developed together from the very beginning, especially in a bathroom. Luxury is not truly luxury if it is not livable. In all of our projects, we are thinking through how a space will actually be used each day, from storage and lighting to durability and maintenance, while still protecting the overall feeling we want the room to have. Years of experience and trusted partnerships with fabricators, vendors, and trades allow us to make those decisions with confidence, so the final space can perform beautifully without sacrificing the sense of calm and retreat our clients are looking for.

Creating Visual Interest with a Limited Palette

Will you talk about how you combined elements such as surfaces, finishes, and wall coverings to inject visual interest without introducing vivid color?

Layering is a defining part of our design language, and it is often what gives a space its depth. In this bathroom, we stayed within a calm, unified palette but used contrast in texture, scale, and finish to keep the room from feeling flat. 

Ironsbridge brings a beautiful sense of movement, while the surrounding neutral materials add softness and dimension in a more subtle way. As designers, we are always looking for the unexpected detail that makes a room feel memorable. Perfecting that balance of restraint and layering is what gives the space its elevated, tailored point of view.

Are there other details you want to highlight about the way you planned and styled the bath?

The restraint in the palette: we kept the bathroom very neutral and tonal, which allowed the materials and architectural details to carry the space rather than relying on heavy color. From a styling perspective, we brought in greenery to add life, softness, and a natural contrast against the stone surfaces.

Sending Clients Over the Moon

How did your design team and clients feel at the end of the process?

The design team was elated and proud of what we accomplished, and the clients were over the moon. For the wife especially, it felt like we had captured the kind of retreat she experiences through her travels and brought that feeling into her own home. It was rewarding to see the space become exactly what they had hoped for: elevated, personal, and truly relaxing.

Are there any particular ways this bath is a good reflection of the kind of work that you do?

This bath is a strong example of listening closely to our clients’ desires. As designers, we may naturally want to bring in more color or pattern, but their goals were the opposite: texture, stillness, and calm. The end goal is always the client’s happiness, and this space reflects our ability to create something elevated and layered while staying true to how they wanted to feel in their home.