FATHER’S DAY USHERS IN MASCULINE DESIGN

June 12, 2019 | By Chad Esslinger

Guinness Bar & Mirror

Father’s Day is often flush with tributes to Dad that are rooted in stereotypical, though often accurate, representations of what men find most attractive or desirable. While ties, bottles of single-malt Scotch and golf balls are perfect gifts for many fathers, my experience as a father and a designer have taught me that masculinity in the design-sense goes a lot deeper.

I have designed living rooms, basements, and bars that have focused on masculine design themes. Many of those projects have used style elements and materials that I really enjoy working with. Modern, elegant design can be masculine without taking on the Man Cave vibe.

Core design elements and rules of thumb I use are:

• Authentic and natural materials like leather, canvas, and metal

• Use of patterns like herringbone, stripes, and plaid

• Nothing should be too ornamental

• The form of the object should follow the function

USING COLOR
When it comes to a masculine design scheme, color is extremely important to me. I prefer to utilize high contrast neutral colors like black and white, navy, gray and brown tones.

Liberty Desk and Hutch

ADDING TEXTURE
Texture can be an extremely subtle style element. Do it right and win the day. My preference is to incorporate natural textures like rustic wood, smooth metals, glass, and soft leathers.

Garrison Wall Clock

FURNITURE STYLE
Choosing a furniture style can be at the beginning of designing a room or added later as a compliment to an existing motif. In either instance, the importance cannot be overstated. My approach to a masculine style is straightforward – it must be functional and handsome.

Futura Leather Chair

LIGHTING
While it may sound basic in its application, choosing lighting is a critical component of designing any room. When it comes to a masculine design scheme, I always prefer to choose from industrial elements like exposed filament bulbs, warm metals, and clear glass.

Brooks Table Lamp

PRO INSIGHT
One particular space I worked on was for a client that was a former rugby player from Ireland. I used lots of metal, rustic wood, and leather accents, including novelty pillows, decorative trophies, and vintage maps. Using larger scale, strong lines of contrast, and authentic materials will make a space feel more masculine as opposed to being neutral.

Chad Esslinger

Chad Esslinger is the principal and lead designer of CHAD ESSLINGER DESIGN in Downers Grove, IL.
A University of Illinois graduate who spent two decades designing and developing products for the world's
leading wholesalers, retailers, and manufacturers, Chad has been operating CHAD ESSLINGER DESIGN since 2011.